Snow-covered roofs can lead to damage claims with your NYC home insurance!

A row of snow-topped homes can be a beautiful sight, but it can also be extremely dangerous. In periods of heavy snow, roofs have been known to collapse, causing major damage. Anyone who wants to protect their home from this, and protect their NYC home insurance premiums at the same time, should be aware of the dangers of a snow-covered roof.

Snow is frozen water, and water is heavy. A roof can only stand so much weight. While flat roofs are more susceptible to collapse, sloped roofs are also vulnerable. One of the most important steps to take to prevent a roof collapse is to check the structure of the roof before the winter season. Any weak spots should be fixed immediately by a professional.

The most common snow removal tool is a snow rake, which is designed to be used from the ground. These are very useful if the weather has been freezing for days on end and the snow is not melting. It is also much safer than climbing onto a slippery roof.

A rake may not be useful on double-story houses, although you may be able to purchase a pole extension. It’s best to hire a professional if the roof is too high, rather than trying to climb the roof and shovel the snow yourself!

If in doubt get a professional to remove the snow. To see information on NYC home insurance, contact one of our agents.

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