Utah doesn’t use the slogan “greatest snow on Earth” for no reason. The snow-capped mountains and towns perfectly encapsulate our beautiful winters. However, as great as our snow may be, an accumulation of heavy snow on your roof can pose significant risks to your home’s structural integrity. 

In regions like Utah, where snowfall can be especially heavy, understanding snow load and its potential consequences is essential for homeowners. At Lifetime Roofing, we want to explore the risks associated with snow load on your roof and help you protect your roof and home from these risks. If you want to keep your home safe this winter, keep reading.

What is Snow Load?

In relation to your roof, snow load refers to the weight of snow and ice accumulation on your home or business’s roof. This weight can exert a great deal of pressure on your home, potentially causing damage if it is left to its own devices. In Utah, where snowfall is common during the winter months, snow load is a real concern. 

In March 2023, Park City, Utah, recorded a total of over 500 inches of snow, breaking a nearly 50-year-old record. The state experienced its most significant snowfall in decades during the 2022-23 winter season; some experts, including the Old Farmers’ Almanac, believe this winter will be especially snowy as well.

With a snowy winter on the horizon, it is important for Utah homeowners to understand how to keep their homes safe to protect themselves from roof damage and more substantial structural damage to their space. 

The Risk of Snow Load on Your Home

There are several significant risks associated with snow load on your home and business, especially if you aren’t ensuring it is addressed between storms. Some of the most significant risks associated with snow load include the following:

Structural Damage

The most significant risk of excessive snow on your roof is structural damage. Roofs are designed to withstand some weight, but when snow accumulation exceeds your roof’s capacity, it can result in sagging, cracks, or collapse. This damage can be incredibly costly. 

Leaks

Snowmelt can lead to leaks and water damage in your home. When snow on your roof begins to melt, the water may seep into cracks and crevices, compromising the integrity of your roof and leading to more substantial mold and mildew damage in your home. 

Ice Dams

As snow melts and refreezes, it can form an ice dam along the edge of your roof. These dams can block drainage and lead to water backup. As we already discussed above, melting snow can lead to significant structural problems for your home. 

How to Prevent Snow Load

Understanding the risk of snow load is the first step in addressing the problem. However, there are several steps you can take to protect your roof and home during the winter months. Some things you can do to protect your roof include:

• Regular snow removal: Removing snow from your roof is one of the easiest ways to protect your home. Using a snow rake or roof shovel can help you clear the surface. However, it is best to do this carefully to reduce the risk of damage. 
• Reinforce roof structure: For homes in areas that receive especially heavy snowfall, it might be a good idea to reinforce the structure. This can involve adding extra support beams and trusses can ensure it can support more snow. 
• Proper insulation and ventilation: Ensuring your attic is properly insulated and ventilated is a great way to prevent snow load from causing damage to your home. When it’s properly ventilated and insulated, hot air can’t melt snow from the roof, reducing the chance of snow dams.  
• Snow guards: Installing snow guards on your roof can prevent snow from sliding off in large sheets. This can be especially dangerous for people below the edge of the roof. Snow guards allow snow to melt gradually and prevent excessive snow from falling off the roof. 
• Regular roof inspections: Regular roof inspections, especially before winter weather begins, can help you identify any existing problems with your roof. These inspections give you time to address the damage before the snow load causes more significant damage. 
• Emergency preparedness: In more extreme cases, where snow load risks are high, it is best to have an emergency preparedness plan in place. This plan can include having an evacuation plan, knowing how to turn off utilities, and having a way to reach emergency services in case of a roof collapse. 

Protect Your Roof with Lifetime Roofing

In Utah’s harsh winter climate, it is essential that homeowners understand the risks associated with snow load on their roofs. While there are many risks associated with this common roof problem, implementing measures such as snow removal, reinforcing the roof structure, and ensuring proper insulation can help keep homeowners safe. 

At Lifetime Roofing, our team wants to help you keep your roof safe. Our team of roofing experts can help you determine a proper maintenance plan for your roof. If you are interested in scheduling roof maintenance or are experiencing roof damage and would like to schedule repairs, contact our team today. 

Roof inspections play a critical role in ensuring your roof can adequately protect your home from unexpected damage. If you believe it is time for your roof to receive an inspection, you may consider performing it yourself. However, if you choose to perform a DIY roof inspection, there are several steps you should take to ensure your safety throughout the process.

While they may not seem like an especially difficult task, performing a DIY roof inspection without proper preparation may lead to serious injuries. Our team at Lifetime Roofing wants you to understand what steps you need to take to ensure your safety throughout the process. 

1. Practice Ladder Safety

When performing a DIY roof inspection, one of your most important tools is your ladder. But, if you have never used a ladder for a task like this, it is important that you practice proper ladder safety. To do so, you should first ensure that your ladder is tall enough for the job. Don’t attempt to reach for out-of-reach surfaces from the top of your ladder. You should also ensure the ladder is planted properly on the ground. 

Then, while climbing the ladder, wear appropriate, slip-resistant footwear and maintain three points of contact as you climb (two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands). Above all else, take your time. If you try to rush, you may make unexpected mistakes and end up hurting yourself. No roof inspection is worth that risk.  

2. Don’t Do It Alone

While performing a DIY roof inspection is certainly quicker on your own, you should never do it completely alone. Performing a roof inspection is already risky; having another person with you ensures that if something goes wrong, you have someone watching your back.

Having a second person with you is also helpful if you are trying to get equipment onto the roof. They may hand equipment to you instead of having to try to push it up a ladder on your own. Ultimately, performing a DIY roof inspection should always be a two-person job. 

3. Check Weather Conditions

Checking the weather before you perform a DIY roof inspection is essential in guaranteeing your safety while on your roof. Some weather conditions, including wind, rain, or snow, can complicate completion. With rain and snow, the surface of your roof may become too slippery for you to safely stand on the roof.

In addition to the safety risks associated with a DIY roof inspection during inclement weather, some weather may obscure portions of your roof, making it difficult to fully assess the condition of your roof. You may not catch problems with the roof due to a build-up of snow, meaning you may end up experiencing problems with your roof because you missed them. 

4. Use Safety Harnesses

No matter how well-intentioned you are, you are not immune from making mistakes. On the roof, these mistakes can quickly turn into opportunities to seriously injure yourself. To avoid this, you should always ensure you are wearing a safety harness when performing a DIY roof inspection. 

Wearing a safety harness gives you an anchor point, attaching you to the strongest and most stable part of your roof. It protects you from slips and falls that may result from debris underfoot. With the safety harness, you can rest assured that, even if you fall, something is providing resistance that will catch you before you get injured. 

5. Watch Your Step

It isn’t uncommon for debris to make its way onto your roof. Whether it is blown up there by the wind or the debris comes from the roof itself, be sure to watch your step as you perform your DIY roof inspection. It is not uncommon for wind storms to pull up roof shingles. 

These storms may leave debris resting loosely on the roof’s surface. When you put your body weight on this debris, it may slip underneath you, potentially causing you to fall. Watch every step you take as you perform your DIY roof inspection to ensure you don’t slip or hurt yourself. 

6. Take Your Time

When performing a DIY roof inspection, don’t rush yourself. It is when you rush that you start to make unintentional mistakes. The last place you want to be is perched atop your roof when you begin to make these unintentional mistakes. To avoid these mistakes, ensure you move slowly. As we stated above, watch every step you take. 

There is no time limit on how slowly or quickly a roof inspection should take. By taking your time, you ensure your safety as you navigate the roof while guaranteeing you don’t miss any damage you might have quickly skipped over otherwise. 

7. Consider Calling A Professional

If you are considering a DIY roof inspection but are on the fence about it, you should consider calling a professional for help. While it is more costly to call a professional to perform your inspection, it is certainly worth the money spent. 

A team of roofing professionals has years of experience and equipment that will guarantee their safety while they perform the inspection. Don’t feel like you have to perform the inspection yourself if you feel nervous. It isn’t worth the safety risks, especially if you have a fear of heights or are lacking proper safety equipment. 

Skip The DIY Roof Inspection, Call Lifetime Roofing Instead 

Roof inspections may not be as straightforward as they seem. If you think it is time for your roof to receive an inspection, you should consider forgoing a DIY roof inspection and instead call a professional roofing company. At Lifetime Roofing, our team of experts can quickly and safely perform a roof inspection for your home, ensuring no damage is missed. 

If your roof is damaged, or you would like a member of our team to come out to inspect your roof, contact us today. 

When building your home, there are many options to consider. From the color of your home’s siding to the tiles used in your kitchen, every detail is yours to decide. But you might not have considered different roofing options, including whether a flat roof suits your home. 

While this roofing style might not be popular among your neighbors, you may think it fits your home well. But, before you decide on a flat roof for your home, you must consider all of this option’s benefits and drawbacks. Our team at Lifetime Roofing has compiled a list for you to read through which may help you make this decision.

1. Pro: They’re More Energy-Efficient

Sloped roofs are more common among homeowners. However, this more popular option is not the more energy-efficient option. There is a lot of space between your living space and the top of your roof if you have a sloped roof installed in your home. When warming and cooling your home, this air may rise and escape, eventually costing homeowners more money.

Unlike sloped roofs, with a flat roof there isn’t a great deal of additional space overhead to warm or cool. Because there is not as much space overhead, you don’t have to worry about your HVAC system working overtime to heat or cool your home, saving you money long-term. 

2. Con: You May Have To Replace Them Earlier Than Sloped Roofs

While the lifespan of every roof will vary from home to home and state to state, there is a consensus that flat roofs have a shorter lifespan than sloped roofs. On average, a sloped roof should last for 25 or more years. Unlike sloped roofs, a flat roof has a lifespan of 10 to 20 years.

The lifespan of your flat roof will vary based on the materials used by your roofing company. While new materials may extend the life of your roof, there is no guarantee that they will last nearly as long as the materials used for sloped roofs. A flat roof may not be a good option if you are not interested in a more high-maintenance roofing option.  

3. Pro: Less Expensive Roofing Option

Construction costs increase as the amount of space covered increases. This price increase is due to the need for more materials. Because of this, a sloped roof is more expensive than a flat roof because of the need for extra materials. 

A flat roof does not require nearly as much material for completion, making it a cheaper option for homeowners. While this price may even out just a bit when you consider potential repairs, it is certainly a less expensive option to start. 

4. Con: Drainage Issues Are Not Uncommon

If you live in a place that receives a lot of precipitation, proper roof drainage is likely an essential factor to consider when getting a new roof. Sloped roofs have one significant benefit over flat roofs. No matter how much it rains or snows, water is pushed toward the edge of your roof.

With a flat roof, there is a greater chance of water pooling toward the center of your roof. This pooling can cause more significant problems, leading to leaks in your roof. While regular roof maintenance should protect you from severe damage, pooling and leaking is still possible. 

5. Pro: Increases Usable Space

One significant benefit of a flat roof is the increase in usable space. Unlike a sloped roof with no usable space, a flat roof provides many options to homeowners. If you have the ability to access your roof from the ground, you could use your flat roof to create an outdoor living space or a small garden. 

These roofs also allow for more solar panels if you choose. Adding more solar panels to your roof only adds to the energy efficiency of your flat roof that we previously discussed. While this usable space isn’t added to your home’s overall square footage, it is an appealing option to consider. 

6. Con: Not Considered As “Stylish”

As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, flat roofs might not be popular among your neighbors. If you are considering the appearance of homes in your neighborhood when choosing the best roof for your home, flat roofs may not fit the neighborhood aesthetic as well. 

Flat roofs are most popular in homes in more arid climates. If this doesn’t match where you live, you may only see flat roofs on commercial properties. Mismatching your roof from those of your neighbors might not be a popular choice among homebuyers if you ever choose to sell, making it an important factor to consider before committing. 

Is A Flat Roof Right For Your Home?

Whether a flat roof is suitable for your home is ultimately up to you. Each home’s style is a reflection of its homeowner, and you should decide if this roofing option is right for you. While each factor we have listed above is important, you have the final say in whether you get this roof installed on your home. 

Getting A Flat Roof With Lifetime Roofing

If you believe a flat roof is an excellent option for your home, you should seek out a team of professionals you know you can trust. With years of experience and happy customers, our team at Lifetime Roofing is confident that we can create the perfect roof for your home.

In addition to our flat roof services, we provide roof repairs, roof maintenance, and roof replacement services to homes across Northern Utah. If you are interested in getting a flat roof for your home or would like to speak to a member of our team, reach out to us today.