Read more: Local, Roof, Snow Removal, Ice Removal, Spring Cleaning, Shovel Steep Pitched Homes, Snow, Damage, Shingles, Tools, Contractor, Excess Snow, Roof Rake, Snow Scoop, New Homes, Home, House, Older Home, Roof Cave in, Roof Collapse, Insurance Policy, Risk Prevention, Snow Load, Coverage
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HOUGHTON -- With spring fast approaching, it is not too early to start a little spring cleaning and now is a good time to clear your roof of any excess snow and ice buildup.
To prevent structural problems, snow should be removed after a heavy snowfall.
“If people need to shovel their roofs at this point, most people with steep pitched homes are going to just let remaining snow melt off of their roof. [In] some cases, if you have a low pitched roof, you may need to take some of the snow or ice off,” said owner of Riutta Contracting, Dan Riutta.
When clearing your own roof, you should start at the top and work your way down, but if you are inexperienced, it may be best to hire a contractor to prevent injury.
Dan says it is important to leave at least an inch of snow on the roof if possible because you do not want to scratch or damage the shingles, and there are multiple tools you can use.
“Normally you can use roof rakes in some instances on steeper pitches, but we normally use shovels and snow scoops,” Riutta said.
Newer homes are built to withstand a certain amount of snow, but when it comes to older homes, the roofs tend to be weaker so the snow should be cleared to prevent the roof from collapsing.
When it comes to roof damage, insurance agencies say it is important to know your policy.
“Most people have the standard HO-3 coverage which will cover the snow load that’s on the roof, but the most important thing there is for people to understand: what coverage they have and take a look at their policy,” said President of Wickley Agency, Stephan Olsson.
Experts say risk prevention is key, and so the better you understand your coverage, the better protected your home will be which can help save you money in the long run.
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