Roof snow removal 16

[mijowe]

I have been ask by an owner for the number of inches of snow fallen on a roof that should trigger its removal. This is for a building that I designed and was recently completed.

The simple answer is to provide the snow load I designed for, in psf not inches. I feel like I have not exposed myself to more liability if I define what I designed for. Without getting compensated I do nto want to make a recommendation for their snow removal plan, and I also do nto want to provide a conservative number that would have them cleaning off the roof more that necessary (it is a fairly large roof).

I have never been asked for this and am curious how others address the question.

 

[bowlingdanish]

I like LittleInch's as a casual email to a valued client whom you never had any intention to charge, but if you packaged up JAE's into a spiffy report with some pictures and call it a 'snowfall analysis' you could probably get a couple grand fee for not much extra work. Good business! Charge for advice! Why do you think lawyers earn so much

 

[BUGGAR]

When, how, can, or should you bill for this?

 

[LittleInch]

If we were charging for advise what are we doing on this site....

JAE, I take the point but I like to educate people a little as well and the initial bit would help if it ever got used against you or used in another location or building.

A bit like a report - most people will only ever read the summary or conclusions, but you need to issue the whole thing to get paid.

I think the OP is only being asked for a quick figure included as part of "after care" not being commissioned by a company to write a complex report.

We don't know if this is a personal client, residential building or commercial client/building so not easy to say on the charging or legal front.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[JAE]

Mike - yes the effect of the melting/icing/blockage of drains, etc. all are really the most effective in bringing down buildings. Probably need to emphasize that.

Buggar - I might not bill for a quick letter like that as it is really just a communication back to an original client, trying to educate them on what to do in the future.
My interest in doing something like that would be
a) to avoid frustrating the client by NOT answering
b) possibly educate them on how they should properly manage their building and
c) possibly sew goodwill for other future projects.

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[SteelPE]

I haven't read this whole thread, but I am asked this question all the time, and I tell the client if they are worried then they should shovel the snow. What is to prevent the client from taking the information you give them and applying it to another property he owns 100 miles away?

Interestingly enough, I was recently involved with a situation where the client did this to his building and there is a large likely hood that this prevented at least a local collapse by evidence of damage observed after the snow was removed. The insurance company is refusing to pay for the removal of the snow even though it likely prevented a large claim from being filed by the client (which I guess is standard practice). He is also being refused compensation for the repairs being done to repair the damage observed after the snow was removed as the insurance company brought in their own engineer who says everything is fine. The whole project has turned into a huge mess.

 

[allgoodnamestaken]

I haven't read this whole thread, but I am asked this question all the time, and I tell the client if they are worried then they should shovel the snow. What is to prevent the client from taking the information you give them and applying it to another property he owns 100 miles away?

Your relevant and detailed response to the client that lets him know the scope of the information given as being applicable to this building and location only, along with a general overview of the the minutiae of the answer like snow density varying, etc.

I mean, you've just anticipated a potential problem that you can head off with a single sentence. Not sure why that's difficult to do.