According to an in depth study from popular mechanics there is simply no one size fits all special number that you can apply to your home what it comes down to is the amount of reinforcements like collar ties and bracings that are built into the roof or attic area of the structure.
Snow off roof with string.
A 10 12 or 12 12 pitch roof handles more snow than a flat roof.
In addition steeper roofs don t often collect as much snow in the first place.
Light fluffy snow is generally no problem for a well constructed home.
There are plenty of ways you can modify your own but this.
Less snow will accumulate on a slippery roof it will slide off instead.
Heavy snow mixed with sleet and ice puts stress on your roof.
When that happens the first thing to know is that it s not about the amount or depth of snow on your roof it s about the weight.
So how much snow is too much for a roof to bear.
Well the answer is not quite so black and white.
Snow tends to slide right off of a pitched roof.
As you might expect buildings of high importance such as power plants schools or hospitals need to be more snow resistant and so can withstand a higher load.
Always follow the manufacturers tips list.
Experts say a foot of heavy snow on a 1 600 square foot house weighs as much as 14 tons so if you can get some of the snow off it s a good idea but only if you can do so safely and with the.
Generally the steeper your roof angle the more snow it can hold e g.
Removing snow from your roof can be a dangerous job.
When it doesn t slide off it can get blown away by the wind.
If you still have snow or ice on your metal roof there are several different tools you can use to melt the snow like heat cables calcium chloride or hot water.
A metal roof is great for preventing snow build up because the sun heats up the metal and causes the snow to slide right off.