Experts in Anchorage, Alaska say that this season's snowfall is not yet too heavy for the vast majority of rooftops in the area. Anchorage has long had strong design standards for buildings due to heavy snow and powerful earthquakes, and most houses are built to handle a maximum of 40 pounds of snow per square foot. Even if snow loads approach the design limit, it typically will not be a problem for properly designed and built houses, which encompasses most houses in Anchorage, including old ones. However, ice-damming is something to keep an extra close eye on, as it can cause dangerous ice buildup on the roof. Property owners should also be on the lookout for warning signs of a potentially dangerous snow load, including newly cracked walls, walls with nailheads that have suddenly popped out, doors that no longer open or close properly, and a sagging ceiling or roof.