Posts from January 12th, 2017
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What is Snow Load and How Can You Keep Your Bend Home Safe?
In light of the collapse of the Highland school gym roof last night, the concerns regarding snow load have really hit home. So what is snow load and what can a Bend homeowner do about it? According to AccuWeather, a cubic foot of dry snow weights about 6 to 8 pounds, while one cubic foot of packed snow could weigh up to 20 pounds. The same volume of ice can weigh three times this amount. Roofs are engineered to handle a certain amount of weight based on their pitch (inches the roof rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally). The steeper the pitch, the less likely snow will accumulate on the roof. Homes with low pitch or flat roofs are at increased risk to accumulate snow and collapse under the snow's weight. The average Bend residential roof is engineered to handle 25 pounds per square foot - which is typically about 20 inches of snow. Older homes, built before building codes were incorporated in Bend in the late 1960's may not meet this minimum standard. When w...