Roofing News

It is that time again when Northern Virginia will be facing harsh winter conditions and dealing with snowstorms. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has provided guidance on how home owners can protect their home from harsh winter conditions, such as roof collapse due to heavy snow.

The IBHS Guidelines To Determine The Weight Of Snow Are:

• Fresh snow: 10-12 inches of new snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 lbs per square foot of roof space, so you could have up to 4 feet of new snow before you need to worry.
• Packed snow: 3-5 inches of old snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 lbs per square foot of roof space, so anything more than 2 feet of old snow could be dangerous.
• The total accumulated weight of two feet of old snow and two feet of new snow could be as high as 60 lbs per square foot of roof space, which is getting toward the design limits of even the best designed roof.
• If there’s ice, it’s much heavier, with one inch equaling about a foot of fresh snow.

The snow weight risk of a roof depends in large part on the age of the home. Older roofs can suffer from corrosion which can reduce the ability to resist high snow loads. In addition, homes with lightweight roofs, such as metal buildings, typically have less capacity to handle a high snow load. For flat roofs, the step-down area between roof sections presents a problem due to the tendency for ice and snow collection.

How Much Weight Can My Roof Handle?

According to IBHS, most roof designs can support at least 20 pounds per square foot. However, design loads can range from 10 pounds to 20 pounds per square foot in Mid-Atlantic states. Of course there are many factors to consider here such as the roof’s condition and age. You should always discuss with a Style Roofing professional whether or not your roof can handle a harsh winter storm.

Properly designing and installing an insulation layer is critical to a roof’s energy efficiency. The National Roofing Contractor’s Association (NRCA) recommends proper design and installation of a roof’s insulation layer because an underinsulated building envelope is not energy-efficient. And from a home owner’s perspective, installing high R-value roof insulation should be a priority for energy efficiency at the roof level. The roofing industry will continue to promote insulation and energy efficiency, as well as traditional methods of weatherproofing.

Ceiling or roof insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways of controlling the outside elements. Ceiling insulation will reduce the amount of radiant heat that enters the home in summer by up to 97% and will also provide some winter thermal protection. Insulation will keep heat inside in the winter as warm air rises. Using the right kind and the right amount of insulation will reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home. This can allow you to run your heating and cooling systems less making them last longer and can potentially reduce the HVAC equipment size required thereby saving additional money.

Properly installed ceiling/roof insulation can also reduce the potential for condensation occurring on interior surfaces causing mold, mildew, rot and dripping. Combining ceiling insulation with adequate ventilation is recommended.

Proper Insulation Layer

A proper design for a roof’s isulation layer is two or more layers of insulation with staggered and offset joints and a cover board layer to separate the primary thermal insulation layer from the membrane. Mechanical fasteners only should be used to secure the bottom layer(s) of insulation, not the top layer. For more information about maximizing your home’s energy, please contact the Style Roofing Team HERE