If you are thinking of trying roof snow removal, you need to understand the purpose of the activity or you need to have roof snow removal plans. If you’re putting your weight on the roof, it can result in ice dams. Besides, using a floaty rake head is not a good idea. You’ll end up slipping and injuring yourself. Here are some tips on roof snow removal. Read on to learn more.
Avoid putting your weight on your roof
If you are doing the roof snow removal on your own, you must use the proper equipment. First, make sure you are using a rake or shovel. This will help you remove more snow from the roof and reduce the risk of creating an ice dam. Salt products may also damage the material of your roof and cause damage to the ground, driveway, or yard. Heat cables can also help, but they are expensive and ineffective if the snow is too deep. You should also ensure the snow is not deeper than six to 12 inches, or you could risk damaging your roof.
Putting your weight on your roof can result in a serious accident. While you may be tempted to try to shovel the snow from the roof by yourself, you’ll only make matters worse by damaging the shingles or creating an ice dam. Using a ladder and climbing on top of the roof is also dangerous. It’s also possible to fall from the roof and cause injury or death.
Avoid ice dams
A few basic maintenance practices are essential to avoid ice dams on your roof. Clearing your gutters and downspouts of snow will allow snow to drain off your roof and into the gutters when the snow melts. The cable will automatically turn off as the temperature rises. Heat cables are easy to install yourself, but you should exercise caution as fasteners and adhesives may damage your roof system. For this reason, the National Roofing Contractor Association recommends against installing heat cables.
If you can reach your roof, use calcium chloride to break up the ice dam. It will only cost you $20 and will fill up about 13-15 tube socks. Once the calcium chloride is on hand, place them over the ice dam and let them melt. This will help melt the ice and create a tube-like channel for the water to run down safely off the roof. If you can’t get to your roof, consider hiring a professional contractor to do the job. It will save you from repairing expensive repairs.
Avoid granules
When removing roof snow, you need to avoid granules or the tiny particles covering the shingles. These granules protect shingles from UV rays and provide fire resistance. But when you’re removing roof snow, you can’t just scoop the flakes and run them off. You also need to avoid wearing down the granules by wearing down the shingles by using a shovel with a plastic edge.
Granules give asphalt shingles an attractive texture. They also protect your roof from damaging UV rays. By avoiding granule loss, you can protect your roof and reduce the need for costly repairs.
Avoid floaty rake head
Before you can remove roof snow, you should clear overhangs. If you pull the rake head up too high, it will float, losing contact with the roof surface and possibly packing the leftover snow. Therefore, the more snow you can remove from your roof, the better. In addition, the rake head can become dull and damaged if it’s not carefully maintained. To prevent this, you should rake snow from the roof at a steady pace.
Another tip is to use a floaty rake head. Rakes with floaty heads tend to cause damage to roofs. They can cause fires, flooding, and structural weaknesses. Remove heavy snow from the roof by pulling small amounts at a time to avoid these risks. When removing roof snow, always start with the area closest to your home.
Avoid leaving footprints in the snow
While a shovel can remove roof snow, a plastic one will help avoid damage to the shingles. Shovels also wear down the shingles. Another tip when removing roof snow: don’t leave footprints in the snow. Footprint pathways turn to ice and can cause an ice dam. A plastic roof shovel will also prevent scuffs from appearing on the roof.
