Do you live somewhere that gets a lot of snowfall? If so, then you’ll know a lot about the damage snow can have on your roof. If allowed to collect on the roof, it can lead to damaged roof structures, ice dams, and other costly issues. You can avoid a lot of these, though, by designing your roof to handle snow. Here are some roof designs that are best suited to heavy snow.
Pick The Best Roof Shape
This is possibly the most important thing when planning your roof design for snowfall. The shape of your roof will affect how snow can slide off and avoid introducing damage to the overall structure. When it comes to your roof, a simple gable design will be best.
This is for a couple of different reasons. Firstly, the sloped roof design makes it very easy for snow to slide off the roof and into the gutters or on the ground. If it can’t stick to the roof, then it can’t sit there and cause problems for you.
As well as this, a gable roof design won’t have any nooks and crannies that allow debris to get stuck in. It’s so easy for leaves and pine needles to make their way onto the roof, and if they can’t slide off, then they’ll introduce their own problems, such as allowing water to get trapped and leak into the roof.
Anyone in a snowy climate should be looking at getting a roof that has a pitch of at least 10 degrees, minimum. That should be enough to allow snow to run off when needed.
Pick The Right Materials
Whatever weather you experience, it’s going to affect the materials used in your roof. If you were to live in a hot climate, the sun can crack and buckle asphalt shingles. In the same way, snow has its own effect on your roof. Because of this, you need to pick suitable materials so they’ll last for longer.
If you live in a snowy area, then you should look into metal roofing. It’s the best material for snow, as it easily lets snow slide off. This happens when the sun comes out and heats up the metal, allowing the snow to fall away. Metal roofs are installed in large sheets, too, allowing for very little resistance. Other materials, such as shingles, offer more resistance thanks to the way they’re installed.
Metal roofs have other benefits, such as being highly fire-resistant and standing up to a lot of damage from the weather. As they’re installed in large sheets, you won’t have to worry about so many seams potentially allowing water in. They also have long life spans, so you don’t have to worry about having them replaced for a good few decades.
The downside to metal roofs is that they can be a lot more expensive than other options out there. If you’re willing to invest in your roof, then it will pay you back, but if you can’t budget for it, there are other options. Asphalt shingles are a good budget-friendly option, although they do need replacing sooner than metal roofs.
Avoid Making Roof Openings
Of course, you’re going to have to have some openings on your roof. For example, you need an opening for your chimney to go through. However, the more openings you have, the more chance you have of water making its way into the roof, causing damage. If this isn’t caught quickly, then you’ll be paying a lot to repair the damage caused.
When you’re having a new roof installed, think about the openings you’ll need. You’ll need one for your chimney and vents from your bathroom to allow moist air to escape. However, think about any other openings, such as skylights. They’re nice to have and often essential if you have a room in your attic you use often. They do allow for the chance of leaking, though, so it’s best to keep them to a minimum.
Properly Insulate Your Attic
This is something you have to make sure you’re doing before the winter comes in earnest. If your roof isn’t insulated, then you’ll see that all the heat in your home escapes through the roof. That not only makes your home harder and more costly to heat, but it also allows snow to melt off your roof.
Once the snow melts, it’ll then meet the eaves of the roof, where the air will be a lot colder. Because of this, it will refreeze rather than making its way into the gutters. This blocks the gutters creating an ice dam, which leads to water damage.
The way to stop this from happening is to have your roof insulated. That allows for heat to stay in your home rather than escaping through the roof. You’ll save money on your energy bills, and you’ll stop those ice dams from forming.
Think About Snow Fall Under The Roof Design
Ideally, you’re going to see snowfall directly off the roof to the ground below. However, that does lead to another problem that you need to think about. There are going to be piles of snow under your roof, around the perimeter of the house.
When having the new roof installed, think about where that snow will fall. Ideally, you want it to be away from any pathways that surround your house. That way, you won’t need to constantly shovel snow so you can get around safely.
Also, think about how you can safely remove snow yourself. You don’t want to get on the roof to get rid of it, so there are snow brushes that allow for standing on the ground and brushing the snow off using a long pole.
When planning your new roof design, keep these tips in mind. If you follow the advice here, you won’t need to worry about the snow causing damage this winter. As long as you have the right materials and a steep enough slope, you’re going to be ok.
