Can Pole Barns Handle Heavy Snow?

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If you live somewhere with snow then you know how heavy it can be. Your pole barn snow load will depend on your region but the real question is: can pole barns handle the heavy snow? The answer is: yes! But only temporarily….especially if you have a professional pole builder construct it.

If you don’t have a pole barn yet and are considering it, there are many benefits. From being affordable, easy to insulate, and the durability. When building a pole barn, there are building codes when it comes to the snow load depending on your location to keep in mind.

While snow in smaller quantities is nothing to worry about, as the pile continues to grow atop the roof, like a house, you may face some serious problems. In fact, compacted snow can weigh up to 20 pounds per cubic foot.

Some of the problems you might run into are:

Roof Collapse

A properly constructed pole barn is unlikely to collapse when covered in a typical snow load. However, when the piles do begin to build up, ice and sleet can accumulate which then makes it even heavier. If left on the roof, it can put a strain on the supports and eventually lead to your roof collapsing.

Roof Avalanches

Roof avalanches are very similar to that of a regular avalanche. The snow gathers in such large volumes that it falls due to being so heavy. Not only can this damage your gutters but it can also harm anyone near or nearby landscaping.

Ice Dams

Ice dams are exactly what they sound like. When snow partially melts on your roof, it flows towards the gutter. Here it may get trapped and freeze again. These dams begin to grow larger and larger until they eventually drip into the home and even break and rip off your gutters.

So how do you safely remove snow from your roof to help protect your pole barn?

Roof snow removal is no easy task, especially on the steeped roof of a pole barn. The best way to remove any snow to help prevent damage is to use a plastic roof rake. You’ll often find that they come with an extender, allowing you to reach dozens of feet in length. This will help you reach the snow without needing to use a ladder. Using a ladder in cool weather is dangerous as is.

You don’t want to remove all the snow but rather just enough snow to prevent it from getting too heavy. If you try to get every inch of snow off, there’s a good chance that you will ruin the roof. If you don’t have a roof rake or feel nervous doing it yourself, contact a professional.

When you're ready, contact CHA Pole Barns to talk about your pole barn project.

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