Flat and low-pitched roofs are the most at risk from snow and ice. The state says to shave snow to two or three inches with a plastic shovel and never scrape the covering. Sagging, severe leaks or cracked framing mean leave the building at once and call 9-1-1 from outside.
Key takeaways
- Flat and low-pitched roofs are the most at risk of buckling under snow and ice, according to state guidance.
- Snow should be shaved to two or three inches, because scraping down to the covering damages shingles and other coverings.
- Metal tools may damage the roof, so a plastic shovel is the usual choice.
- Standing on the roof and using ladders on icy ground are hazards the state says to avoid.
- Sagging, severe leaks, cracked or split wood members and cracks in masonry are warning signs that mean leave the building.
- The code sets ground snow load town by town, and the local building department confirms the figure for a given address.
Which roofs are most at risk from snow?
Flat and low-pitched roofs carry the most risk, and the state names them directly. Snow sits on them longer and they have less slope to shed it. Low-slope rear sections on multi-family buildings and the flat parts of older mill-era buildings fall into this group.
A steep roof sheds snow as it falls and as it melts, because gravity keeps the load moving. A flat or low-pitched roof holds the snow in place, and the weight builds with each storm and each thaw and freeze. The state's guidance is clear that these roofs are the most at risk of buckling under snow and ice. That is why the rear ell of a multi-family house and the flat sections of older mill buildings in Holyoke and Chicopee get more attention than the steep front of the same building.
Pitch is not the only factor. Snow depth varies across a roof, and a wind-swept area can end up thin while a valley or a shaded section holds a heavy drift. The state's snow-load guidance says the code sets ground snow load town by town, and the building department confirms the figure for a given address. A technician who sees a roof that looks overloaded should say so in writing and point the owner to that department for the number that applies.
What does the state say to do with snow on the roof?
The state's advice is short. Shave the snow to two or three inches with a plastic shovel, stay off the roof, and do not use a ladder on icy ground. Scraping the roof down to the covering is the wrong approach, because it damages the shingles and other coverings.
Shaving leaves a layer of snow on the roof, so the tool never reaches the covering, and the load comes down to a level the roof can usually carry. Scraping to the covering removes the granules and protective surface that shingles depend on, and it can crack or split other roof materials. The state specifically notes that plastic shovels are usually best and that metal tools may damage the roof. Where the reach allows, a long-handled plastic tool worked from the ground keeps you off the roof altogether.
The state also says not to stand on the roof or place heavy equipment on it unless a registered professional engineer approves. A ladder on icy ground is a hazard, and the state says not to use ladders in icy conditions. If the roof needs clearing and the snow is heavy, the answer is a technician with a plan, not a homeowner with a shovel on a ladder. The roof snow removal service page describes how that work is scoped.
What warning signs mean leave the building now?
Sagging roofs, severe leaks, cracked or split wood members, bends or ripples in supports, cracks in walls or masonry, and creaking or popping all signal stress in the structure. If any appear, leave without touching the light switches and call 9-1-1 from outside.
The list is specific because each sign points to something in the frame. A sag means a member is bending under load. A cracked or split wood member is a framing failure in progress. Bends or ripples in supports show that load is moving through the structure in a way it was not built for. Cracks in walls or masonry can mean the building is shifting. Creaking or popping is the sound of members and connections working under load. None of these alone proves collapse, but the state's advice is to treat any of them as a reason to leave.
The instruction to leave is the important part, and it should be followed without stopping to check. Leave immediately, do not touch light switches on the way out, and call 9-1-1 from outside the building. Keep people and pets away from the affected wall or roof edge, and do not go back inside to retrieve things. When the building is safe to enter again is a decision for the responders and the building department, not for the homeowner.
Why do the hill towns hold snow longer?
The hill towns at Hampden, Monson and Russell keep snow longer than the valley floor because they sit higher and get less direct sun on many slopes. The roof work follows the same logic: snow stays on the roof longer, and the load builds over more storms.
Elevation changes how long snow lasts. Cold air sits in the hill towns longer, and sun reaches north-facing slopes less often, so a snowfall that clears from the valley floor can stay on a hill-town roof much longer. The longer the snow sits, the more storms and thaws stack onto the roof, and the heavier the load becomes. That is why the state's snow-load guidance matters on a hill-town roof even when the valley below looks clear.
Metal roofing is one answer in those towns, because a standing seam sheds wet snow quickly. That shedding is a hazard above a door, a walk or a driveway, so snow guards belong in the design rather than being added later. Snow that slides from a steep roof lands somewhere, and the plan for where it lands is part of the roof plan. The metal roofing service page covers how snow retention is designed into a job.
When should a roof be cleared?
Clear snow when it is deep enough to load the roof noticeably, when it sits on a flat or low-pitched section, or when a thaw and refreeze have locked it in place. The goal is to remove the excess load, not to take the roof down to bare covering.
Timing follows the weather. Heavy wet snow that falls on a flat section, then stays through a thaw and a freeze, is the case where clearing matters most. The state's guidance is to shave the snow down rather than remove every trace of it, so the target is the excess load. Snow that has settled over the weeks of a valley winter matters more than a fresh light dusting, especially on the roofs least able to shed it.
Clearing after a storm is easier when the snow is fresh and light. Wet snow that has frozen into a crust is heavier and harder to move, and the crust can hide ice underneath. A technician can look at the roof when the weather allows, and a roof inspection documents the decking, flashing and seams before snow becomes the problem. Clearing is a short-term response, and the cause of any ice at the eave is covered in the ice dam guide on this site.
What should you check after a heavy storm?
After a heavy storm, check the inside for new staining, watch the ceilings for sagging, and look at the eaves for ice. Anything on the warning list means leaving the building and calling 9-1-1, not continuing the check.
A quick interior check catches most of what matters. Look at ceilings and top-floor walls for new stains, listen for popping in the framing, and note any doors or windows that have started to stick. Those are early signs that the load is changing the structure. If the check finds any warning sign, the response changes from checking to leaving, and the check is over.
Outside, look at the eaves and gutters for ice and for snow pulled away from the roof edge. Note any sagging line along the ridge or the eave. Take photos from a safe spot on the ground before anything is cleared, because the record is useful to an insurance adjuster and to the technician who comes later. Do not climb the roof to look more closely. The view from the ground is enough to decide whether a technician needs to come out.
When should you call a technician?
Call when the roof is flat or low-pitched and holding heavy snow, when ice or a thaw has locked the load in place, or when any warning sign appears. The line is answered around the clock, and a visit is booked when a technician is free.
The question to ask is whether the roof can carry the load it has now. A technician can look at the roof, the framing visible from the attic and the outside walls, and say whether clearing, a repair or a larger fix is needed. Ask for a written note of what was seen, along with the warning signs to watch for after the next storm. The flat and low-slope roof repair service page covers the repairs that most often follow a heavy-snow visit.
Typical job: a three-story building with a flat rear roof, after two heavy storms in one winter. The crew clears the snow to the state's depth from a safe position, checks the drains and the flashing at the wall, and writes up which members show sag and which look sound. The recommendation is a short list: clear the drains, schedule the repair, and watch the rear ceiling after each thaw. To ask about your own roof, call (833) 751-2102.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shovel the roof myself?
Only from a safe spot, with a plastic tool, and only to two or three inches. The state says not to stand on the roof or place heavy equipment on it unless a registered professional engineer approves. A tool worked from the ground that reaches the snow without touching the covering is the safest home option.
Which roofs are most at risk?
Flat and low-pitched roofs are the ones the state names as most at risk of buckling under snow and ice. Steep roofs shed snow more easily, although ice can still build on them. A rear ell or a flat section on a multi-family building is often the roof to check first after a heavy storm.
What if I see sagging or cracking?
Leave the building right away without touching the light switches, and call 9-1-1 from outside. Sagging, severe leaks, cracked wood members and cracks in masonry are on the state's warning list. Do not go back in to check. When the building is safe to enter again is a decision for the responders and the building department.
Is a plastic shovel really better than metal?
The state says plastic shovels are usually best and that metal tools may damage the roof. Scraping down to the covering removes protection that shingles and other coverings depend on. The goal is a tool that reaches the snow without touching the covering, and that matters most with wet, heavy snow.
Does the snow load depend on the town?
The state's snow-load guidance says the code sets ground snow load town by town. The local building department confirms the figure for a given address. This page does not give a number, so ask the department for the figure that applies to your address before deciding how much snow to leave on a flat roof.
Why does a hill-town roof hold snow longer?
The hill towns at Hampden, Monson and Russell sit higher and get less direct sun on many slopes, so snow stays longer. The same storm can leave more load on a hill-town roof than on a roof on the valley floor. That is why the timing of clearing depends on the town and the roof, not on the calendar alone.
Sources
This guide is general information for Hampden County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.