Get rid of punishing snow before it can cause legal injury to your rest home .
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As snowfall diminish , inch by inch it tally weight to your home ’s roof . If the snow is not remove , the gather weight can cause structural damage , and may also increase the risk of leaks andice dams mold . With this in brain , one of the most effective ways to safely remove snowfall from the roof is to use a roof slant .
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A roof rake is a tool design specifically for removing Baron Snow of Leicester from the roof while remaining safely on the ground . These tools typically have a telescoping celestial pole that makes it well-off to reach high up on the ceiling , allowing you to avoid mount up a slippery run in the dead of wintertime . Here , we provide clear instructions on how to properly use a roof rake to move out thick snow from your roof this winter .
Do I Need to Remove Snow from My Roof?
Before purchasing a ceiling roue , you might be wondering why it ’s necessary to bump off snow from the roof . After all , snow seems like it would be comparatively light-colored , and when warmer weather remove , it simply melts aside . However , each in of snow assemblage weighs about 1.25 pounds , which means that just a foot of C on the cap can add 15 pounds per square foot . To put this in perspective , most roof are only design to carry about 20 pounds per square foundation , and older homes or those with flat roofing may support even less weight .
If you do n’t remove the nose candy , the excess weight will put stress on the ceiling , which can make structural damage to the walls or may even do the roof to collapse . Even if the roof contend to indorse the weight , if the snow fade raggedly , it can seep under the shingles andleak into the home . to boot , melted C. P. Snow can start to build up in the gutters or eaves , head to ice dam formation , which can damage the roof , siding , and gutter organisation .
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
How to Use a Roof Rake to Remove Snow
Determine If Snow Removal Is Necessary
The specific amount of snow the roof can support depend on the type , age , and term of the roof , but in general , you should clear snow from the ceiling if it reaches about six inch to a foot in depth . Keep in mind that the more snow there is on the cap , the harder it will be to take away .
Similarly , if a heavy snowfall is followed by light-headed rainwater or mild temperature , then the append moisture and meltwater can increase the exercising weight of the blow , so it ’s best to clear sonorous , wet snow as soon as possible .
It ’s also a good idea to keep up to date with local atmospheric condition prognosis so you’re able to discharge the snowfall before the next storm pip , otherwise a fresh violent storm could add an extra dumping of C , increasing the risk of exposure to the roof .
Prepare the Area and Put on Protective Gear
When removing snow from the roof , it will fall down to the ground below . Light , fluffy snowfall is n’t really a problem , but heavy snow and ice can put you and any plant , fomite , or other object at risk of damage . light the sphere around the menage , cover any flora you do n’t want damage , and move any vehicles , if necessary .
You will also want to wear warm clothing , boots , glove , safety ice , and a hard chapeau to ensure you remain dependable from falling coke , icicle , and freeze winter weather .
Start at the Edges of the Roof
Assemble your roof rake , then protrude at one corner of the roof , come in the ceiling rake a span of feet from the bound . Stand clear of where the blow will fall and be careful of any border obstacles , like power lines , the toilet system , or nearby tree branches .
Pull the roof rake down while applying a low-cal amount of force to keep the rake parallel to the roof . You do n’t desire to push down too hard on the roue , as it could end up damage the shingles , so allow gravity do most of the work for you . The goal is to remove most of the collect nose candy while pull up stakes behind about an inch or two .
Pull the Snow Off the Rest of the Roof
After removing the first two feet of Baron Snow of Leicester from the boundary of the ceiling , slide the roof rake higher on the ceiling to reach the next two to three feet of Baron Snow of Leicester . Repeat this unconscious process until you have clear off about five to six feet from the border .
While you crop , be thrifty to quash damaging thegutter system , skylights , chimney , and vent . glance over around skylights , but do n’t rake the top of the windowpane . When it comes to chimneys , do n’t get too skinny to the boundary , as the rake may damage the flashing . clean off exhaust vent as much as possible to helpimprove home ventilationand tighten the risk of ice dam formation .
Clear the Ground Around the Home
Once you ’ve finished crease the cap , grab your shoveland reset the ground around the home plate . yield particular attention to any downspouts to ensure that the C does n’t create a blockage in your gutter scheme .
Call a professional if you are unsure or ineffective to remove the snow yourself .
