Re: Snow On Flat Roof
So I was able to see the house for the first time and I don't think snow loading is going to be an issue. There is heat line routed for the bottom 10 feet of the roof including the gutters and dowwnspouts.
I would guess that you need not worry much about snow load if the house has been there since the 50's.
How much insulation is there in the roof/attic?
My guess would be that the previous owner had ice issues near the eaves and was using the heat cables to reduce or clear the ice from the eaves and trough etc.
If you don't use the house much it may not be as much of an issue. If you plan to keep it heated all of the time, then it may be more of an issue.
If the roof is not well enough insulated, the heat from inside will melt the snow on the roof. It will run down the roof but will then cool when it gets over the eave - IE - outside the wall so no heat rising from the inside of the house. It will then freeze and create an ice dam on the outer edge of the roof. Then, water from the warmer part of the roof will collect and possibly leak into the house.
So, if you don't want to run the electric heat lines, the longer term plan may be to rebuild the roof with more insulation and venting to keep the roof surface cold.
Randy
