Will The High Volume Of Snow On My Roof Cause Problems?

Snow is piling high on homes across the southeast causing some people to worry.

Though some local rooftops are holding up a significant amount of snow, Mike Kornelsen of Racka Roofing says there is little reason for concern.

“Most houses are engineered to handle quite a bit of snow,” comments Kornelsen, “and I think sometimes people worry unnecessarily.”

Kornelsen admits that this year’s snowfall is large, but adds it is not altogether uncommon and does not pose any abnormal risks. “The main thing we look at is that vents aren’t plugged up because that can cause other issues.”

While the sheer weight of the snow is not expected to be a major issue, Kornelsen says ice damming could be.

Ice damming occurs when snow melts, runs down the roof, and freezes when it hits the eaves. “Then, what used to be a slope, becomes a flat spot or a trough,” explains Kornelsen. This creates a space where water can pool and seep down into one’s home causing water damage.

“With the volume of snow we’ve had this year, ice can really start building up and then it's good to pull the snow off.”

Kornelsen says that this problem primarily affects residences that are over 40 years old or homes that have poor ventilation.

“Most houses nowadays have a protective membrane in their eaves to guard against this, but pooling water is never a good thing,” he remarks.

Icicles are one indicator of these ice dams, therefore, Kornelsen says the problem can typically be spotted from the ground. He encourages anyone who is worried about their roof to get it assessed by a professional.