re: #74 lawhawk

Ice damning lets the water get under the roofing (more likely in low pitched roofs than a steeper pitch).

It’s the flat or low pitch roofs that are going to take the lake effect snows the worst - they don’t shed the snow easily and the edges by the soffit will freeze up, holding back melting snow behind it - getting it under the roofing and underlayment. If the weight exceeds the total load for the roof, it could collapse, especially as more snow and a warm up is expected into next week (with possible rain).

Snow rakes aren’t exactly useful when you’ve got multiple feet on the roof, but it may still be safer than going up there and trying to shovel it clear.

Exactly. Add in the capillary effect of water and many of those roofs are going to need to be completely replaced. The fact they use a lot of aspenite board (chipped wood glued together) and there will need to be new roof sheeting needed. The costs are going to be real high for the insurance companies.

I really feel for those poor people up there around Buffalo. This storm is unprecedented. And if climate change is what scientists predict, this isn’t going to be the last time this happens.

Which just made me realize. The GOP denies climate change. I wonder what the big insurance companies think about all that. Like Nationwide, headquartered here in Ohio. In time they may just flat out refuse to insure houses. And then what? Oh yeah…government! Like government flood insurances.