Removing Ice and Snow from Roof

There is no denying that snow can create a picturesque scene when fresh fallen on your home. However, underneath that beauty is the potential to cause damage not only to your roof, but the gutters and objects surrounding your home as well. When you think of snow, you typically have this image of the fluffiest and lightest stuff known to man. Sure, in very small amounts its weight is rather insignificant. It’s when it remains on your roof and continues to build over time that causes the problems. Did you know that just one cubic foot of snow weighs an average of 15 pounds? Now think about the surface area of your home’s roof and that number becomes a serious amount.

Safety First

We cannot stress this enough. While it is important to remove the snow and ice from your roof, it is more important to do so in a safe manner. Start by addressing the situation and getting a good idea of the amount of time you’ll need to dedicate to it. Next you’ll want to reacquaint yourself with the tools you’ll be using for the job. These will likely consist of a ladder, shovel, rake and others. Before you dive into the project, set the ladder up properly and make sure it has stable foot so it will not slide out on you as you climb up it. After that has been established, take a few minutes to practice going part of the way up the ladder and back down, with the required tool in hand. This will help to ensure that your ladder is stable and increase your comfort on it.

Removing the Snow and Ice

Now let’s get to the job that you set out to do. Start by removing small sections of the snow and ice to one side of the ladder, never directly in front of you. Why not in front of you? Remember when we determined the weight of one cubic foot of snow? Imagine that and many more cubic feet of it and potentially ice, breaking away in an avalanche style and coming at you head-on. This can quickly make for a bad situation. So take your time and remove small amounts until you’re finished. Not all of it needs to be removed, just enough to reduce the amount of pressure on the roof. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, that’s fine. There are professionals out there who would be more than happy to take care of it for you.