Cambridge can be a very snowy town in the winter. With an average of 122cm of snow annually, the snow can really pile up on the roof.
While most people easily deal with the snow that piles up on their driveway, the snow that accumulates on the roof is another matter altogether. Snow removal is an integral part of property maintenance and that includes roof snow removal.
Why You Should Remove Snow from Your Roof
Snow can present several problems if you leave it to pile up on your roof. These issues include:
Structural Damage
While your roof was built to withstand all kinds of weather, heavy mounds of snow and ice put a lot of pressure on it. That can lead to it dipping or even collapsing in some areas. You may also see expensive shingle damage.
Flat roofs have a much higher risk of this kind of damage than sloped roofs, as the snow sits on top without sliding off.
Ice Dams
What are ice dams? An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms around the edge of your roof. They tend to start at the eavestrough and build up from there. You may also find them around skylights, roof vents, and where two sections of the roof meet.
Ice dams should be addressed quickly as they can cause damage to your shingles and eaves. Ice is stronger than your shingles and much heavier than snow, which can lead to extensive roof damage if left untreated.
Risk from Falling Snow and Ice
While sloped roofs don’t have quite the same risk of property damage as flat roofs, they have a whole other problem that is much worse – the risk of being hit by falling snow and ice.
Snow can be very heavy when it falls in one big chunk, especially if there’s ice in it. If the bottom layer melts a little bit thanks to the warmth from your home, it can cause big sections of snow to slide off your roof, which presents a massive safety issue for anyone who might be under it.
Blocked Vents
Runoff from melting snow and ice can freeze inside your ventilation system. That is very dangerous because it can cause the vent to become blocked. Those blockages lead to harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, building up inside the property.
Call Grand Valley Roofing & Coatings Inc. for Safe Roof Snow Removal
The best way to remove snow from your roof is to hire a professional. Trying to do it yourself can be risky, so it’s best to let someone with experience handle it.
When the weather in Cambridge gets frightful, and your roof becomes a mountain of snow, your best solution is to call Grand Valley Roofing for roof snow removal services. Our staff is highly experienced and skilled at roof snow removal. Let us clear your roof – give us a call and we’ll take care of it.
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