Roof Sagging From Snow

Causes of a sagging roof and repair options water damage to a weak roof surface.

Roof sagging from snow.

Excess weight from snow and design flaws. Every roof is designed to support a specific maximum weight and anything above. The first step is to always check the beams so that you can determine their condition. Reinforcing the connections between the rafters and the walls will help prevent your roof from collapsing.

When warm air comes up from your home and heats the shingles it causes the snow to melt and drip down to the edge of the roof. As the accumulated weight of the roof and or heavy snow exerts pressure on the roof it pushes the rafters outward. A large snow or ice storm may have dumped a heavy load of snow on the roof more than the roof was designed to carry. Once you have your wood in place you need to lay.

Removing snow from your roof is a slippery undertaking. Now the roof is twice as heavy and will possible sag. Heavy loads of wet snow can eventually lead to shingle damage stress on load bearing walls and even roof collapse. When an old composition shingle roof becomes worn out or starts to leak a new composition shingle roof may be laid right over the old composition shingle roof.

Wind a different kind of load. When heat comes out of your roof if can cause snow to melt too quickly causing heavier layers of ice when the water refreezes. Sagging or low spots in a flat roof may be due to undersized or weakened roof joists or problems with the buildup layers beneath the exposed roofing. Next assuming that there are no further problems with your timber beams you need to measure the length of the beam.

This buildup ultimately causes water to collect under the shingles and then drip into your home. Snow increases the overall weight of your roof adding to the forces acting on your rafters. Why roofs sag as mentioned roofs sag because there s too much weight or load for the existing structure. In turn the rafters push on the exterior walls on both sides.

Not only will this save you money on your heating bill but it will also allow any snow and ice build up on your roof to melt and slough off naturally as the outside conditions warm up. Increasing the thickness of your rafters increases your rafters ability to withstand sagging. Rain and snow can quickly damage a roof that isn t optimally designed and well. If your home has a roof with a substantial pitch ice dams and clogged gutters can still prevent snow from sliding off.

It is best to do all repairs from the top of the roof which means you will have to tear up shingles and other coverings as well as the roof decking in some cases. If the joints are. The cold weather refreezes this melted snow creating an ice buildup which backs up the snow onto the roof.