Roof Snow Removal Basics

When it comes time to tackle a roof snow removal job, you are likely to have many choices. You can either rely on your eyes or trust your instincts. For instance, a flat roof may be capable of holding up some light, perhaps even a few inches of snow, but cave in under some significant weight, too. It would be wise to contact a roofing contractor to determine your actual roof threat and then provide appropriate roof snow removal services.

Roof snow removal experts will weigh your roof leaks, ice dams and other roof threats before offering an estimate. They know what questions to ask and which to avoid. You’ll need to supply details about your roof leaks, such as where they are, how long they have been occurring and how much water they have accumulated. A roof leaks repair specialist will be able to evaluate the extent of the roof leaks and recommend a course of action. He or she may suggest that you paint or strengthen the roof, for example.

If you do not want to pay money to a roof contractor to remove the ice and snow, you may want to make the process yourself. A snow blower is an inexpensive and easy way to do it. Even if you don’t have access to a shovel, you can use brooms or rakes to collect the snow. It’s important to keep the area clear of anything that could block your snow blower. Clean up all debris immediately after the snow blower has finished.

If you have trouble gathering the snow yourself, you might consider renting a snow bucket from a roof cleaning service. These services typically have one large, bucket-like machine that can remove roof snow without any supervision. To use the equipment, you’ll just place the snow bucket in the area you’re working and push a lever down to start the motor. The machine will then rake the snow and remove it from your roof.

Another roof snow removal method involves building ice dams on your roof. When ice dams begin to form on your roof, it becomes difficult to remove the snow from underneath the roof. You can help prevent ice dams by placing tarps or plastic sheets between the snow and your roof, and filling these between with ice.

You should also know how to remove roof snow removal challenges that come from gutters. Gutters allow rainwater to drain away from your roof and downspouts, helping reduce damage to roofing materials. If gutters are clogged with dirt and debris, they won’t work properly and could increase the amount of time it takes to remove roof snow. To clean gutters, use a wire brush to loosen debris and then using a power washer, clear away all excess dirt. You may also want to use a power washer for roof snow removal if your gutters are blocked with ice.