Winter is fast approaching and according to the Farmer’s Almanac, its going to be a snowy one. In some climates, large amounts of snow can pile up on roofs throughout the season. These piles of snow can potentially led to excess weight on a roof and the problems that come with it. If you are confident in your ability you may decide to clear snow from your roof. Roofcorp has some advice on the best and safest ways to clear this snow off of your roof.
How to Clear Snow Off your Roof Safely and Effectively
You should only attempt to clear off snow from your roof if it is resulting in actual damage, such as causing portions of your home to sag and buckle or creating leaks. Otherwise snow on your roof is a purely cosmetic problem and the risks of cleaning do not outweight any benefits. Check out our article on too much snow to find out if snow on your roof is a problem that warrants addressing. If you think you do need to clean off the roof here are some best practices to help you out.
Climbing on top of your roof to get work done is dangerous in itself, add snow and ice to the picture and you have an easy potential for injury. You need to take some steps in order to insure your safety. Always utilize some sort of fall protection whether it be a harness, safety net or railing, even if the area of work is not very high off the ground. Make sure you wear shoes with ample traction as well. Now that you have your safety gear its time to clean.
Purchase a roof rake from your local hardware store to make the job easier. Start at the edge or over hanging areas of your roof and work your way inward aiming to rake off one foot sections at a time. Use a shovel for angles where the roof rake is ineffective. Slowly work your way to the top in small sections or the snow pack may become too heavy and labor intensive. Always be cautious about small avalanches from above you that can sweep you off your feet. This goes for anybody on the ground as well.
You don’t have to make the roof spotless, actually getting down to the roof material itself may cause damage to your shingles or tiles. Just concentrate on getting the majority of the load off.
If this seems like too much for you there are many companies that specialize in snow removal that will come out to your roof and get the job done in an efficient manner.
Now you have a clean roof that doesn’t run the risk of collapse!
Recent Comments