You live where it snows? Are we talking dusting, inches, feet, buried? That flat roof may be fine with light snow but one storm in heavy snow and it’s over.
The_Funflower
Thank you. Light snow. That’s why I’m uncertain if the flat roof will be okay
apathetic_admin
Ours isn’t flat but we get really heavy snow sometimes. I just use a push broom to clean it off.
Greenbriars
Where I live we usually get an inch at a time that melts in a few days, but every five years (ish) we get a decent storm and can see 8-12″ in one go. And every time afterwards I’ll see people’s canopies and greenhouses and similar things collapsed. And none of those are flat roofs, they’re just not angled well enough to actually shed snow when it really accumulates. I wouldn’t do a flat roof here, and I barely consider the snow we get most winters to even count as snow.
Sylviera-Direct
For a flat-roof wooden greenhouse in a snowy climate, reinforce the roof with 2×6 cross-bracing to handle snow loads (10-20 psf), add a 5-10° pitch to shed snow, use 8-10mm multi-wall polycarbonate panels for strength and insulation, treat the wood with UV-resistant varnish to prevent moisture damage, and clear snow with a roof rake to avoid buildup.
coffeejn
Don’t go to a flat roof, you need an angled roof so that you can slide the snow off. Snow gets heavy, worst when it’s wet.
pltjess
Take a look at Backyard Discovery. Both the Zalie and Willow look very similar to this, minus the opening windows and are rated for a high snow load. I have the Willow and love it.
Upset-Diamond2857
It will collapse if you like style try a lean to style- need a good roof pitch for snow to slide off
jgarcya
The roof needs a minimum of 5-8 degree slope…. No flat roofs in snow areas
10 Comments
Flat roof with snow? Might be a problem…..
You live where it snows? Are we talking dusting, inches, feet, buried? That flat roof may be fine with light snow but one storm in heavy snow and it’s over.
Thank you. Light snow. That’s why I’m uncertain if the flat roof will be okay
Ours isn’t flat but we get really heavy snow sometimes. I just use a push broom to clean it off.
Where I live we usually get an inch at a time that melts in a few days, but every five years (ish) we get a decent storm and can see 8-12″ in one go. And every time afterwards I’ll see people’s canopies and greenhouses and similar things collapsed. And none of those are flat roofs, they’re just not angled well enough to actually shed snow when it really accumulates. I wouldn’t do a flat roof here, and I barely consider the snow we get most winters to even count as snow.
For a flat-roof wooden greenhouse in a snowy climate, reinforce the roof with 2×6 cross-bracing to handle snow loads (10-20 psf), add a 5-10° pitch to shed snow, use 8-10mm multi-wall polycarbonate panels for strength and insulation, treat the wood with UV-resistant varnish to prevent moisture damage, and clear snow with a roof rake to avoid buildup.
Don’t go to a flat roof, you need an angled roof so that you can slide the snow off. Snow gets heavy, worst when it’s wet.
Take a look at Backyard Discovery. Both the Zalie and Willow look very similar to this, minus the opening windows and are rated for a high snow load. I have the Willow and love it.
It will collapse if you like style try a lean to style- need a good roof pitch for snow to slide off
The roof needs a minimum of 5-8 degree slope…. No flat roofs in snow areas