Protect Your Roof during Calgary’s Harsh Winters

Weather, whether you like it today or not, plays a big role in the lives of Calgarians - harsh winters, hot summers and its effects are common place. So while we readily acknowledge how we are affected by both the cold and heat, we often are unaware of its effects on the roof of our homes. Making the right decisions about your roof ensures your home's optimal performance and safeguards your peace of mind.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac 2016 Long Range Weather Forecast for Calgary, AB: “Winter temperatures will be colder than normal, with the coldest periods in mid-December, throughout January, and mid-February. Snowfall will be below normal in most of the Prairies but above normal in the Calgary region, with the snowiest periods in late November, mid-December, and late March.”

With cold weather and snowfall on the agenda, The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers four steps to preventing costly roof damage as a result of long stretches of severe winter weather.

“Proper maintenance and care is critical to avoiding significant property damage due to severe winter weather,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO. “If snow and ice piles on your roof, it’s important to safely remove it by staying on the ground using a snow roof rake."

If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, call Century Roofing’s Calgary roofing contractors to help you safely remove the heavy snow and ice.

Evaluate Your Risk: Melting snow tends to more quickly run off of steep sloped roofs, particularly the steeper ones typically found on houses in northern climates. Ice and snow tend to more readily accumulate on low slope and flat roofs over porches, verandas or parts of a home that are next to a taller section of the house, especially during high winds.

Estimate How Much Weight Your Roof Can Support: Unless the roof structure is damaged or decayed, most residential roofs, regardless of the location of the house, should be able to support 98 kilograms per square metre of snow before they become stressed.

Estimate How Much the Snow on Your Roof Weighs: New Snow = 30 centimetres, equal to 2.5 centimetres of water, or about 24 kilograms per square metre of roof space, so you could have up to 120 centimetres of new snow before the roof will become stressed. Packed snow = 8 - 12 centimetres, equal to 2.5 centimetres of water, or about 24 kilograms per square metre of roof space, so anything more than 60 centimetres of old snow could be too much for your roof to handle.

Remove Snow and Ice from Your Roof: For safe removal that won’t endanger you or damage your roof, use a snow rake with a long extension arm that will allow you to remove the snow while standing on the ground, or hire a snow removal contractor.

At Century Roofing Limited, our Calgary roofing contractors have the experience and skills to tackle any roofing damage caused by winter weather; will provide you with a clear, written estimate; and, complete the repairs efficiently and without delay.

Whether you’ve noticed problems or simply want to extend your roof’s life, contact us today online or by phone at 403-235-5457 to put Century Roofing Limited to work for you.