Ho, ho, ho: Is your roof ready for snow and more?

By Emma Peterson. 

Snow won’t be the only thing on your rooftop, a visit from Santa’s sleigh is expected soon and we want to make sure your roof is ready! 

From strings of lights in the night to the magic of the first snowfall, winter can be a time of wonder and joy. But wintertime still has its dark side, that can look like unexpected snowstorms and impossible to organize schedules. As we go into the holidays, you want to make sure you are as prepared as possible to handle any potential issues and just enjoy the fun stuff!  

One thing is to consider how much weight your roof can handle, especially if a certain jolly fellow might be making a stop at your home! Roof weight capacities are divided into two different measurements, the dead load and live load. The dead load refers to the roof and its accessories alone. In other words, "The amount of weight supported by materials like flashings, gutters and construction glue.” The live load refers to the weight that accumulates over time from things like rainwater, snow and maybe a sleigh. In general, most residential roofs are designed for dead loads of ten to twenty pounds per square foot. As for live loads, most building codes require an additional 20 pounds per square foot of support. But it’s important to check with your roofing contractor about your specific scenario for the best understanding of what your roof can support!  

If we use these measurements as a baseline, the average home in the U.S. can support around 31,200 pounds of live weight. So are you ready for Santa (and maybe some snow too)? 

According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (who runs a yearly program to track Santa’s process through the night), Santa is around 5’7” and weighs around 260 pounds. But Santa isn’t the only one visiting, if you’re hoping for an appearance from Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course Rudolph, you should calculate an additional 3,105 pounds on your roof (the reindeer weigh around 345 pounds each). And we haven’t even considered the sleigh! Though its weight may vary throughout the night as the present pile shrinks, the National Museum of the United States Air Force estimates Santa’s sleigh to weigh 300 pound empty and “2,546,879 pounds at maximum load with toys for all the girls and boys.” So, if you get a holly, jolly visitor this holiday, you can expect around 2,550,244 pounds landing on your roof!  

The good, or bad news, is that this is equivalent to the weight of just over 400 feet of fluffy snow! So, while you might need some holiday magic to make sure Santa’s landing goes smoothly, your roof is not going to need to handle that much weight in snow all winter. And the general 31,200 pounds of live weight should keep you safe!  

If you want to be extra safe with your roof this season, there are a few tips and tricks you can use: 

• Call a professional: The best way to stay confident in your roof is to get a professional out to evaluate it. A roof inspection is a great spot to start! These often cost between $300 and $600 and can help you identify any repairs that might be needed and how your roof is doing overall. 
• Clean the gutters: Clearing out your gutters is helpful for a multitude of reasons. The main function of gutters is to direct precipitation away from your home. If they are blocked by debris such as leaves, water can build up and cause damage to your roof or home’s exterior. A blocked gutter will also add to your home’s live weight and is a great place for unwanted houseguests (such as insects) to hide in.  
• Check the chimney: This might be more important to Santa’s arrival than the snow, but you want to make sure that his route to dropping gifts off is clear! Keeping your chimney clean is also important if you want a cozy holiday by the fire. And a damaged chimney can sometimes have an impact on your overall roof’s integrity, so it’s best to keep an eye on any repair needs before they become problems!  

Photo source: Fixr