Roof troubles, post-snow
"Fortunately the property is uninhabited and no one was hurt," she wrote me. "However, what should the person who lives next door to that property do now? There are concerns of structural damage, as well as water damage when the snow begins to melt."
She knows about mdlandrec.net, where you can see deeds and other property records. Her plan was to look up the owner so the immediate neighbor can contact him or her "with certified mail return receipt to start a paper trail." And she also suggested her neighbor call his insurance company post-haste.
"Any other suggestions?" she asks.
If you have any, please offer them in a comment.
Here are some of the warning signs that a roof is in trouble, courtesy of the city of Alexandria, Va.:
- Sagging roof steel – visually deformed, cracked or split wood members
- Sprinkler heads pushed down below ceiling tile
- Doors that pop open
- Doors or windows that become difficult to open
- Bowed utility pipes or conduit attached at ceiling
- Creaking, cracking or popping sounds
- New or quickly expanding existing wall or ceiling cracks
The Alexandria roof-safety announcement notes that newer roofs should be able to withstand 30 pounds per square foot, but older roofs -- especially flat ones -- "present a greater risk" of collapse.
Some residents have taken matters -- or rather shovels -- into their own hands, and removed snow from their roofs as a precaution. But that's hardly risk-free. (Please be very, very careful if you're inclined to go this route.) Others are calling roofers to do the removal work, or code enforcers to make sure their homes are OK.
Categories: Home maintenance, Weather
Sign up for the At Home newsletter 
Comments
I just found a serious ice damning damage to my home. I received little sun on the back of my house and the water is traveling down the back wall of my home to my finished basement. So far we are looking at new insulation, drywall and flooring from the master bedroom down to the living room down to the finished basement.
Posted by: Matt | February 14, 2010 7:39 AM
After the December storm my roof sprung a leak through an old exhaust pipe (from an upstairs kitchen when my house was 2 apartments). Luckily I got some roofers out to replace the roof before we left for Christmas.
The new roof has held up to all the snow wonderfully although we were worried when the 2nd storm was dumping a new load on the roof.
But I can now rest easy that a big snow fall will not collapse my roof.
Posted by: Paul | February 14, 2010 11:45 AM
I wish we had been in our house long enough to know whether all the creaking is normal or snow-related ...
Posted by: Liz Kay | February 15, 2010 12:44 PM
If a nearby vacant house might pose a hazard, you should call 311 and have a building inspector come out.
Posted by: Steve | February 15, 2010 1:23 PM
The rowhouse roofs are extremely strong, be it flat or not, if properly maintained during their lifetime, with new rubber coats, no leaks, etc. The walls are also 12 foot thick at the base with flemish bond, provided they were never exposed to any sort of weather damage and the mortar is intact.
If your roof has been properly maintained, no leaks, etc you should not see an issue whatsoever. Most of your collapses will be from vacant homes, so if you live directly next to a vacant home with a neglected roof that is a cause for concern.
Posted by: roofman | February 16, 2010 9:44 AM