Which Worcester roofs carry the most snow risk, how to clear them safely, and when to get out.
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Snow load is the weight of snow and ice on a roof, and flat or low-pitched roofs carry the most risk. Massachusetts guidance says to clear snow from the ground with a plastic shovel or roof rake, leaving two to three inches, and to stay off the roof. Sagging, cracked wood or doors popping open mean leave and call 911.
Snow is the heaviest seasonal load on a central Massachusetts roof, and it is the one homeowners most often handle the wrong way. The Weather Service describes nor'easters as systems that bring heavy, wet snow, and the heaviest snow usually falls north and west of the surface low's track. That is the central Massachusetts load case: wet snow that is heavier than dry snow, combined with the gusts that drift it against walls, dormers and porch roofs. The roof has to carry that weight for as long as it stays on, and a thaw can change the load within a day.
Flat and low-pitched roofs face the greatest risk. The state's roof collapse guidance says they are most at risk of buckling under heavy snow and ice, and that the risk applies mostly to industrial buildings but also to some homes. Rear ells, additions and low sections of a three-decker are the places where that risk sits on a house. The city's code sets a ground snow load for each town, and the building department confirms the figure for a given address.
Snow removal on a house is done from the ground, and it is done with care. Use a plastic shovel or a roof rake, leave about two to three inches on the shingles rather than scraping to them, and stay off the roof unless a registered professional engineer has approved the work. If the building shows any of the warning signs in the state guidance, the advice changes: leave the building and call 911 from outside. A technician can review the roof after a storm and advise on the structure, and phones are answered 24/7 at (833) 751-2102.
Do not climb onto the roof, use a ladder against the eave to reach snow, or stand under falling snow or ice while clearing a roof. Do not use heat tools or torches to melt ice, and do not place heavy equipment on the roof. The state's guidance says to use a plastic shovel or roof rake from the ground, to leave two to three inches on the shingles, and to stay off the roof unless a registered professional engineer approves.
The homeowner or the technician looks from the ground for sagging lines, uneven snow depth and ice at the edges. Drifts against a wall, a dormer or a porch roof are noted, along with any snow sliding from an upper roof onto a lower one. This look costs nothing and tells the crew whether the structure needs more attention before anyone goes near the roof.
A technician checks the attic and the wall lines for cracked members and for separation, and reports whether the roof needs a professional engineer's review. The state's guidance says no one should stand on a roof or place heavy equipment there unless a registered professional engineer approves. Where the structure looks compromised, the work stops at this point and the building is cleared first.
Where the roof is sound and the work can be done safely, snow is cleared with a plastic shovel or a roof rake reached from the ground. The aim is to leave about two to three inches on the shingles rather than scraping down to them, because scraping can damage the covering and the flashing beneath it.
Ice at the eaves is treated as an attic and ventilation problem rather than a chipping task. The work is recorded alongside the ice dam plan, so the same winter does not repeat it. Clearing gutters and downspouts before the next storm helps meltwater drain away from the eave.
The technician notes any cracked boards, sagging lines or displaced flashing and writes them into a list for warmer weather. Snow damage is often revealed only when the snow has gone, so the note is the link between the storm and the repair that follows.
No single number is printed here. The code sets a ground snow load for each town, and the building department confirms the figure for a given address. The practical test is what the roof and the framing show, rather than a depth measured on the ground.
Snow load depends on the weight of the snow, which changes quickly with a thaw and a fresh fall of wet snow. A roof that held a dry snowpack all winter can be stressed by one wet storm.
Clear it from the ground with a plastic shovel or roof rake, if you can reach it safely, and leave about two to three inches on the shingles. Do not climb up to do it, and do not use a ladder against the eave.
Scraping down to the shingles can damage the covering and loosen the flashing, which is one reason the state advises leaving a layer of snow behind. A plastic tool is less likely to cut the shingle surface than a metal one, and a roof rake lets the work be done from the ground.
Flat and low-pitched roofs are at the greatest risk of buckling under snow and ice, according to the state's roof collapse guidance. Rear ells, additions and low sections of a three-decker are the places this risk usually sits on a house.
The risk grows where snow stays longest and where drifts form. A low roof beside a taller one collects the snow that slides from above, and a roof in the shade of a larger building keeps its snow for longer.
Leave the building and call 911 from outside. Do not go back inside to collect belongings, and do not try to shore up the structure yourself.
The warning signs in the state guidance are sagging roofs, severe leaks, cracked wood members and doors popping open. Any one of them is reason to leave, and the sign that appears first is often a door that will not close properly in the upper rooms.
Yes. Snow and ice can break shingles, drive water under them and lift flashing, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles weather the covering over the season. NIST notes that asphalt shingles' ability to withstand direct mechanical loads may be compromised after thermal cycling, UV and freeze-thaw exposure.
The covering is damaged in two ways: by the weight and abrasion of snow and ice during the storm, and by the cumulative effect of freeze and thaw over the season. Shingles that were already aging are the first to fail under that combination, which is why a snow season is a good time to look for weak areas.
Flat and low-pitched roofs face the greatest risk of buckling under snow and ice. These sections are common on rear ells and additions, and they hold snow for longer than the steep main roof. Their drains and seams are checked before winter, because a blocked drain adds water to the load and a failed seam lets it in. Low sections are covered in flat and low-slope roof repair.
Steep roofs shed snow more readily, but the snow that slides from them lands somewhere. Drifts build against walls, dormers and porch roofs, and sliding snow can strike a lower roof or a doorway. The homeowner should keep people and cars clear of the eave line during and after a storm.
Metal roofs shed snow quickly, which makes the landing area the main concern rather than the load on the roof. A roof above a doorway, a walkway or a driveway needs that area considered when the roof is planned, and snow retention is part of the design. The technician explains where the snow will fall before the work is chosen.
The nor'easter season in central Massachusetts runs from September to April and brings the heavy, wet snow that loads roofs hardest. The Weather Service notes that the heaviest snow usually falls north and west of the storm track, so a house in the city can receive a different load from a house a few miles away in the hill towns.
Worcester's three-decker belt has a roof pattern that concentrates snow. A main roof slides its load onto porch roofs and rear sections below, and porch stacks and bays can catch drifts that build up against the building. Main South, Belmont Hill and Vernon Hill have many of these buildings, and the lower roofs are the first to show stress.
The mill-village housing in the Blackstone valley means whole rows of houses of the same age and form carry the same load at once. A single heavy storm tests a full street of roofs in the same way, so a homeowner who sees a sagging line on one house should check the neighbours' roofs as well.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent roof snow load and snow removal, send the form and we'll call you back.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
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Flat and low-pitched roofs carry the greatest risk of buckling under heavy snow and ice.
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The code sets a ground snow load for each town, and the building department confirms the figure for a specific address. This site does not print a load figure, because the number depends on the address and on the code edition in force. Ask the Department of Inspectional Services for the figure for your property if you need it for a repair or a structural question.
Stay on the ground and use a plastic shovel or a roof rake. Leave about two to three inches of snow on the shingles rather than scraping down to them, which protects the covering and the flashing. Keep people and cars clear of the eave line, and do not use a ladder against the house to reach snow.
Flat and low-pitched roofs are at the greatest risk of buckling under snow and ice. Rear ells, additions and low sections of a three-decker are the usual places this sits on a house. Drifts against walls and porch roofs add to the risk, so the low areas near the main roof should be checked after each storm.
The state's roof collapse guidance lists sagging roofs, severe leaks, cracked wood members and doors popping open as warning signs of structural trouble. Any one of them means the building is under stress. Leave the building and call 911 from outside, and wait for the building to be assessed before going back in.
It can. Snow and ice can break shingles, drive water under them and lift flashing, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles weather the covering over the season. NIST notes that asphalt shingles' ability to withstand direct mechanical loads may be compromised after those exposures, so a winter is a good time to check for weak areas in spring.
No particular license is required for rooftop snow and ice removal, according to the Attorney General. That makes it important to confirm that the business is legitimate and insured before it works on the roof. The safer option for most homes is clearing from the ground, and a technician can assess the structure when the roof is under stress.