When winter won’t quit: Tips for protecting your home
With the extra helping of snow in Quebec this winter, the phones at Residential Advisory Services have been ringing off the hook. Should I shovel my roof? Do snow removal contracts cover this much snow? Does insurance cover injuries from falling snow and ice? How about a collapsed roof? CAA-Quebec has answers.
MétéoMédia reports we’ve had an excessively snowy winter. Montreal has been hit with 171 cm, or 23 cm more than average for the same date. Quebec City has been treated to 277 cm, or 70 cm more than usual. And by February 14, Quebec City had already received 67 cm more snow than average for an entire winter in Montreal.
Do I need to clear snow off my roof?
The amount of snow a roof can withstand varies widely. During a normal winter, you generally don’t need to shovel your roof. But you may have to if snow is heavy, especially when there’s also a lot of rain and ice. So how do you know when to clear your roof? Do it right away if you notice unusual creaking sounds, buckling in the ceiling, cracks in the walls, or doors that stick.
A collapsed roof is probably covered by insurance
Damage caused when a roof collapses under the weight of the snow is generally covered by “all risk” home insurance, which includes indoor and outdoor furniture.
You’re liable for injuries caused by falling snow and ice
Homeowners are liable for any injuries that occur when snow or ice falls from their poorly maintained roof onto the mail carrier’s head or the delivery driver’s hood. That’s why home insurance with civil liability coverage is so important—it will protect you in the event of legal action.
Clear your temporary carport
“You need to clear snow from temporary carports because they’re not designed to support a lot of weight,” says Suzanne Michaud, Vice President, Insurance at CAA-Quebec. “If your carport caves in or collapses, you not only have a damaged carport, but also a damaged vehicle underneath. All this is usually covered by any all-risk policy for your home and vehicle. But it means you have to submit two claims and possibly pay two deductibles—that's pretty much the norm.”
Is your snow service charging more for extra snow? Check the contract
Snow removal contracts are not standardized like leases. Anything goes! So companies can specify that an extra charge applies after a certain date or a certain number of centimetres. If it’s in writing, that’s fine. If not, your snow remover has a contractual obligation to do as it agreed, such as clearing your driveway. In a nutshell, better to sign a clear and detailed contract than be left snowed under.