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This year, the first snowfalls were not significant. Three inches at most, followed by freezing rain that gave it weight and a crust. But as it was coming to an end, I didn’t think about shoveling the front steps or putting down sand to make traction easier. And I knew the plow guy would come and take care of our driveway.
Instead, my thoughts turned upward. In winterI am obsessed with my roof — and with a simple tool that has become my essential ally in properly maintaining my house for cold weather.
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My roof rake.
It’s not much to look at. Sixteen feet of aluminum post with a 22 inch wide blue plastic perpendicular blade on one end. But it makes all the difference in preventing melting snow from turning into streams of water seeping into the house. This will damage walls, ceilings, light fixtures, and anything underneath the drip, drip, drip. Over time, this could develop into a mold problem.
In your house, leak detectors are handy gadgets for all kinds of water problems, but prevention is always the best policy.
If you live in an area that regularly receives snow, watch out for snow accumulation on your roof. In a sense, snow on the roof is a positive thing. This indicates that your ceiling and attic have sufficient insulation to prevent warm air from escaping, as well as adequate ventilation to help keep the roof cool.
But that snow will melt, producing runoff that will flow down toward your eaves and gutters. This is where the problem begins.
The winter of 2015 was brutal in Massachusetts, with about 90 inches of snow falling in less than a month. That year, the ice dams won.
As this water reaches the edge of your roof, it becomes more exposed to cold temperatures and it refreezes, creating ice dams. These frozen blockages will build up and prevent the next waves of meltwater from falling harmlessly off your roof. Where does this water go? It recedes under your shingles and through the roof deck, following a new gravitational path into your living spaces.
I witnessed this leak. I repaired the damage. I vowed to never let that happen again.
That’s why I’m outside right after every snowfall raking.
There is no truly compelling technological solution to this problem. There is no Roomba for your roof. Whole roof heating systems are available, but they cost thousands of dollars and represent a major construction project. Here in New England, it’s common to see homes with a heating cable snaking along the lower portion of the roof, just above the eaves. But for my house, even this more modest option would cost, as a rough estimate, between $1,000 and $2,000 to install.
Regardless of the heating system, there will also be ongoing electricity costs and a potentially complicated cycle of melting and refreezing.
A roof rake will cost you less than $200. It’s low tech and it works.
How to Handle a Roof Rake
I have used my roof rake after every snowstorm, even minor ones, for many snowy winters here in central Massachusetts.
I had to learn the hard way. Before purchasing my roof rake, I tackled the ice dams, as they had already become much too thick and water was flowing, sometimes violently, into the house. I was outside on a ladder, in the cold, escaping with an axe. This is not the way to go.
This is me, cleaning the roof after a refreshing light fall of snow.
A roof rake is much quicker and simpler – and again, it’s that all-important ounce of prevention. You stand on the ground, reach out with the rake, and gently remove one big shovelful of snow from the roof at a time. Take a step or two and repeat the process. I walk around my house in about 20 minutes.
OK, this is a light arm and shoulder workout. The rake doesn’t weigh much, but it is heavy and you move away from your body. When the snow is deep, wet, crusty, or all of the above, you’ll have to make an extra effort with each pass.
But if you’re familiar with the often back-breaking work of shoveling snow, you’ll appreciate the change of pace.
How much snow should be cleared? The guides I read recommend clearing up to 6 feet from the eaves, and when I first started raking my roof, I went as far as possible. If I didn’t hit that 6 foot mark, I was getting close.
Over time, however, I have found that one to two feet is usually enough. This is the critical area, just past the eaves, where freezing and ice dam buildup occurs.
The guides also advise going slowly when scraping the roof shingles, so as not to wear them out prematurely. I have to admit I’m not that picky – I usually trail along the shingles themselves, rather than trying to leave a thin layer of snow – and it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
And for heaven’s sake, be careful where power lines enter your house. After all, you’re waving a metal pole in the air.
Remember to wear heavy gloves when raking the roof. The aluminum pole gets really cold to the touch.
What is the right roof rake to buy?
Like leaf rakes, roof rakes don’t have much variety. A typical roof rake comes with four lengths of 4-foot aluminum pole that you attach end to end to get the full length, along with the short blade attachment. (Mine has three 5-foot lengths, as well as the blade segment.) Blade width ranges from about 17 to 24 inches.
The 16 feet I have is enough for my house, a raised ranch, even on the side where the ground slopes, and I can only collect the first foot or so of snow from the roof. If you have a taller house or really want to clear the way on the roof, you can always get additional sections. The blade section of my post slopes toward the roof, which is helpful.
Some rakes have small wheels on the bottom of the blade to avoid directly scratching the shingles. This looks like smart design.
Other roof rakes are not rakes at all. Instead of a blade, the business end is open, with teeth holding one end of a plastic slide parallel to the post. Instead of pulling, you push through the snow and the slide gives you a smooth track to fall to the ground. I’ve never tried one, but after spending enough time handling a standard roof rake, I have my doubts. This seems better suited to powder.
Prices for roofing rakes generally range from $50 to $60 and can reach around $200. Years ago I bought a very basic model, and it still works great: a great investment.
Gone are the days of going up on my roof and trying to shovel in addition to raking. In all honesty, it was a legendary winter. In 2015, New England experienced four major snowstorms in less than a month, dumping about 90 inches of snow in that short period. Nobody could follow.
But barring another “Snowmaggedon,” I know my roof rake will continue to serve me well. Every time a snowstorm subsides, we both go outside to start plowing.
