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They are light weight, have telescopic poles to enable very long reaches, and
are much easier and safer to use than climbing up on your roof with a snow
shovel.
Snow that is left on your roof will
typically melt during the day and refreeze up during the night. This process
causes ice dams to form at the eves of your roof. Over time the melting snow, or
worse yet, a heavy rain storm, can cause water to back up under the roof
shingles and seep into the home’s attic. Besides, causing water damage to the
home it can also lead to rot and mildew forming on the plywood sheathing and
roof rafters in the attic. Also, mold and mildew can be a dangerous situation
for your family’s health and is expensive to remove.
A clear sign your home is
experiencing the affects of ice damming is if you see water dripping in around
the tops of your windows that reside on the eve sides of a roof. Also, if you
observe water lines forming along a length of your finished drywall ceiling
(e.g. along the drywall strapping), it is a sure bet that water is working its
way under the shingles due to ice dams.
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A snow roof rake is an excellent tool
for removing snow from your roof to help prevent ice dam build up, and to reduce
the load strain on the roof. Water laden snow is extremely heavy and cause undue
stress on your home’s roof. This stress can lead to everything from minor cracks
to form in your drywall ceilings and walls, to an outright roof collapse. Thus
it is important to remove some of the snow from your home’s roof when there is
more than half a foot of snow on it.
Preferably you should try to remove
several feet of snow from the edge of the roof as soon as the snow gets 6 inches
deep.
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You do not necessarily have to scrape the roof down to the bare shingle. As a
matter of fact, it is best that you do not to ensure that you do not damage the
roof shingles.
Snow roof rakes are typically
constructed out of light-weight aluminum and consequently are extremely easy to
lift and maneuver. Many types of snow rakes have telescopic poles that can
extend upwards of 24 feet or more in length. They also usually have a rubber
edge cover to help prevent the roof rake from damaging the shingles.
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When using a snow rake be careful
that you do not stand too close to the roof edge as you pull the snow off the
roof. Falling snow is heavy, and icicles that break off from the roof edge could
impale you if you are not careful.
Snow roof rakes are easy to use, and
most of the time, do not require the use of a ladder. You can find snow roof
rakes at most home improvement centers or hardware stores. Typically they are
priced between $20 and $50 dollars.
For more help on Shingling Your Home's Roof, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet.
The
Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet
will
help to ensure
that
your roof won't end up with a blue tarp over it and a dumpster sitting in your
yard for weeks
as you wait for the roofing contractor to come back and finish roofing your
home.
How to Finance your Roof Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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