By Cheryl Rotole,
www.Roofrake.com 734-560-7153
You may think those icicles hanging from your roof are pretty
but they are actually a symptom of a potentially damaging
problem for your home. As snow melts from you roof either by the
sun or heat escaping from the home it tends to refreeze at the
edges and other juncture points of your roof. The refreezing of
water has a damming effect
creating an even bigger ice dam
behind it. Continuous feeding of the ice dam by melting and
refreezing snow melt can cause significant damage to the roof
and well as interior of the home. As the water seeps under
shingles it refreezes expanding and creating an even bigger gap
for future drainage to fill and further the cycle. This in the
very least is raising your shingles. As the cycle continues the
water will look for and create cracks in the wood and walls each
time expanding to create more damage ‘til you see leakage and
cracks in the ceiling and walls of the home.
Weight of Snow
A square foot of compacted snow can way close to 50 pounds. Many
roofs, especially, older, flat and special structures such as
carports, garages, and sheds are not always rated to support
this kind of weight. It is important to remove as much of it as
you safely can from the ground. We encounter people daily that
did not know a tool was even available for this. Many inventions
have been around since the 1800s to lighten the snow load on
barns.
What can you do if you already have ice dams?
You need to remove the source of the water that is creating this
problem. This can be safely done from the ground with a product
called a roof rake. A roof rake is not a rake as in what you’d
use in fall but rake refers to the pulling or raking process
involved in pulling the snow off the roof, versus a shovel which
you push. If the ice dams are already there try to remove as
much snow as possible from the area of the roof behind the ice
dam, at least 4-6 feet. Do not try to pull at the ice dam.
You’ll damage your roof rake and the roof. Many people have
pulled down shingles from their roof tugging at them with a
roof rake. Remember there’s frozen water above and below the
shingles. Once the snow is no longer there to feed the ice dam
it will start to diminish in size. Many homeowners use ladies
nylons filled with calcium chlorite or ice melter tablets –
hockey puck like tablets that can be tossed on a roof.
If you’ve had ice damming in the past or signs of leakage it’s
important to remove the snow from the front 4-6 feet of your
roof after every snow fall. Just as you’d go out there to shovel
the snow from the driveway or sidewalks, you need to get out and
remove the snow from the roof. Get your roof rake out and pull
the snow off that first 4-6 feet and any other trouble areas
you’re aware of.
How do I know how long of a roof rake to get?
When using a roof rake you typically stand as far back on the
ground so you can see where you’re working. For example on a
typical one story I stand about 6 feet back but on a second
story you’ll need to stand 18’ or so back. Terrain has a lot to
do with it to a house up on a hill you’ll need more length. For
a 21’ roof rake it can reach halfway up a single story and just
to the gutter on a second story. On a 2 story house you’ll need
two 5 foot extensions.
Will it damage my roof?
There are different types of roof rakes available. Roofrake.com
carries different roof rakes for various roof surfaces as well as
solar panels. The roof rakes available feature special treatments
or features that prevent the blades from shearing the asphalt
from shingles such as wheels or rollers. For metal roofs the
goal is avoiding the metal blade coming in contact with the
treated metal and clearing the seams that can be as high as an
inch and a half.
Will my insurance cover a problem?
It is essential that review your insurance policy and check with
your agent before you have a problem. Basic form insurance
policies do not cover collapse of a structure due to the weight
of ice or snow. With people trying to save costs wherever
possible it may be something to look in to. Most insurance
companies improve the language from basic form, but look into it
before you have no options.
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About roofrake.com
Roofrake.com was started in 2000 in Plymouth, Michigan when the
owners viewed a man on top of his steep roof with a snow shovel.
Thinking there has to be a better way they found a few firms
with long handled snow shovels called roof rakes. The company now
offers over a half dozen American Made tools to remove safely
remove snow from a roof. Due to economic stimulus programs
offered solar panels can now be commonly found on roofs.
Roofrake.com offers the only soft headed roof rake to keep your
solar panels clear of snow so they can continue to work year
round.
Cheryl Rotole has been with Roofrake.com for 8 years.
Roofrake.com offers same day shipping as well as a knowledgeable
staff that can match the best roof rake to your specific
situation, be it deep snow, metal roof or solar panels. Please
call 734.560.7153 or visit www.roofrake.com for more information
or to order.
