Icy winter landscapes are beautiful, Roof Snow Removal but they can prove burdensome to homeowners. As snow piles up, all that weight equates to structural stress, especially for buildings with flat roofs.
If your home has a roof with a substantial pitch, ice dams and clogged gutters can still prevent snow from sliding off. Heavy loads of wet snow can eventually lead to shingle damage, stress on load-bearing walls, and even roof collapse.
Removing snow from your roof is a slippery undertaking. Rather than climbing a ladder in the cold or risking a dangerous fall from icy overhangs, we’ll teach you how to keep snow off your roof in the first place.
Signs your roof is compromised by too much snow
If you’re still unsure whether your roof is risking damage after a heavy snowfall, FEMA advises homeowners to look for these warning signs.⁴
- Sagging ceiling tiles or boards
- Popping, cracking, and creaking noises
- Interior doors that can no longer be opened or closed
- Cracks in walls or masonry
- Severe roof leaks
Excessive snow accumulation can be the result of ice dams, unbalanced snow load, heavy snowfall or rain, or just simple roof geometry working against you.
Consider consulting with a contractor before next winter to determine what you can do to increase the pitch of your roof and ease the burden of heavy snowfall.
easy snow removal from roof
Did you know that you can remove snow from a roof with rope? While this method can be used in conjunction with a ladder, with a bit of skill you can do it without one. However, it’s worth noting that this process requires two people! The great thing about this method is that, when done properly, it can remove most of the snow from your roof in a single motion.
If you do not have a ladder, tie something heavy to one end of your rope. Toss the rope over the roof of your home (with taller homes, you should probably avoid even attempting this). Let your other participant grab the end you just threw and walk it back to the side of the house you’re standing on. If done right, you’ll have a length of rope that spans the length of a wide section of your roof that is dug into the snow. From there, simply tug at both ends of the rope in a sawing motion. Soon enough, the rope should dislodge the snow’s tenuous hold on the roof and it will all come crashing down at once! Be mindful of where you stand—you don’t want all of that snow falling on you!
roof snow removal techniques
Did you know that you can remove snow from a roof with rope? While this method can be used in conjunction with a ladder, with a bit of skill you can do it without one. However, it’s worth noting that this process requires two people! The great thing about this method is that, when done properly, it can remove most of the snow from your roof in a single motion.
If you do not have a ladder, tie something heavy to one end of your rope. Toss the rope over the roof of your home (with taller homes, you should probably avoid even attempting this). Let your other participant grab the end you just threw and walk it back to the side of the house you’re standing on. If done right, you’ll have a length of rope that spans the length of a wide section of your roof that is dug into the snow. From there, simply tug at both ends of the rope in a sawing motion. Soon enough, the rope should dislodge the snow’s tenuous hold on the roof and it will all come crashing down at once! Be mindful of where you stand—you don’t want all of that snow falling on you!
