The information in this article can also be found on our website under the peril “Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet”, however, some of the information in this article relates solely to “Ice Damming” claims. It is important not to confuse this coverage with the peril of collapse.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Severe damage to a buildings structural components resulting from “Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet” must be reported correctly. A policyholder or their public adjuster who incorrectly files a claim under the peril of  COLLAPSE may result in a denied claim and unnecessary litigation for indemnity. Please see the peril for collapse on our website.

“Ice Damming”, is usually covered under the peril of Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet and the damages typically occur over a period of time when snow repeatedly melts and refreezes causing ice expansion and water infiltration into the roofing system’s primary protective materials and then into their underlayments.

REGION & CLIMATE 

Depending on your region’s climate this process of repeated melting and refreezing can continue unnoticed for months.  Over a period of severe winter weather where a roof is covered in snow the damages to a roof system may go unnoticed until water penetrates the buildings interior materials. In addition, damaged roofing materials may not be visible for months and or until a complete thaw, or may only be noticed during a heavy downpour during the spring and or summer months.

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

Buildings constructed with a heavier (30 lb) pound felt, ice shields and architectural shingles afford better protection because the newer composite architectural shingles are more resistant to bending or lifting and together with a 30 pound felt and an ice shield these materials may save the roofing system’s underlayment (a/k/a “decking”), however, most ice shields only cover areas close to the a roofs eaves / overhang so that ice damming beyond the ice shield can still cause significant damages in severe climates.

DENIALS & SCAMS VS. PROPER MAINTENANCE

Many carrier’s deny roof claims citing; 1. a policyholder’s failure to properly maintain their roof, 2. poor or non industry construction standards, or 3. materials that are beyond a manufacturer’s life expectancy.  In many cases a carrier will only pay to patch your roof using their prefered vendors, however, if a substantial number of roofing materials display lifting and or splitting, the entire roofing system is likely compromised and will need  replacement.

DON’T GET SNOWED BY YOUR CARRIER, THEIR AGENTS OR THEIR PREFERED VENDORS!

You should never settle for spot patching your roof, nor should you subscribe to an adjusters suggestion to report your claim only after your roof begins to leak. If the roof shows signs of splitting or lifting, the materials are compromised and anyone advising you to wait for hot weather to allow the roof to flatten and reseal is giving you bad information and trying to cheat you out of your insurance benefits.

A CARRIER’S RESPONSIBILITY

It is a carrier’s responsibility to inspect your property for its insurability as a viable risk.  If a carrier denies a claim for pre existing damage and or poor material conditions, it is their responsibility to prove their case and it is your right to challenge their findings.

ROOF DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

All properly built roofs, whether for residences or commercial applications, should be built to withstand a “design” precipitation, snow and ice load. The snow design load is based upon the expected frequency and severity of snowstorms. It also considers such factors as the type of structure, materials used for construction and the risk to human life and safety.

It should be remembered that the snow load is only a portion of the total design load, which will include wind and dead loads. Dead loads are loads that account for the weight of the roof structure itself. While the total design load may be 2 to 4 times greater than the design snow load alone, the weight of the snow, if it exceeds the design snow load, may cause structural failure. If the blueprint and construction documents for the structure are available, they should provide the correct design snow load.

Clearly, poor materials, construction and post-construction maintenance can result in a weaker structure with an actual load capacity significantly lower than the design load. Therefore, proper materials and techniques should be followed for construction. After construction, proper maintenance is vital and any damage should be repaired as soon as possible. Knowledgeable professional assistance should always be sought.

DESIGN, SNOW LOAD / DENSITY & CORRESPONDING ICE AND WATER IN INCHES

The weight of accumulated snow/ice, not the depth, is critical in assessing a roof’s vulnerability. The water content of snow may range from 3% for very dry snow to 33% for a wet, heavy snow, to nearly 100% for ice. An inch of water depth weighs 5.2 lbs. per square foot. Thus, a roof designed to carry a snow load of 20 lbs. per horizontal square foot is expected to support nearly 12 inches of wet, heavy snow. Please see the Design Snow Load & Corresponding Ice and or Water in Inches Chart below for information regarding snow and ice densities and the equivalent inches of water for various snow loads.