Snow and ice management that protects the roof, not just the driveway.
Heavy coastal snow, ice dams and meltwater cause most winter roof damage in BC. Here's how to spot the risk and clear it safely.
Coastal snow is heavy snow
Snow in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley usually arrives wet and dense, near the freezing mark. That means a modest-looking accumulation can carry far more weight than the same depth of dry interior snow, and it compacts and ices rather than blowing off.
The risk is rarely a dramatic collapse. It is a saturated roof assembly, overloaded gutters pulling away from fascia, and meltwater forced under shingles where it has no business going.
Ice dams and what actually prevents them
An ice dam is a symptom of heat loss, not of weather. The permanent fixes are inside: air-seal attic penetrations around pot lights, bath fans and the attic hatch, top up insulation to current levels, and make sure soffit intake vents are not blocked by insulation so cold air can wash the underside of the deck.
Roof-edge ice and water membrane, installed during a re-roof, is the backstop. It does not stop the dam forming, but it stops the water that backs up behind one from reaching your ceiling.
Safe removal
Clear snow from the ground with a roof rake on a long pole, working from the eave upward in layers and deliberately leaving a thin cushion of snow so the blade never touches the shingles. Never work near overhead power lines, and never rake onto a walkway you or a neighbour will use.
Do not climb onto a snow-covered roof, and do not use a ladder against an ice-loaded gutter. For thick ice, professional low-pressure steam removal is the only method that clears the dam without destroying the roof surface underneath.
Before winter arrives
Clear gutters and downspouts in late autumn so meltwater has somewhere to go — a blocked downspout is the single most common trigger for an ice problem. Trim branches that will load with snow, check that flashing and vent boots are sound, and confirm the attic is properly vented.
If your roof is aging or you have had ice damage before, an inspection in October is far cheaper than an emergency call in January.
Professional snow and ice management
TNS Contracting provides winter roof inspections, ice dam remediation and repairs across the Lower Mainland and the western Fraser Valley, from Vancouver and the North Shore through Burnaby, Surrey and Langley out to Abbotsford. Use the form below to describe what you are seeing.
Common questions
- How much snow is too much on a roof?
- Weight matters more than depth. Roughly 30 cm of fresh light snow weighs about the same as 8 to 10 cm of wet compacted snow. Sagging ceilings, doors that suddenly stick, or new cracks in drywall are signs to get the roof assessed immediately.
- What causes ice dams?
- Heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, the water runs down to the cold eave and refreezes into a ridge of ice. Water then backs up behind that ridge and finds its way under the shingles.
- Should I chip ice off my roof?
- No. Hammers, chisels and picks break shingles and flashing, and the damage often is not visible until the spring rain. Calcium chloride in a sock laid across the dam, or professional steam removal, are the safe options.
- Does the Lower Mainland really need snow management?
- Yes, in bursts. Coastal snow is heavy and wet, and Metro Vancouver roofs and gutters are often not cleared regularly. A single heavy snowfall followed by a freeze causes most of the region's winter roof claims.
Where these services are available
Serving the Lower Mainland and the western Fraser Valley, from Vancouver and the North Shore through Burnaby, Surrey and Langley out to Abbotsford.
- Vancouver
- North Vancouver
- West Vancouver
- Burnaby
- New Westminster
- Richmond
- Surrey
- Delta
- Langley
- Coquitlam
- Port Coquitlam
- Port Moody
- Maple Ridge
- Pitt Meadows
- White Rock
- Abbotsford
Keep reading
Book winter roof help
Describe the snow load, ice or leaking you're dealing with and TNS Contracting will get back to you.