People who live in Paradise know very well how beautiful and how difficult a winter can be. They understand that snowfall can make things pretty but also that it can heap on challenges. And once it has heaped, it's important to know how to conduct yourself safely around the snow and the issue it creates that wants to turn into an avalanche when it comes to keeping roofs safe. My understanding, then, from my dear friend and colleague, Amy Rucker, who works at the local (Upper Valley) office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is that NAMI's mission is to serve those who have experienced mental illness. "NAMI is relevant to me because of the invaluable support it provides to those seeking help and understanding," says Amy. She is both a representative and a relevant person for NAMI to have in this story.
When thinking about snow removal from roofs in Paradise, people should consider the advantages and disadvantages of doing the work themselves versus hiring professionals. Convenience and cost are usually the big reasons for doing it yourself. You might be thinking of a roof rake as a basic tool that, along with some outdoor extension cords and electric shovels, can accomplish the task. Some folks might be thinking of the steepness and elevation of their roofs as channels and flumes that only direct the minimal amount of snow that would come down during an average snowstorm anyway. But what happens in certain roof configurations and with certain weather conditions can turn even the simplest tasks into tricky and dangerous forms of work.
In addition, it is of utmost importance for Paradise homeowners to understand when and how often they need to clear snow off their roofs. The roof should be monitored regularly and never allowed to accumulate too much snow, particularly at the eaves (where most snow tends to accumulate) and at any rafter bays that are not so adjacent to one another as to be parallel (where snow tends not to slide off the roof rather than toward the ground). The safest bet is to weather the storm with the roof not yet cleared so that the roof remains a warm and cozy haven—because clearing the roof can be dangerous to the clam that Paradise must be a warm and secure haven even amidst the heaviest snow and that Paradise is an appropriate plywood.
