Living near the mountains means dealing with snow loads that lower valley communities rarely experience. Hope and surrounding areas can receive significant snowfall, and that weight puts tremendous stress on roofing structures.
Understanding Snow Load
Snow load is measured in pounds per square foot (psf). Fresh powder weighs about 3 psf per foot of depth, but our "Cascade concrete" wet snow can weigh 20+ psf per foot—nearly seven times heavier.
BC Building Code requires roofs in Hope to handle minimum 1.9 kPa (40 psf) ground snow load. However, some micro-climates require higher ratings.
Signs of Excessive Snow Load
- Doors becoming difficult to open or close
- Visible sagging in the roofline
- Cracking sounds from roof structure
- Cracks appearing in drywall near ceiling
- Windows or doors popping out of frames
Safe Snow Removal
Never climb on a snow-covered roof. Use a roof rake from ground level to remove snow from eaves. Leave 2-3 inches to avoid damaging shingles.
- Remove snow in layers, not all at once
- Start from edges and work toward center
- Remove snow evenly from both sides
- Never use salt or chemicals on roofing
Metal roofing naturally sheds snow. If you are building new or re-roofing in a high-snow area, consider standing seam metal.