Normal winter snow on a sound roof
Most roofs shed ordinary snowfall on their own as the temperature rises, particularly steep metal or shingle slopes. The care is a look afterward, not an intervention.
Serving Skagit County
Snow Load and Roof Care in Concrete and the Upper Valley
How snow behaves on upper Skagit roofs, what Skagit County sets by parcel and how to look after a roof in winter.
- Roof repair and replacement
- Wet-season moss, leaks and storm damage
- Connected to a local roofer
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Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Snow Load
Snow Load and Roof Care: what it covers
Quick answer
Concrete averages about 18 inches of snow a year, and heavier snow falls higher up the valley. Skagit County publishes design snow loads by parcel, so ask the county what applies to your address. Concrete Roofing connects owners with an independent local roofer to inspect roofs and advise on snow.
Snow is a smaller part of life in Concrete than rain, but it is not a minor one. Climate figures for the town give about 18 inches of snow in an average year, against roughly 70 to 75 inches of total precipitation. Winter highs sit near 42 degrees Fahrenheit, so many storms start as snow and finish as rain, and a wet, heavy snowpack on a roof is a more common concern than a deep dry one.
Roofs are designed for a snow load, a weight in pounds per square foot that the structure must carry. That number is not guessed. Skagit County publishes snow, wind, seismic and soil design criteria for its parcels on a mapping layer, with snow zones in the county layer running from 25 to 50 pounds per square foot. Which zone your parcel is in is for the county to say, and this site does not print a figure for any town.
For an owner, the practical questions are different. Is the roof old enough or weak enough that snow could be a problem? Should snow come off? Who removes it safely? And what do you check once it melts? A roofer can answer them for your building.
- Service area
- Concrete & Skagit County
- Availability
- Call to reach a local roofer
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need snow load and roof care
Do not climb onto a snowy or icy roof, and do not shovel from a ladder. Stay out from under eaves where snow or ice can slide, and leave any building that is creaking or cracking under load.
- Interior doors or windows that stick during or after heavy snow
- Ceiling cracks or drywall that has opened up along the lines of the framing
- Sagging ridgelines or visible bowing in rafters from inside the attic
- Unusual creaking, popping or cracking sounds when the snow is deepest
- Snow that stays on one part of the roof and slides from another, which can overload an addition or porch
- Gutters pulled away or crushed after snow slid off
- Ice at the eaves with water backing up under the shingles
- Leaks that appear only when snow melts, not in rain
Cost
How much does snow load and roof care cost in Concrete?
No sourced price exists for snow work near Concrete. What changes a quote for inspection, clearing or reinforcement:
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection of framing and covering | Part of a visit | A look from the attic and roof before winter is the most useful single step |
| Snow removal by a crew | Quoted per job | Depends on the depth, roof pitch, access and whether the roof is safe to stand on |
| Snow guards or retention | Add-on | Priced by the length of eave protected and the roof covering |
| Reinforcing framing | Separate trade | If a structural weakness is found, a builder or engineer scopes and prices it |
| Distance and weather | Part of the quote | A storm that closes roads can delay a crew, and a rural address raises travel time |
The roofer prices the work in writing after inspecting the roof.
Options
Types and options for snow load and roof care
Wet, heavy snow
Snow that falls near freezing carries much more water than dry powder and loads a roof quickly. Watch older buildings, flat sections and any roof with known sagging or past repairs.
Drifting and sliding
Wind piles snow against walls and on lower roofs, and metal roofs can release snow all at once. These point loads are why snow guards and careful design matter. See metal roofing.
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If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent snow load and roof care, send the form and we'll call you back.
How much snow can a roof hold?
It depends on how the roof was built, and no single number applies. Roofs are designed to a snow load set by the local code and the building department, which for Skagit County parcels is published on the county mapping layer. This page does not state a load for any town.
The county layer lists zones of 25, 30, 40 and 50 pounds per square foot, along with an 85 mile per hour design wind speed, seismic category D1 and a frost depth of 12 inches. Which zone includes Concrete, Rockport, Marblemount or any other town has not been confirmed for this site, so ask the county.
Snow weight also varies with the snow itself. Fresh powder is light and rain-soaked snow can be several times heavier, which is why the same depth may be fine one day and a concern the next.
Should I clear snow off my roof?
Usually not, if the roof is sound and the snow is ordinary. Clearing is for unusual build-up, heavy wet snow on weak spots or ice forming at the eaves. If you do it, use a roof rake from the ground and keep clear of what falls. Do not climb up.
Raking the lower few feet of a slope can ease ice at the eaves, but pulling snow off carelessly can tear shingles and damage gutters. A roofer can take snow off safely and note any damage as they go.
Never use a hammer, axe or salt on a roof. They damage the covering and harm the metal and plants below.
What are the signs a roof is overloaded?
Warning signs include doors and windows that stick, new cracks in ceilings and walls, a sagging roofline, and creaking or popping from the structure. If you notice any of them in heavy snow, leave the building and call for help. These are emergencies, not maintenance.
Older outbuildings, additions built without permits and flat or low-slope sections are at the greatest risk. They may have been built to a lighter standard than the main house. Barns and shops with large clear spans deserve extra attention.
Call 911 if the structure seems unsafe, and contact a roofer once it is safe to inspect. See barn, shop and outbuilding roofing for those buildings.
How does snow cause leaks when it melts?
Snow on a warm roof melts from beneath and the water runs to the cold eaves, where it can refreeze and back up under the shingles. Meltwater also finds weak flashing and worn valleys that rain sheds easily. A leak that appears only after snow is usually this.
Heat escaping from the house through the attic floor is a common reason for uneven melting. Insulation and ventilation reduce it. The page on attic ventilation explains how the two work together.
What can a roofer do before winter to reduce snow trouble?
Check the covering and flashing for weak points, clear valleys and gutters, look for sagging or past damage in the framing, trim overhanging branches, and consider snow guards where snow could slide onto doors or walkways. These steps are modest, they are done in dry weather, and they reduce the chance of a winter emergency.
Snow tests every weakness at once: soft decking, loose flashing, a gutter that is already pulling away. A roofer who spends an hour in September finds most of them. A call in January, with ice on the ladder, finds only what has already failed.
If you are planning a new roof or an addition, this is the moment to ask about the design load for the parcel and how the roof will be framed. The county sets the number, and it is far cheaper to build for it than to reinforce later.
Our process
How our snow load and roof care visit works
Find out what the county sets
Ask Skagit, Snohomish or Whatcom County, depending on where the building is, what design snow load applies to the parcel. Your roofer or builder can look it up, and it matters most for new construction and large buildings.
Inspect the roof before winter
A roofer looks at the framing, the decking, the condition of the covering and the places where snow collects, such as valleys, additions and the lee side of a ridge.
Decide when snow should come off
On a sound, well-built roof, normal snow sheds on its own. Clearing it is for unusual accumulations or known weak spots. The roofer can say which your building is.
Clear it safely if needed
Use a roof rake from the ground, stay clear of the eaves and watch for what falls. Climbing up to shovel is dangerous, and a roofer should do it if it has to be done.
Check after the melt
Look for leaks, torn gutters, shifted flashing and lifted shingles once the snow is gone. Damage often shows only when it thaws.
Skagit County
Why snow load and roof care is different in Skagit Valley and North Cascades
Concrete sits at the edge of the foothills, and snow arrives with the elevation. Towns higher on Highway 20, such as Marblemount, see more of it than lowland places such as Burlington or Conway. A roof in the delta rarely carries what a roof near the North Cascades does, so ask a roofer who works your end of the valley.
Highway 20 itself is a seasonal marker. WSDOT usually closes the North Cascades section between mid-November and mid-December, and reopens it by early May. Winter conditions on the roads below the closure can slow crews, so schedule seasonal checks early.
Many local buildings are older than the current code. Barns, sheds and additions around Lyman, Hamilton and Concrete may have been built to the standard of their day, and their snow capacity is unknown. Treat them with caution in a heavy winter.
Where we work
Snow Load and Roof Care across Skagit County
- Snow Load in Rockport
- Snow Load in Hamilton
- Snow Load in Marblemount
- Snow Load in Lyman
- Snow Load in Darrington
- Snow Load in Mount Vernon
- Snow Load in Sedro Woolley
- Snow Load in Acme
- Snow Load in Clearlake
- Snow Load in Deming
- Snow Load in Burlington
- Snow Load in Arlington
- Snow Load in Granite Falls
- Snow Load in Conway
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Roof Inspection
A roofer's look at the covering, flashing, valleys, gutters and attic, ahead of the wet season or after a blow.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs for houses, barns and shops in the upper Skagit valley, where snow and debris sit on roofs for weeks.
Attic Ventilation
Balancing intake and exhaust so attic moisture and condensation do not rot the roof from the inside.
Guides
Read before you book
Metal or Shingle Roof in the North Cascades Foothills: How Each Handles the Weather
Metal sheds snow and needle debris and gives moss little to grip, which suits steep roofs under tall conifers.
Do You Need a Permit to Reroof in Skagit, Snohomish or Whatcom County?
It depends on the county or city that covers your address, and this site could not confirm the reroof rules for Skagit, Snohomish or Whatcom County or any town in them.
Roof Care Before Winter in the Upper Skagit: A Fall Checklist
Do the roof work in September and October, before the wet season starts in late October and before WSDOT usually closes the North Cascades Highway between mid-November and mid-December.
FAQ
Snow Load and Roof Care FAQs
What snow load does my property need?
The county sets it by parcel. Contact Skagit, Snohomish or Whatcom County, depending on where you are, and ask for the design criteria for your address. A roofer or builder can also check.
How much snow does Concrete get?
Climate tables give about 18 inches in an average year, with more at higher elevations along Highway 20. Winter storms often mix snow and rain.
Can I use a roof rake?
Yes, from the ground, on a low roof edge. Pull gently so you do not tear the shingles, and stay clear of the falling snow. Do not use one to climb or lean.
Will a metal roof drop snow on me?
It can, in a sudden slide. Snow guards slow it. Ask the roofer to consider what is below each eave before the roof goes on.
Do I need an inspection after a heavy snow?
If you saw the signs of overload, or found leaks when it melted, yes. Otherwise a routine check in the following dry season is enough.