Snow removal tools for roof ?

[560Dennis]

What are you using to get the snow off the roof ?

 

[Ray,IN]

I don't, but try to keep gutters clear of ice that block drainage. I must assume you have a flat-roof house, a pitched roof should be able to handle the snow load.

 

[Eman85]

Sun

 

[Brian G. NY]

I don't, but try to keep gutters clear of ice that block drainage. I must assume you have a flat-roof house, a pitched roof should be able to handle the snow load.

I guess you would have to know how much snow?
I have a relatively new house (1995) which is well insulated but when we get 18" or more of snow on the roof it begins to thaw under the snow and the water then flows down to the roof overhang which is of course colder and then we get the ice dam effect which can back the water up under the shingles and into the house.
A very common problem where there is lot of snow and very cold temperatures.
I have had to rake the snow off my roof a few times but we haven't had enuf snow to cause a problem in a few years now.
Raking the snow off three or four feet up from rhe eaves has always worked for me

 

[38 Sears Roebuck]

I live in a bi-level home with low pitched roof. I have had to use a roof rake in the past to lighten the load on the trusses. A few years ago, I was shoveling the snow off the roof prevent collapse.

 

[Non-farmer]

Nature takes care of it for me. My 5:12 pitch roof has never become overloaded with snow in the 20 years it's existed, a couple hours north of Detroit.

 

[Teakettle]

I use two different tools: there's a spot where two gables come together and it's subject to major problems with ice dams at that point, to the degree that water can come inside, so I use a roof rake there before it ices up. I also have a wing with a really big level rubber roof and no drain in the middle (which isn't a good idea in New England, but apparently it's been like that since it was expanded in the 1970s) and whenever there's a foot or more of snow I go up there on a ladder and dig drainage troughs to the edges with a plastic shovel to prevent lots of really wet snow from weighing it down in the middle.

 

[ss55]

What are you using to get the snow off the roof ?

Google roof rake or roof razor.

Also search the YT archives, this question comes up every winter on YT forums.

Minnsnowta Roof Razor is the largest and fastest snow roof rake.

The Minnsnowta Roof Razor is the fastest way to remove lots of snow from your roof. This is the most extreme roof rake available.

www.roofrake.com

 

[cjunrau]

I guess you would have to know how much snow?
I have a relatively new house (1995) which is well insulated but when we get 18" or more of snow on the roof it begins to thaw under the snow and the water then flows down to the roof overhang which is of course colder and then we get the ice dam effect which can back the water up under the shingles and into the house.
A very common problem where there is lot of snow and very cold temperatures.
I have had to rake the snow off my roof a few times but we haven't had enuf snow to cause a problem in a few years now.
Raking the snow off three or four feet up from rhe eaves has always worked for me

I have never had snow melt on my roof. but when it gets to 6 inches on there it slides off the tin and a rumble and crash and it is on the ground. If the sun shines the south will be clean but the north it stays till it gets built up a bit and them lets go.. That is if the wind doesn't blow it off first.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I picked up a roof rake at a yard sale years ago, but have never used it. I rely on deicing cables to prevent ice dams from forming over the soffits.

 

[greenmech]

I use a roof rake to get the snow off the the first few feet to prevent ice jams. Ron MN

 

[DanielW]

We have a couple different types of roof rakes, but I've never had much luck with them. The snow condition and depth need to be just right for them to work effectively.

I suspect our buildings would probably handle any slow load we get, but I do worry the odd time we get more than three feet of heavy, wet snow on there. The worst is if it warms up and rains with a pile of snow still on there: The snow acts like a sponge and it becomes very dense and heavy. And depending on how the weather turns, it might not stay warm enough nor rain long enough to melt/wash it off. Especially concerning on our older barns and low-slopped roof on the cattle feed alley. Most of the time it slides off before it gets that deep (we have steel on all roofs), but sometimes it sticks pretty solid, depending on weather conditions, how rapidly it accumulated, etc.

I don't bother trying the roof rakes anymore: I just climb up there and start pushing it off with a shovel. You have to be careful not to slide off and/or get buried, but it's about the only way to do it in my opinion. Be sure to work from the top down - even if it's a pain. You don't want to be working on, say, the bottom four feet, then have the next 20' behind/above you let go and push you off and bury you. I've had a couple of close calls myself.

 

[Eman85]

Here you go, fast fun and easy

 

[Stephen Newell]

I saw on the news a guy used a blow torch to get the ice off his house. Burnt the house to the ground in the process.

 

[Frank(Mi.)]

What are you using to get the snow off the roof ?

Avalanche style roof rake with the smooth slick tail apron that slides the snow off behind it. Works well up to about 14" depth. It's a pretty good workout for the shoulders and upper body too...

 

[Brian G. NY]

I have never had snow melt on my roof. but when it gets to 6 inches on there it slides off the tin and a rumble and crash and it is on the ground. If the sun shines the south will be clean but the north it stays till it gets built up a bit and them lets go.. That is if the wind doesn't blow it off first.

Yeah, if I had a metal roof on my house like I do on my Morton Building, I wouldn't have much need to rake it.
Sometimes the snow goes off like a landslide and sometimes it just takes it's time.

 

[cjunrau]

Yeah, if I had a metal roof on my house like I do on my Morton Building, I wouldn't have much need to rake it.
Sometimes the snow goes off like a landslide and sometimes it just takes it's time.



View attachment 141625

I often wondered why some roofs do what that is doing. I have seen pictures worse than that but have never seen that personally. It looks like wind can not get at it and the roof does not look very steep.

 

[Keith True]

It's just a glacier.Just slowly creeps along,held back a little by the screw heads.The south side of my metal roof pretty much unloads with a roar,and the north slowly makes it's way off slowly.The snow on my north side is just starting to creep off,it stayed there for a whole week in the intense cold.I have to scooch down to look out my front windows right now,the upper halves have a snow curtain hanging down in front of them.

 

[560Dennis]

Yeah, if I had a metal roof on my house like I do on my Morton Building, I wouldn't have much need to rake it.
Sometimes the snow goes off like a landslide and sometimes it just takes it's time.



View attachment 141625

So much snow can’t get the side door shut .

 

[Caryc]

I thought that's what a wife and a snow shovel were for !