Addressing the Snowy Dangers of Roof Cave-Ins

In some areas of the country, the 2010-2011 winter season has been fierce. Despite the recent prediction by Punxsutawney Phil that spring will come early for the snow and ice weary masses, indications from more educated and reliable sources are pointing to signs that it’s not quite over yet. If you have a roof that’s struggling under the heavy weight of snow, check with your insurance company to find out if you’re covered in the event of a collapsed roof. If you’re not, you might consider increasing your coverage or getting homeowner insurance quotes to see who can give you the best coverage—stat.

Although most people assume their roofs are safe from collapse, the facts show that even homes with pitched roofs are at risk for giving way under the right conditions—or the wrong conditions, depending on how you look at it. Homes and commercial buildings that have exceptional insulation keep the warmth in, and that’s a great thing if you’re trying to keep warm, but a bad thing if you’re trying to melt snow off a roof.

Signs that your roof may be at risk for buckling under the weight of snow include:
 

• Obvious sagging
• Creaking or popping noises
• Roof leaks
• A flat roof (although individuals with pitched roofs can still suffer cave-ins)

Bear in mind that just because mother nature is dumping far too much snow for your home to handle, it isn’t an automatic qualifier for insurance coverage if your roof collapses. If you’re comparison shopping, be sure to read the details in your homeowner quote about the important steps you need to take to ensure snow buildup doesn’t get out of hand.