Snow Shedding Away From Public Areas
Image of a roof shedding snow onto a car parked in the driveway with menacing icicles hanging over
We get a lot of snow in the Sierra. And that snow collects on the roof. Over time that snow can melt and re-freeze, collecting as solid ice and hanging icicles. That snow and ice will inevitably shed downslope and fall off the roof. A dangerous thing.
It can also be a less-dangerous but equally frustrating thing. As the snow sheds, it collects on the ground and creates massive concentrated piles of wet, heavy snow that can block doors and walkways.
Roofs should be shaped to shed snow toward the least usable outdoor space, and away from entrances, walkways, and patios. This will ensure no one is hurt from falling snow/ice, and that piles of snow can be left until spring to melt without obstructing daily life.