How Much Snow Is Too Much On A Flat Roof

This is the one question that you need to answer.

How much snow is too much on a flat roof.

As you know there is a big difference between a blizzard hitting your town and a dusting of snow. If that sounds a little involved the national research council of canada estimates that 1 in. Fluffy fresh snow can weigh as little as three pounds per square foot compared with 21 pounds for wet heavy snow according to fema. Roof collapse can happen to new and old buildings alike and can cause extensive damage to the building and contents.

That means 12 inches of snow on a flat roof creates an additional r 12 of insulation that arrives at a time of year when you most need it. The r value or resistance to heat flow for snow is about r 1 per inch. Most roof designs can handle snow loads of 20 40 lbs per square foot. Of snow equals about 1 to 1 1 2 psf.

57 pounds a square foot. Low pitched and flat roofs are most susceptible to collapses. A cubic foot of water weighs about 62 pounds. How much snow a roof can hold depends on the type of snow roofline and material among other considerations.

So a risky roof is flat or slightly. These questions aren t quite so easy to answer because there are several variables. The snow settles on it evenly rather than being blown into large drifts which can cause a roof to fail. It also helps if the roof is in a sheltered area.

How much is too much. A flat roof can be constructed to address the needs of the particular building regardless of location. And whenever it snows the flat roof supports an additional insulating blanket.