Is Your Roof Ready for Santa & His Reindeer?

The twinkling lights are up, the festive songs are on repeat, and the scent of fresh pine mingles with the aroma of gingerbread cookies in the air. Yes, the holiday season is upon us, bringing with it its cheerful chaos and cozy nights. But amid the flurry of gift wrapping and hot cocoa sipping, there's one crucial question that might just slip through the cracks: Is your roof ready for Santa’s landing?

Let's face it, while we all adore the magic of the holiday season, the reality of roof maintenance can't be ignored, especially around this time of year. To provide some expert guidance, we spoke with a roofing professional about how to keep your roof safe and sturdy this winter. 

How Much Weight Can Your Roof Support?

Do you think your roof is sturdy enough to welcome Santa and his team of hoofed friends? Let's explore the nuts and bolts that determine whether your roof can bear the load.
Pitched roofs don't just add a quaint charm; they're also better at dispersing weight and tend to be sturdier than flat roofs. As for roofing material, metal, slate, and tile roofs top the durability charts, boasting a resilience that's both reliable and long-lasting. Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, are more susceptible to wear and tear and don’t usually last as long as other roofs.

However, what will dictate the overall integrity of your roof is its underlying structure: the frame, decking, and underlayment. These elements are what keep your roof robust. If they're in tip-top shape, the average roof can hold up to 20 pounds per square foot of snow. That's about 31,200 pounds in total for a standard-sized roof!

Is Your Roof Ready for Santa?

Let's crunch some festive numbers. Although this may be up for debate, Santa seems to tip the scales at around 260 pounds, while his nine reindeer average out at 345 pounds each, bringing the total reindeer weight to 3,105 pounds. The sleigh, brimming with presents for children across the globe, weighs in at a whopping 2,546,879 pounds. That brings us to a grand total of 2,550,244 lbs of weight on your roof, the equivalent of around 400 feet of fluffy snow, which is 80 times more than your roof can support!

This is obviously way beyond the realms of any residential roof's capabilities. But hold on to your stockings! We're talking about the realm of Christmas magic here, where Santa's sleigh is buoyed by good tidings. So, while in reality, your roof may balk at such figures, the enchantment of Christmas ensures that the only thing your roof needs to support Santa and his sleigh is the twinkle of holiday spirit and some adequate maintenance.

The Best Roof for Snow: Winter Prep Advice from a Roofing Santa

We checked in with Todd Miller, our very own ‘Roofing Santa,’ who sleighed the advice on keeping your roof safe and sturdy this winter.

Which type of roof is best suited for areas with heavy snowfall?

Roofing Santa: There are two things to address in areas subject to heavy snow. Temperature and then the snow / ice itself. The roofing industry by and large recognizes that metal is the best product at handling low temperatures and also at resisting snow and ice damage. Roofing materials such as asphalt and even tile can become more brittle in cold weather. This makes them more prone to long term damage by the hot-cold weather cycle. It also makes it more difficult to walk in cold temperatures or for Santa's sleigh to land on! Metal roofs on the other hand are unaffected by temperature extremes. Also, because they are made of a nonporous material, they do not absorb water that then will freeze and turn to ice. Ice buildup inside of tile material will cause it to crack. As far as the weight of snow, metal is also resilient but keep in mind that typically on a residential roof, you have plywood or other solid material on the roof deck. This plywood passes the weight load of the snow from the roof's surface to the structure. Structures in snow areas are engineered to be able to safely handle that kind of weight load.

What are common signs that a roof is struggling under snow?

Roofing Santa: Seeing displaced shingles, panels, tiles, or flashings after a bad snow is a sign that something needs to be addressed. In most cases, though, such things are actually caused by ice buildup on the roof rather than purely by the snow.

How can you prepare your roof for heavy snow loads?

Roofing Santa: Having an attic that is ventilated per building code requirements is very important to the winter performance of a roof. A well-vented attic means that any heat that does escape from the living space is vented to the outside. This avoids hot spots on the roof where the snow melts. Such melted snow will run down the roof and re-freeze into ice over the home's cold overhangs. That ice can then cause tiles to crack and work its way up under the shingles. This can lead to water infiltration into the home's walls and overhangs and even the living space.

How often should a roof be inspected during winter?

Roofing Santa: As long as there were no obvious concerns with the roof going into winter, I'd just take a look from the ground after each major snow event to make sure no visible damage has occurred. Then, of course, a look at the roof in the spring is important. Use binoculars to look at metal flashings against walls, chimneys and skylights to make sure that nothing has been displaced or pulled out of place.

Can snow guards or other roof accessories improve safety?

Roofing Santa: Snow guards can help to ensure that snow sliding off of the roof does not damage things on the ground around the home such as shrubbery or statuary. They can also help protect the home's gutters. While ultimately it is always best to let the snow slide from the roof, especially with metal roofs, it can slide quickly. Oftentimes, as soon as the sun comes out, the snow load melts a bit on its underside as the metal heats up a bit. Then, the snow wants to slide. Using snow guards to break up the snow and cause it to slide in smaller chunks bit by bit rather than in one fell swoop can protect gutters, shrubs, etc. Snow guards are typically small castings placed about every 18" near the wall line of the home. 

Snow bars also exist. Snow bars run horizontally the full width of the roof. I tend to shy away from snow bars on roofing materials that have horizontal overlaps or interlocks. The snow bars can actually hold snow on the roof until it forms ice and then such ice can work its way underneath the roofing. Snow bars are good though for things like standing seam roofs that do not have horizontal seams.

How does roof insulation affect snow accumulation and melting?

Roofing Santa: Insulation and also sealing of air leaks from the living space is very important. Interior ceiling light fixtures should be sealed around with a fire resistant foam to help stop air leaks into the attic. Air leaks into the attic from the living space can cause the snow to melt on the roof, leading to the ice formation on the roof which is never good.

Ensuring a Safe and Sound Landing

While Christmas magic may suspend the laws of physics for a single night, the reality of snow, ice, and cold temperatures demands proactive roof maintenance. As our "Roofing Santa" Todd Miller emphasizes, the key to a robust winter roof lies in the structure's ability to manage temperature, moisture, and weight.

Choosing the right type of roofing provides superior resilience against temperature extremes and ice damage, but regardless of the material, a well-engineered roof deck and structure are essential for handling snow loads. Most importantly, homeowners must focus on the crucial trio of ventilation, insulation, and air sealing to prevent attic heat from creating dangerous ice dams. Regular visual roof inspections, especially after major snow events, will ensure that your roof stays sturdy and ready for any season.

By following these expert tips, you not only ensure your home is protected throughout the winter season but also that your roof is ready for whatever festive or frosty weather may come your way.