How to Clear Snow Off Your Second Story Roof
While people often put a priority on shoveling driveways and sidewalks when a snowstorm hits, it's important to think about clearing snow off your roof. The excess weight of the snow can put a great amount of pressure on the shingles and rafters, which can damage the roof and cause a leak. While the presence of ice and snow on the roof makes it dangerous to climb up on the roof, you can clear the snow by using a roof rake. They come in a variety of lengths and are long enough to reach a second-story roof. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Snow rake
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Instructions
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Assemble the snow rake according to the manufacturer's instructions for that specific rake.
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Create a path around the perimeter of your home by walking around the home and flattening the snow. This allows you to work quickly with the snow rake and prevents you from tripping or falling into areas where the snow on the ground is uneven.
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When using the roof rake, stand at least a few feet out from under the roof. Raise the snow rake up to the roof and place it at least two feet up from the bottom of the roof, then pull the rake toward you to pull the snow down. Do not remove all of the snow down to the shingles; leave a thin layer of snow over the shingles. Scraping the shingles with the snow rake can damage the shingles.
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Work your way around the entire house until you have removed one strip of snow around the bottom of the roof around the entire house.
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Continue working your way around the roof, removing another strip of snow around the entire roof until you are satisfied with the amount of snow that has been removed.
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Tips & Warnings
Roof rakes are available at a number of home improvement stores. Before purchasing one, try to get a rough estimate of how high the roof is so you know how long of a roof rake you need to buy in order to reach the snow-covered areas.
If the standard roof rake isn't long enough to reach your second story, many manufacturers sell pole extensions that can increase the rake's reach.
It is not necessary to remove the snow off the entire roof all the way to the peak. If you can only remove the snow halfway up the roof, you'll have removed enough weight to prevent roof damage.
It is dangerous to climb up on a snow-covered roof, so only try to remove the snow while standing on the ground.
Never use a shovel to clear snow from the roof as it can severely damage the shingles.
When clearing snow off your roof, always wear adequate protective gear, including boots, gloves and a hat to prevent frostbite while working in cold weather.
Take a break if necessary, as removing snow from a roof can be strenuous work.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
