We’ve had a Hy-grade steel roof for years and it is a great product.

Except when winter starts to thaw. Last night it started with the arrival of a warm front and as the temperature and south wind picked up – time 4:32 am – there was a creak followed quickly by a thunderous roar and house-shaking thump. Sheets of snow and ice slide off the second story hitting the overhang of the porch on its way down to the front yard, and a normally very quiet roof system is suddenly very loud.

Snoop (my cat) is permanently embedded in the bedroom ceiling.

This happens every year, and every year I forget it happens until it starts to slide off. And it almost always in the middle of the night!

However, I got home late this evening to find two-and-a-half feet of snow right across the entire frontage of the house – driveway included. Seems it was about 4 degrees this afternoon which made a nice slushy bottom on the roof snow and we all know how snow, ice and steel react together – toboggan anyone?

Unfortunately by the time I arrived home the temperature had dropped significantly and I now have a “granite” wall barring the car from the garage. You haven’t lived until you are out at 11 at night with a pick-axe trying to carve out a niche to get the car into the garage.!

If it were Christmas it would be fitting. The neighbours run to their windows when they “hear the clatter to see what is the matter.” Nope, it’s not Saint Nick – it’s just me – chip, chip, chipping away in the dark and no doubt muttering lovingly about my steel roof.