Surrey Roofers Share Awesome Tips on Snow Removal for Pitched Roofs

Posted by: Brunwin Professional Roofing Services Ltd

Date Posted: Jan. 17, 2017

Many Surrey homeowners gravitate toward pitched roofing. Simple yet elegant, the roof style has managed to survive several thousand years, and though designs have evolved considerably over time, the principles of its construction are still practically the same. That said, they remain at great risk of buckling under heavy snow and ice accumulations, particularly those of the low-slope variety.

It's not unusual for homes in Surrey to have several inches of snow on a roof in the winter. Thus, roofs in the area need to be strong enough to handle the extra weight that snow adds to the structure. In addition, a roof must be able to prevent ice dams, sliding snow, and too much icicles. The easiest and most sensible way to achieve these is to keep the roof as basic as possible. This means keeping additional roof features such as valleys, dormers, crickets, and mechanical roof penetrations such as vents and skylights to a minimum.

All of this is easier said than done, and the more complex your home's floor plan is, so goes your roofing system. That said, creating a roof that not only looks good, but also works with the desired floor plan and handles snow quite well presents an enjoyable challenge, especially to Surrey homeowners who like to get their hands dirty. If you prefer to manage a snowed roof on your own, here are some guidelines to keep in mind, courtesy of your friendly Surrey roofer.

• Do use a snow rake to remove snow from your pitched roof.
• Do start at the edges and work your way to the top of the roof.
• Do shave the snow down to two to three inches rather than scraping the roof clean..
• Do remove the ice carefully.
• Don't add your weight to the roof.
• Don't use a ladder because ice can build up on the rungs, increasing your chances of slipping.
• Don't use electric heating and open-flame devices to remove snow and ice.

In the off-chance that your roof gets damaged by the snow or your improper snow removal techniques, you can rest assured that trusted Surrey roofers such as Brunwin Professional Roofing Services have the roofing repair expertise to restore your pitched roof into tiptop shape.

Sources:

Should You Remove Snow From Your Roof Or Not?, TheFunTimesGuide.com

How to Keep Your Roof from Collapsing, AccuWeather.com