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Experts say you should shovel your roof after 8 inches of snow

Flat roofs, though not very common on homes in the Pacific Northwest, don’t evenly distribute the weight of snow.

SPOKANE, Wash. — As the plows hit the roads after the recent snowfalls, don’t forget about the snow on your roof.

A contractor with Heritage Roofing and Construction recommends that you shovel your roof when the snow accumulates to 8 inches.

He said sitting snow is heavy and can lead to significant damage.

Flat roofs, though not very common on homes in the Pacific Northwest, don’t evenly distribute the weight of snow. And tilted roofs, though they distribute the snow a little more evenly, may still not be able to support the weight.

When snow melts, it gets heavier. And if it starts to freeze, the icy mix only increases the weight. This can cause stress to your roof’s structure and lead to leaks.

To clear your roof, you can purchase a roof rake or contact a roofing company to shovel the snow for you.

RELATED: Here we snow again: Spokane in for another 1-3 inches tonight

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