Horse barns. A car dealership. A beloved community pool hall. Warehouses. Too many carports to count. Buildings like these – sound for decades – collapsed across southern states during ferocious Winter Storm Fern in late January. Northern states weren’t spared but southern folks experienced particular devastation. Many owners whose buildings survived are nonetheless dealing with damage and lengthy repairs.
Snow and ice test structural tolerances because they are unfathomably heavy. Depending on density, one cubic foot of snow typically weighs anywhere from about 3 to 20 pounds. Picture this when a typical residential roof sports a few inches of fluffy snow: the load approximates parking an SUV atop the shingles. Ice is weightier and more dangerous because it clings to all surfaces. When a flat roof shoulders a very thick layer of ice? Picture an elephant aloft.
If your building struggled through winter this year, inspect the premises carefully and schedule repairs promptly. Here’s where and what to look for:
Building envelope damage: Areas at risk include roofing materials, gutters, cladding, decks and porches. Interiors also suffer from external stresses. Damage indications may be loose exterior building materials and components, indoor cracks and wallboard buckling, popping drywall screws and lifting tape, water stains, and doors and windows that “stick” suddenly. Beware of unexplained crackling or groaning sounds that signal continuing damage or even catastrophic collapse.
Ice dams: Ice dams happen when ice formation prevents melt water on roofing from draining properly. Any area of a building is at risk – interior leaks are notoriously hard to track back to often distant sources – though building perimeters are usually most affected. Damage may include interior water accumulation, water stains, peeling paint, buckling walls and mold formation. Â
Frozen Pipes: Pipes at risk of freezing are often those positioned near poorly insulated exterior walls, installed outdoors or placed in unheated areas. Damage indications are hard to miss: uncontrolled water gushing that rapidly damages building interiors, exterior structures and landscaping. Prevent this catastrophic situation by insulating walls and pipes as well as protecting against dripping water from fixtures when freezing weather is expected.
Electrical systems: Ice and heavy snow accumulation may tug electrical wires and equipment out of place, pull components entirely off structures, loosen connections or cause total or partial loss of power (“brown-outs”). Damage can strike electronic items – televisions, appliances, computers, HVAC systems, furnaces and more – causing complete failure or malfunction.
As with many structural threats, the best prevention includes careful design and construction followed by regular maintenance and vigilance. And remember, despite your best efforts, damage may be inevitable if a winter storm is severe, widespread and prolonged.Â
