Snow on your roof can possibly cause leaking or damage to your home, according to Risk Free Roofing Boston (https://roofingbostonma.com/). Damage costs and replacing your roof can be a scary thought during the cold winter months. But, should you remove the snow yourself? If so, how would you do it and do it safely? Read the tips below to find out!
When Should You Remove Snow Off Your Roof
You should remove the snow off your roof if there has been snowfall of 6-inches or more if you’ve had a history of ice on your roof. This will prevent a roof collapse. If you have not had a history with ice, you can wait until you have a foot of snow to get it removed.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast as well. If the next few days after a big snowfall will be above freezing, you don’t need to worry about your roof. If it will be below freezing, then you should look into getting the snow off your room to prevent freezing.
How To Remove Snow Off Your Roof
The Ice Dam Removal Guys recommend using shovels or roof-raking as a way to remove snow off of your roof. Which method you use depends on your roof size, house size, and how much snow you got atop your roof. Both methods are good to use routinely whenever snow falls on your roof.
Roof-raking
This works best if you do it as a task during the the snowy months. The rake can reach a lot of areas on your roof with little effort or risk to your safety. It works well for tall homes that have an overhang. It also is better used when there has been light snowfall that hasn’t iced over.
Roof-raking isn’t a good choice when there has been heavy snowfall, or the snow has iced over or gotten wet or slushy. The rake isn’t very sturdy, so it can break easily in those conditions if used on your roof. It also can only reach so far on your roof, and climbing atop your roof can be dangerous.
Shoveling
This is another good option to remove snow off your roof. It is more heavy-duty than roof-raking. You shouldn’t do it often since it can scrub granules from your roof. If you scrub off enough you will need to get it replaced.
You will want to use this method when you have more heavy lifting to do or you want to remove all the snow off of your roof. It also helps to clear out frozen snow by breaking it up.
Unlike roof-raking, shoveling can reach parts of your roof that the rake cannot. It is the better option if you can’t remove the snow after raking.
It is a bit riskier of the two since you are on the roof, and have more chance of slipping or causing damage to your roof. If you are attempting it yourself, make sure you take the proper safety measures (i.e. harness, ropes, etc).
Alternative Methods
There are other ways to clear off your roof without having to worry about your safety or what tools you have to use. One method is to use heat cables, which can be costly but will help to keep snow off your roof. The cables heat up and melt the snow on your roof.
This prevents the snow from freezing or piling on. It will protect your roof from ice dams or leakage. It can be a worthy investment if you have the money and don’t want to worry about taking care of your roof.
The downside of using heating cables is that you will need to keep an eye on the circuits. They can short-circuit and fail, which can stop them from working.
If you aren’t checking them regularly, you could have a snow problem on your hands. It also will only melt snow closest to the cables, so if there was a lot of snow it will only remove so much snow.
When To Hire The Professionals
Another key player in snow removal is snow removal professionals. These are individuals trained to take snow off your roof safely and efficiently. They are equipped with the necessary tools for any situation. They also may work in teams, which shortens the amount of time it takes to clear your roof compared to you doing it by yourself.
It can cost between $100-$300 to hire a company to remove snow from your roof. The cost depends on the size of your roof and the amount of snow or ice being removed. The smaller the roof and less snow there is on your roof, the cheaper the job will be.
It is also important to hire professionals when ice develops on your roof. It can create ice dams, which can cause leaks or cracks in your roof. It is also dangerous to remove on your own since doing it incorrectly can lead to even more unnecessary damage to your home.
Summary
In conclusion, it is important to stay on top of snow removal when it comes to your roof. It will prevent any damage such as leaks or roof collapse. Just be sure to stay safe if you are attempting to do it on your own.
Do your research on the right equipment and alternative methods out there. Hiring a professional, especially for tougher snow or ice removal, can be the better way to go.
Whichever way you choose, best of luck in getting that snow off your roof!
