How To Prevent Your Roof Collapsing This Winter

Winter scenes are always sweet and inviting, but that’s just one side of the story when you actually have to live through an entire winter season. The less appealing aspects of winter involve cold weather, excess snow and ice that can quickly become a problem for your home. Even the best roofs become vulnerable during winter, as the Washington Redskins recently learned: How To Prevent A Roof Collapse After Heavy Snow This past weekend’s storm has left behind a slew of damage; most notorious is the Washington Redskins’ practice facility. Often called the “bubble,” the training facility was left uncovered to the elements when the protective cover collapsed. See full article here Here are some tweeted images showing the full effect of the storm: #Snowzilla causes deflation of #Redskins Indoor Training Facility. MORE INFO | https://t.co/gAolIbaRfc ❄️ pic.twitter.com/AOg0mnJiaT — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) January 24, 2016 UPDATED: Snow causes practice bubble to deflate at #Redskins Park (with photos) #Snowzilla https://t.co/R0MuvJ9vKw pic.twitter.com/jdezmoMdWo — CSN Redskins (@CSNRedskins) January 24, 2016 This is the #Redskins practice bubble. It’s usually not covered by two feet of snow. pic.twitter.com/8Ud8b3qWcw — HoldenKushner (@Holdenradio) January 24, 2016 Your roof is exposed to all the elements, leaving it vulnerable to all types of damage from harsh weather conditions. While it does a good job of keeping you covered and keeping the snow and ice out, it’s also important to do your part in ensuring it does not become damage. As snow accumulates, its weight puts your roof at risk of collapse. Here are a couple of things you should look out for indicating your roof may be at risk of collapse: Signs that a roof may collapse Prior to a roof collapse, buildings generally exhibit signs that the roof is in distress and action should be taken immediately. The following are some of the symptoms that have been reported prior to roof failure: Sagging roof steel – visually deformed Severe roof leaks Cracked or split wood members Bends or ripples in metal supports Cracks in walls or masonry Cracks in welds of steel construction Sheared off screws from steel frames See full list here… You may be tempted to wait it out and hope your roof will not be damaged by the time the snow and ice melt away, but that’s a risk you might not want to take. Here are a few tips to help you avoid a collapsed roof this winter: Tips to avoid a roof collapse If roof snow can be removed with the use of a snow rake (available at most hardware stores), do so. Use caution, as metal snow rakes conduct electricity if they come into contact with a power line. Try to avoid working from ladders, as ladder rungs tend to ice up. Snow and ice collect on boot soles, and metal ladders. Flat roofs can be shoveled clear, but only if it is determined that the roof is safe to stand upon. Exercise care when on the roof to avoid potentially dangerous […]

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