Tahoe Winter Home Terminology

Tahoe’s exceptional snowfall this winter provided a photo opportunity I could not pass up.  Here are some common terms with pictures for snow and ice on homes. 

An ice dam is a result of melting and refreezing along a roof edge. Water could accumulate behind the ice and infiltrate a home causing damage.

Cornice is overhanging snow which occurs when a windy storm deposits snow which hangs over the edge of a roof. 

 

Windloading is uneven snow deposition when snow is blown off one side while accumulating on the other. 

Exposed access. Imagine driving in harrowing winter conditions just to arrive at a home that needs shoveling! As a Realtor, I would ask buyers if they would want to deal with exposed steps each time it snowed?

Snow creep is snow creeping slowly off a roof. This often occurs with metal roofs.

The snow creep will form a curl.

Dripline is the flow of water (ice or rain) off a roof onto a deck, the entry, a driveway or simply the side yard. 

This last home has a nice, simple design where snow and ice do not unload onto the entry, driveway or deck.

Hope you enjoyed this article. I have a collection of photos from this winter and will be posting more in the upcoming weeks.