It depends far more on the type of snow than the depth, because wet, dense snow can weigh several times what the same depth of dry powder does. Rather than guessing at inches, watch for ice at the eaves, new ceiling stains or structural creaking – and if rain is forecast onto an existing snowpack, get it cleared.

From the ground, on a single-storey edge, carefully – yes. The problems start when people get on a ladder or the roof in icy conditions, or use metal tools that strip the granules off the shingles. Falls and self-inflicted shingle damage are the two most common ways this goes wrong.

Not the way we do it. We leave a thin protective layer rather than scraping to the surface, and we use low-pressure steam on ice instead of hammers, picks or chisels. Cold shingles are brittle, which is exactly why the method matters.

Many policies cover the resulting interior water damage while excluding the cost of removing the ice itself, but it varies by policy. Document the damage with photos and call your carrier. We can provide written findings from our assessment.

Response depends on storm volume, and we triage by severity – active interior leaks and heavy loads before cosmetic icicles. Call as early as you can, since the queue builds fast after a major storm.