A little bit of snow and ice on a roof may make for a beautiful image during the winter, but too much can become a problem. Layers of snow can weigh far more than many people realize, which can put a huge strain even on a healthy roof. Ice on a roof can also create problems such as ice dams, blocked gutters, and falling icicles.
Too much ice and snow on a roof should be removed, but it needs to be removed safely. As with anything related to your roof, it’s best to leave snow removal to professionals. That said, here are some snow removal tips for you and professionals alike for clearing your roof of snow and ice.
Know How Much Snow Is Too Much
First of all, you need to know how much snow your roof can handle so that you know when to call in a pro. Wet snow can be up to six times heavier than dry, fluffy snow, so keep that in mind when looking up at your roof. As a rule, you should consider snow removal when you have 3 feet of dry snow or 2 feet of wet snow on your roof.
Stay on the Ground
Even if you’re just going to remove a tiny bit of snow from your roof, stay on the ground. As tempting as it may be to climb a ladder to your roof and shovel it like you would your driveway, that is never safe. Not only are you putting more weight on a roof that might be near its load-bearing limits, but you could fall off and seriously hurt yourself.
Use a Roof Rake to Remove Snow
A roof rake is a tool with a long handle that can brush snow from the edges of your roof and is one of the most common tools you’ll see professionals start with. It may not get all of the snow from your roof, but it should remove enough snow from the eaves where it is likely to cause the most trouble. Your professional should be careful when they use a rake on your roof. They don’t want to loosen or break off any shingles, nor do they want to be hit by falling snow, ice, or other debris.
Watch for Ice Dams
Ice dams form when water flows to the outer eaves of your roof and freezes, causing water to pool on your roof. They can severely damage your roof and cause it to leak, so you need to be on the lookout for them during the winter. Look for signs such as large icicles on the edges of your roof, gutters that aren’t draining, and signs of water damage on the inside of your house.
Ice dams are likely to form if you have poor insulation in your attic. Warm air escapes through your roof, melts ice and snow on it, and causes water to flow toward your eaves where it refreezes. Home insulation can last for decades, but if you live in an older home or you have older insulation, contact a professional about having new insulation installed.
Know How to Remove Ice Dams
Even if you have great insulation in your home, you might still have to deal with ice dams on your roof. Ice dams need to be removed as quickly as possible to avoid damage. Removing snow from your eaves with a roof rake will certainly help, but other things can be done if that doesn’t work. For example, a professional may spray the eaves and gutters of your roof with warm water to melt and loosen the ice enough to remove the dam. Heated deicing cables can also melt ice near your eaves and prevent dams from forming.
Finally, some ice dams can be melted with chemical ice melt. These typically come in tablets that are placed on an ice dam to melt it away. In some cases, snow removal professionals will drill holes into the dam and place the tablets inside of them. The chemicals in the ice melt can sometimes damage grass and shrubs under your eaves, so consider this strategy as a last resort.
Call a Professional
While you can rake snow off a roof and spray ice dams with warm water safely from the ground, you should contact a professional for anything more elaborate. Roof repair and snow removal professionals will have the tools and training to safely remove snow and ice from your roof without causing any damage.
If you do have damage to your roof due to excessive snow and ice, Taylor Made Roofing & Construction, Inc. will be happy to assist you with repairs. We have been in the construction industry for over 25 years, and we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible roof installation and repair services.
For more information about our roof repair services or if you’re at a loss as to how to remove snow and ice from your roof, contact Taylor Made Roofing & Construction, Inc. in Morgantown, IN today. Our residential roofing services are the best around!
