By Mark J. Donovan
The snow in New Hampshire can get quite deep in January and February. This January has been particularly brutal. Snow storms have come every few days dropping anywhere from 6 to 18 inches at a time. There is at least two feet of snow on the ground, deck and roofs and the temperatures have remained pretty much below freezing all of January. Consequently shoveling snow from decks and roofs is wise to provide egress and prevent roof collapses, respectively. In addition, shoveling snow off roofs can prevent ice dams. Shoveling snow from decks can also help prevent them from collapsing or pulling away from the home.
Due to so many snow storms this winter the snow is stacked in a number of layers with the top layer being light and fluffy and the underlying layers being dense and heavy. I spent much of yesterday morning removing nearly two feet of snow from our lake home’s deck. While shoveling the snow from the deck you can really see the layers and get a better understanding on how snow avalanches occur. The top light layers of snow can simply shear off the denser deeper packed snow.
After about 2 hours of heavy work I was able to shovel off the snow from our deck. No doubt I got a full upper body work out. It’s best when shoveling snow of this depth to remove it in layers and to take your time. This way your don’t break you back and cause a heart attack.
Hopefully Mother Nature will show a little kindness in February and provide us with some warmer and drier days.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Shoveling Snow by the Foot
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shoveling snow
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1 comment:
Hey Mark;
Looks like you could use some relief from this nasty winter. I fled the New England winters forty years ago and did not look back. I spent many days hiking New Hampshire, Mount Adams and Mount Washington. Since then I built my way across the country to San Diego California.I have been the steel superintendent on some of the largest projects West of the Rockies and in Great Britain.
I have lived to build, I started as a carpenters helper at age fifteen. I began working as an ironworker and attended Wentworth institute in Boston in the mid sixties.
My wife and I have been solid into home improvements DIY for the past three years and really enjoy your videos and live by your tips. We have renovated our forty eight year old home from the outside in. We have single handedly re-sided, and repainted the house. We have re-fenced our yard and built rock gardens and an awesome grape arbor.
We are in the process of a great rebuild of the interior of our home. We have completed a great rebuild of the master bedroom with a new walk in closet. A complete rebuild of a hallway, with a stain grade library wall. We are presently building a new master bathroom with custom shower, cedar wood wall, and a super vanity from an old Ethan Allen dresser. We feel real secure in following your tips. Our five kids are blown away by our confidence in getting it done.
Thanks for your great work on the net. If you need a warm sunny place to get away to this winter come and join us, we have the room and would welcome you as our guest. Can reach us through amenlady@gmail.com Sincerely, Ron DeBenedictis
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