Snow Tips for Boats and Homes

[JamesG161]

As an Engineer and Home designer, I thought I might give a precation for the 24"+ snow people who have not seen this much before. The rest of you who live near Santa might chime in too.

Tips:
1) Snow on roofs/decks is an additional load to the standard wind/weight in designs.
2) Blizzard winds and "wet snow" may stick to areas not used to seeing precipitation.
3) Winds on windward sides increase the Stress Duration. A factor of like trying hold a weight up for 1 hours versus 3 days. Kind of a fatigue factor.
4) The longer the Snow weight last on deck/roof the longer Duration Stresses last.
5) Prepare for power outages. Heating needs.
6) Have a snow shove or blower to reduce the snow load.

Chime in if you have ideas and tips to share.
Jim....

 

[Gunni]

Thanks, Our state building codes include snow loads in roof framing specification, not that it matters, they're calling for 60 knot winds on the Chesapeake. We don't lose homes to wind and snow so much, it's the worn out furnaces and auxiliary heaters burning them down. If the power goes out, people find all kinds of dangerous ways to heat their space. Biggest problem is drivers. Nobody buys snow tires, only the immigrants know how to drive in the snow, and I guarantee you that by Sunday the ditches will be full of 4WD pickups and SUV's.

This storm is exactly why I haul our boat every winter. The docks are icy, the decks are packed with snow, and our marina's are too fresh to stay liquid. It is no weekend to be checking your docklines, and bilges during a 60 it. Blow.

 

[WayneH]

Warnings like these are why I have full fuel tanks on my vehicles, I live off the grid so it can't go down on me, and verify the propane tank is full. Then I hole up until it goes away. Currently, I'm holing up near San Antonio, TX and I'm not worried about snow right now. But if snow hits here, I'm not moving because I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to drive in ice and snow. Those other idiots are worse.

 

[JamesG161]

Thanks, Our state building codes include snow loads in roof framing specification

Will we have 140 mph wind codes but no Snow Loads...

Here is a trick to watch...
Go in your attic on Windward side of roof. Tack a string to mid rafter the hand tight tack it to a ceiling joist.
Check on slack in string as snow builds up.
Jim...

 

[Ken Cross]

Around here the snow isn't so much of a problem until it warms up a foot or two of snow gets real heavy once the rain fills up the air space in the snow.

Ken

 

[Gunni]

Yeah, looks like by Wednesday the temps will be in the forties and a chance of rain. When lots of snow melts suddenly in a rainstorm the Chesapeake drainage experiences historic flooding. Let's hope this 2 feet of winter joy melts gradually.