There are many benefits to having a metal roof on your home or business — but sometimes it can be harder to know how to keep up with your roof’s maintenance when you don’t have a traditional asphalt surface.
However, if you are dealing with snowfall on your metal roof, you will want to determine how to deal with its removal sooner than later, as the last thing that you want to deal with is snow damage on your roof’s metal surface. That being said, you also don’t want to go about removing snow in a way that could possibly harm your roof’s surface, as this could do more harm than good.
In this article, we will go over the considerations that you should have when removing snow from a metal roof.
How Do You Know When to Remove Snow From a Metal Roof?
Snow is a common occurrence every winter season, but does that mean that you have to expect to consistently clear off your roof? Not necessarily.
While you may feel determined to remove snow from your roof’s surface immediately following every single snowfall, it is not actually recommended that you take this approach. The reason for this is that the act of removing snow can be dangerous under slippery conditions. Sometimes, the risk is not worth the removal.
However, there will be occasions when you have no choice but to remove the snow from your roof. One thing to consider is your roof’s weight capacity. If you know that your roof has a relatively low capacity, and if your area has experienced a winter storm that has brought large volumes of snow and ice, you may make the decision to remove the snow in order to lower the risk of a disastrous collapse.
Another thing to consider is the slope of your roof. If your metal roof is flat, it may be more susceptible to large accumulations than a sloped roof.
How Do You Remove Snow From a Metal Roof?
While it is possible to take on the job of removing snow from a metal roof yourself, it is always better to entrust the help of the professionals. Not only can snow removal be a dangerous undertaking, but non-professional snow removers also run the risk of doing a substandard job and having to get back on the roof a second time.
For starters, a homeowner should never simply step onto their metal roof with a shovel expecting to remove the snow. The surface of the roof can be incredibly slippery and the risk of fall greatly outweighs the benefit of having your roof cleared. The best way to clear a roof on an amateur basis is by using a specialized tool that comes in the shape of a long pole with a 90-degree angle that can be used to push snow off the roof. However, it is important that you take care to not fill up your gutters.
Professional snow removal professionals will know how to safely climb onto your roof and remove the amount of snow that is necessary using a plastic (never metal) shovel. They will also know how to avoid loading up weaker areas of the roof with snow, which could otherwise cause a collapse.
A roofing professional will also know which specific types of safety equipment to bring with them in order to safely scale the top of your building. In some cases, they may even ask for a copy of your home or business’s blueprints so that they can have a greater understanding of the layout of a roof.
Roofing Experts in Burnaby
If you are looking for roof contractors in Burnaby, Canuck Roofing is here for you. We believe that the health of a home or a business depends on the health of its roof — that’s why we specialize in roofing repairs, roofing installations, as well as general roofing considerations. If you are seeking help with your metal roof in Burnaby, please get in touch with us today!