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Rain shouldn’t come in through your ridge vents unless your vents are damaged or the rain is accompanied by very high winds. Most ridge vents use flashing or baffling to keep out rain, snow, and debris. If your ridge vent isn’t baffled, rain is more likely to enter your attic, so ridge vents with baffles are a better choice in areas with regular rainfall.

The most common roof pitch is 4:12, which means a rise of 4 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run. However, roof pitch varies widely based on roof design, climate, and even the roofing materials you plan to install. Your building type also plays a role, as flat roofs are common on commercial buildings and some modern homes.

A roof pitch that’s too shallow won’t shed runoff as quickly, so you have an increased risk of water intrusion through the seams between your roofing materials. In colder climates, snow and ice will accumulate more easily on your roof, which can add enough weight to cause roof collapse and structural damage to your home.

A roof's ability to handle snow depends on its strength and the snow's weight, as wet snow is much heavier than dry, fluffy snow. While designs in snowy regions often allow for 35 to 50 pounds per square foot, a general guideline is that a typical roof can withstand about four feet of fresh snow, two feet of packed snow, or just one inch of ice. Factors like the roof's age, slope, and support structure also affect its capacity; newer, sloped roofs generally hold more weight than older, flat ones. Ice and ice dams add significant, dangerous weight. Because capacity varies, it is best to contact a professional roofing contractor or the original builder to determine the maximum snow load for your specific home.