This year is the first year ever though that he has had to rake the roof! Not for leaves, obviously, but snow. Usually there's enough of a break between storms, and the temperatures are warm enough that the snow melts. This year the snow has been building up. Looking at our neighbor's house, I would guess they have 18 inches of snow on the roof right now. Getting the snow off the roof is important for two reasons. 1) If there's enough of it, it can actually cause the roof to collapse. 2) Heat from the house causes snow on the roof to melt. The snow and ice in the gutters does not melt as fast, so the water coming off the roof has nowhere to go and it can end up backing up under the shingles and into your house.
I was surprised to find that there is actually a blog that is about nothing but roof rakes! I have to say, having tried to use ours this afternoon, I'd rather rake leaves. For one thing, the weather's usually a lot pleasanter when I'm out raking leaves!
8 comments:
Wow, I never even imagined that was an issue! I just lie awake wondering when an earthquake is going to pitch 100+ red clay rooftiles into our bedroom. I suppose all climates have their roof issues!
We have a flat roof and I'm thinking I should get up there to see if everything's OK. We had a huge dump of snow last night and more on the way.
BTW - we have a great giveaway going on at Pond Parleys if you haven't already entered!
EPM, If you've had as much snow as us, and I would guess you have more, I would recommend checking on your roof!
We have mega icicles dangling from our house at the moment. I thought we should just leave them till they melted - but do you think they could cause damage? It's not a flat roof, though.
NVG - Icicles can get really heavy, and if they're hanging from the gutters they can pull the gutters down. If you can reach them without too much effort, I'd try to knock them down.
NVG, if you can reach them with a pole, try to knock the worst of them down. It will help. The bigger they get the stronger the possibility of an ice dam forming that can cause damage to your roof (pitched or not) and allow leaks. AA's diagram is a good one. The problem with flat roofs is that snow won't slide off as it melts so it gets heavier.
Wow, I never though raking snow on the rooftop is so much work. Like you, I'd rather rake leaves.:-)
we got gutter heaters this year but didn't put them on till AFTER the dammed ice melted and leaked up into the shingles and into the living room all over my brand new drywall :(
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