In Minnesota, we are very familiar with snow and ice. Most often, we think of it when it is right in front of us, in our driveway or on our sidewalks or roads. A spot often overlooked by many of us, however, is the threat above us.
About the Service
At Zablocki Roofing & Exteriors, we provide roof snow removal services for homes that experience a significant amount of accumulation on the roof. Hiring an expert to remove the snow from your roof ensures your home stays safe and free from problems that can arise from snow overload.
One of the most dangerous situations that result from winter weather is the heavy load accumulated snow can put on a roof. Depending on how and when your home was built, heavy snow can cause a roof to collapse, endangering the lives of your loved ones, ruining your home, its contents, and causing a huge financial loss.
Prevent Snow Damage on Your Roof
Roofs can and do cave in with little or no warning, but there are some signs of snow damage or overload that you should be aware of:
- Rooftop areas with large drifting
- Buckling or sagging bent metal purlins
- Puddles on the roof as snow melts
- Loud "pops" coming from your home
- Leaks in the home's interior
If you notice any of these warning signs, don't wait for the next snowfall. The Building America Solution Center (a U.S. Department of Energy resource) notes that two feet of old snow combined with two feet of new snow can weigh as much as 60 pounds per square foot—three times what most roofs are designed to handle.
Roofs with steeper pitches fare better than those with a low pitch because gravity will work to slide snow down. Wind can cause snow to drift on roofs, resulting in uneven snow loads. Multi-level roofs are especially prone to drifting.
It is estimated that a foot of light snow weighs approximately 5 lbs. per square foot, with wet or heavily-packed snow weighing as much as 10 to 20 lbs. per square foot. Snow that thaws and refreezes can add an additional 40 to 60 lbs. per square foot of weight to your roof.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, most residential roofs can safely support about 20 pounds per square foot. When snow accumulates beyond this threshold—especially wet, packed snow or layers with ice—you risk structural stress, sagging, and potential collapse.
Snow may also plug sewer vents, causing sewer gas to back up in your house. In addition, snow can cover up your roof vents or ridge vent, trapping moist air in your attic. When this happens, warmer air will freeze to the bottom of your roof and form frost. Once outside temperatures warm up, the frost will melt, draining leaks into your home.
Ice building upon the eaves of your roof can lead to ice dams, which can assist water in backtracking up your roof under your shingles. Ice dams occur as a result of heat loss, or during the freeze-thaw cycles when the snow melts during the warm daytime temperatures and freezes along the roof edges at night when the temperatures drop. We are often asked whether or not ice dams should be removed to avoid leaking, and Zablocki Roofing & Exteriors always errs on the side of caution, recommending ice dam removal to preserve the integrity of your roof.
Call a Professional to Remove Snow from Your Roof
Removing snow from rooftops is dangerous and should be left to a trained professional with the proper safety equipment and tools. Not only do people fall and incur serious bodily injury when clearing their own roofs, but their inexperience can also cause costly damage to shingles and eaves. Depending on the weight load, roof pitch, drifting, etc., snow must be removed in a particular pattern to avoid causing instability as the work progresses. Ground snow removal equipment is not suited for rooftop snow removal and can cause extensive damage to the roof, to any skylights, vents, antenna lines, electrical lines, gas lines, etc.
For the safety of your family, friends and property, call the experts in rooftop snow and ice dam removal at Zablocki Roofing & Exteriors. We will take the appropriate measures to protect your landscaping, air conditioners, furnace exhaust/intake and gas meters. We can also remove large piles of snow that accumulate in front of doors, windows, sidewalks, decks and driveways during rooftop snow removal if needed.
Service Areas
We provide roof snow removal throughout Central Minnesota, including St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, Cold Spring, Clearwater, and surrounding communities. During heavy snow events, we prioritize emergency calls where active damage is occurring.
What's Included
- Safe removal techniques that protect shingles
- Trained roofing technicians (not general laborers)
- Proper snow depth assessment
- Clearing of roof vents and valleys
- Gutter and downspout clearing
- Ice dam prevention recommendations
- Free estimates
Snow Removal Questions
How much does roof snow removal cost in Central Minnesota?
Every project is different, so we quote after an on-site evaluation — accurate, itemized, and free of surprise charges. Financing is available, and for storm-related work we handle the insurance process. Call (320) 203-1297 to get started.
Is snow removal covered by my warranty?
Our work is backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty on top of manufacturer material warranties. As a Malarkey Premium Certified Contractor and licensed builder (BC570468), we install to spec so material warranties hold.
Do you offer snow removal near me?
We serve 117+ Central Minnesota communities from our St. Cloud office — including St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, Foley, Becker, Big Lake, and Monticello. See our full service area.