
A thick layer of sparkling white snow covering your roof might look pretty, but it puts a lot of strain on the structure due to its weight. There’s also a good chance that melting water trapped by the snow above will leak into your roof rather than dripping off. If you live in a cold climate, this probably isn’t the first winter you’ve struggled to remove snow from your roof when it builds up too high. Don’t let another winter go by with ineffective and unsafe snow removal techniques. Here is a rundown of how to keep your roof clear of snow and what techniques to not use.
How Much Snow Is Too Much for a Roof?
Knowing how much snow your roof can safely hold is important because too much weight can lead to damage or even collapse in severe cases. The type of snow makes a difference:
- Dry, fluffy snow is lighter and generally weighs around 3 to 5 pounds per square foot,
- Heavy snow can weigh closer to 20 pounds per square foot.
- Ice, the heaviest of all, can add up to 60 pounds per cubic foot.
A general rule of thumb for most roofs is that they can safely support around 20 pounds per square foot. However, if you live in a region prone to heavy snowfall, your roof may be built to handle more. If you’re unsure or concerned about how much snow your roof can handle, consult with a roofing professional to assess your roof’s load capacity and determine the safe weight limit. If snow and ice build-up reach critical weight levels, you need to take action to prevent serious damage.
How to Remove Snow from Your Roof: The Right Way
Removing snow from your roof the correct way can help you protect your home without damaging your roof or putting your safety at risk. By choosing the following safe and effective techniques, you can keep your roof in top condition all winter long.
Use A Snow Rake
It may look like a simple piece of metal, but a roof snow rake is specially designed not to damage your shingles or gutters. You’ll also notice it has plenty of handle extensions so you can extend it far up into the air to reach every corner of your roof. Of course, it’s harder to use one of these tools if your home is taller than a single story. Operate the snow rake gently by pushing it over the surface of the shingles knocking snow loose. Don’t try to get every last inch of snow or you’ll start scraping shingles. Stand well back from the eave of the roof as you work so snow and ice can’t fall on you.
Heated Cables and Tapes
As you can imagine, using a snow rake from the ground is limited to houses that are a single story, or maybe two at most. If you have a taller home with a steeper roof, it can be impossible to even clear the eaves off this way. Try installing heated cables or tapes on the roof to melt snow off as it accumulates. This should work well for relatively small snowpacks and low amounts of snowfall per day. Even in heavy snowfall, the cable should keep enough snow sliding off the roof to reduce the load to a safe amount of weight.
If enough snow falls that it accumulates over the heated cables without melting, shut the power off to the cables. Letting the cables melt just the bottom layer will cause ice damming that forces water into your roof. If a snow rake and a set of heated cables aren’t enough to control the snow, you’ll need a professional service to visit and clean off the roof.
When in Doubt, Call a Professional
For homes with multiple stories or steep roof angles, attempting to remove snow from your roof can be risky and challenging. In these cases, calling a professional snow removal service is a safer and more practical option. Professional snow removers are equipped with specialized tools and safety gear to handle snow loads safely. They also have insurance, meaning any accidental damage or issues during the removal process are covered.
Professionals are also experienced in assessing which areas of the roof may need more attention to prevent ice dams and leaks. Rather than risking a slip or fall by climbing onto the roof yourself, trust a professional to ensure the snow is removed without compromising your safety or the roof’s safety.
The Wrong Way to Get Snow Off Your Roof
Just as there are safe methods for snow removal, there are also techniques that can cause harm to both you and your roof. Certain tools and approaches may appear effective but can lead to unintended damage or injury. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your roof safe and intact throughout winter.
Wrong: A Yard Rake
Many homeowners see the name of the tool above and rush out to use their leaf rake on their roof. A spring-tooth or hard-tooth rake is not a snow rake and should not be used on a roof. Even though these tools can safely remove leaves from your lawn without hurting the grass, the same sharp points tend to catch on the shingles and pull them loose. Even metal roofing is scratched and weakened by the use of the wrong tool.
Wrong: Shovels and Sharp Tools
Shovels and other sharp tools are definitely a bad idea for using on your roof, including for snow removal. Yet you can find many products resembling garden hoes or angled scraping blades for sale for use on the roof. Try touching the head of the snow tool with your hand. If it’s stiff and doesn’t bend or move, or if it’s so sharp you can’t safely run your hand over its edge, it will likely damage your roof as you work. Stick to basic snow rakes and avoid the products that claim to remove snow faster and better by scraping with more force. More force is not better when it comes to clearing off your roof.
Wrong: Heating the Entire Attic
Since putting heated cables on the roof can help, some homeowners assume they should just heat the whole attic. But running a heater full-time will only warm the very surface of the shingles outside. This allows snow to build up and then constantly melt. The snow and ice above trap the water, giving it nowhere to drip off. Instead, it’ll trickle between your shingles and into the attic. Keep your attic cold and only heat the surface with purpose-made snow cables or mats to prevent this kind of leaking in the winter.
Wrong: Going on the Roof
Never go on your roof to remove snow. Even if it’s a very low slope or appears flat, it’s unsafe to get on a snowy roof. If the snow is so heavy you’re concerned about it damaging the roof or structure, your weight could trigger a collapse. If it’s not that heavy, it’s not worth risking an injury to clear away. If you can’t use a snow rake from the ground to reach the snow, hire a snow removal company and get back inside to warm up.
Snow Buildup Prevention Tips
The following are some tips to avoid the buildup of snow during a winter storm so it’s easier to remove:
- Before winter starts, schedule an inspection to check for weak spots, loose shingles, and any signs of wear on your roof.
- Clear gutters of leaves and debris to allow melting snow to drain properly, which helps prevent ice dams from forming. This also reduces the risk of water backing up under shingles and causing leaks.
- Start snow removal early, particularly after heavy snowfall. Removing snow before it builds up minimizes the risk of strain on your roof.
If you address small amounts of snow regularly and keep your gutters clear, you can reduce the odds of needing emergency removal or repairs from heavy snowfall.
Removing heavy layers of snow keeps your home safe over the winter, but it isn’t worth risking your own safety. Use the tools meant to remove snow without damaging your roof or hurting yourself. Stay safe and prepare for snow removal by getting all the necessary winter tools this cold season.
Next learn some simple steps on How to Winterize Your Home