In order to protect your roof in the winter, you need to make sure to remove the snow that starts to pile up on it. This snow creates a lot of weight and moisture on the top of the roof that can eventually lead to a collapse. Snow covered roofs may also result in mini-avalanches, with one slammed door causing all of the snow to fall at the same time. If a person or a pet happens to be in the way, the damage could be serious.
Here is a quick guide explaining how to get snow off your roof.
Use A Roof Rake
Using a roof rake is the easiest way to remove snow from a roof without having to call in a professional. The rake is set up with an extra long handle that lets you pull down the snow while you sit on the ground. Use the rake to pull the snow down from the edge of the roof and work your way up.
You do not need to get rid of all of the snow on the roof. You can reduce the amount of snow on there so that only one or two inches remains on the roof’s surface. Scraping too hard or too much will damage your shingles over time.
Make Your Own Rake
Roof rakes are pretty inexpensive, but you can potentially make one of your own. You can attach an extension pole to a standard metal snow rake to get the same basic effect. The only difference here is that the metal rake may electrocute you if you come in contact with a power line. Be careful about that. Avoid using a ladder while you are on the roof because the rungs of the ladder may freeze over. This may cause you to slip and fall, which could result in a serious injury from that high up.
Hire Someone To Clear Your Roof For You
If you do not have the time to clean your own roof or you simply do not want to take the risk, you can always hire someone to do it for you. This is one of the services we offer at McLean Roofing And Siding during the cold months because of how bad the snow piles up in the Detroit area. Call in a professional to clear your roof quickly and easily, and you won’t have to worry about snow damage in the future.