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jttheclockman

jttheclockman

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
20,305
Location
NJ, USA.
Anyone know what a "Snow Rake" is??? Had to use these here in NJ this year and they are nowhere to be found any more.

Hey Roy maybe you need one. :biggrin:
 
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John, unfortunately I know all too well what a snow rake is....just came in after two hours with a makeshift one made from a 16' 2 x 4 and some 1/2" CDX. Tried to buy one but not a big item in the big box hardware stores.so had to raid the shop.
 
I grew up in Arkansas and then moved to Idaho. I had no idea that there were places in the world where you had to shovel your roof. Yes, a snow rake is a roof rake. I just hired a couple of teenagers to take care of it. Amazing what growing boys will do for cookies, a twenty and approval to jump from a roof into a big pile of snow.
 
I put my roof rake to task today before "The Great Whiteout" gets here. Luckily I only have a 1 story cottage. Thats life in the slow lane since I can't get the snowblower on the roof.
 
DurocShark said:
Hmm... I've always been taught that snow on the roof is a good insulator...
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It is until it gets so heavy the roof caves in. Also if you don't rake off the edges the snow partially melts during the day and refreezes at night this causes ice dams that will creep up under the shingles and can cause water damage. I usually just keep the lower 4 feet or so raked clean and the sun does the rest.

My roof rake got borrowed earlier this season now no one seems to know who did the borrowing. It looks like I will have to go out and buy another one after this round of storms. I'm thinking very seriously about putting on a steel roof. The snow just slides right off.
 
Mine is here in the basement and has not been used in 2 or 3 years. Roof was replaced and they came for the first year or 2 and now i just use a hose right to the hot water heater (you need to drain clean it out once in a while anyway) or to the sink. Clear out the gutter and melt the first 2-3' of ice and snow. Never takes more then 30 minutes
 
Very good people. Unfortunately there are some here that seem to know about them all too well. Just got done doing mine so we can take on the next one. 8 storms and counting. This is getting old. It will be on the news about roof collapses for sure. Good luck to all The winter is not over yet and I don't care what that damn groundhog says.
 
Geez!! I must shovel my roof two time a week. I see no need in shoveling a roof unless you have Ice Damn build up on your eves, and it starts to leak do to the ice damn. As long as you have a good roof system with Ice and water shield I would not worry about it. Unless to get a tremendous amount of snow.
Most newer home's are built by snow load codes and being a builder trust me your home can withstand at least 20" of snow unless your roof pitch is under a 4/12 pitch, or you have no Ice and water shield and it leaks.
The only reason the snow should melt and cause ice damns is from poor attic insulation.
So if no leaks and your pitch is 4/12 or steeper I would not waste my time.
John

P.S I do roof top snow removal and side wall and attic insulation for extra cash and have been doing it for 20 years.
 
HSTurning said:
Mine is here in the basement and has not been used in 2 or 3 years. Roof was replaced and they came for the first year or 2 and now i just use a hose right to the hot water heater (you need to drain clean it out once in a while anyway) or to the sink. Clear out the gutter and melt the first 2-3' of ice and snow. Never takes more then 30 minutes
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Roadrunner ice melter works alot better then hot water, and its safe for roof to. Just throw a few handfulls from the ground and that should melt the damns.
John
 
TurnerJohn74 said:
Geez!! I must shovel my roof two time a week. I see no need in shoveling a roof unless you have Ice Damn build up on your eves, and it starts to leak do to the ice damn. As long as you have a good roof system with Ice and water shield I would not worry about it. Unless to get a tremendous amount of snow.
Most newer home's are built by snow load codes and being a builder trust me your home can withstand at least 20" of snow unless your roof pitch is under a 4/12 pitch, or you have no Ice and water shield and it leaks.
The only reason the snow should melt and cause ice damns is from poor attic insulation.
So if no leaks and your pitch is 4/12 or steeper I would not waste my time.
John

P.S I do roof top snow removal and side wall and attic insulation for extra cash and have been doing it for 20 years.
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Do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs??? Now do you know what 2 feet of snows weighs when it has ice ontop of it??? Now do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs when it has rained for 8 hours on it??? Do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs when you add another 18" of snow on top of that?? I don't care what pitch roof you have it will not support that weight. Trust me I have a couple rafters from a few years ago to prove it. As far as ice damns building up yes those can build anywhere on the roof and it does not have to be right at gutter line. My roof is an older roof and it does not have the varithane ice dam menbrane under it and it had leaked a couiple years ago. I have a ranch house so I am able to use the snow rake easily and believe me this year it has a work out.
 
jttheclockman said:
TurnerJohn74 said:
Geez!! I must shovel my roof two time a week. I see no need in shoveling a roof unless you have Ice Damn build up on your eves, and it starts to leak do to the ice damn. As long as you have a good roof system with Ice and water shield I would not worry about it. Unless to get a tremendous amount of snow.
Most newer home's are built by snow load codes and being a builder trust me your home can withstand at least 20" of snow unless your roof pitch is under a 4/12 pitch, or you have no Ice and water shield and it leaks.
The only reason the snow should melt and cause ice damns is from poor attic insulation.
So if no leaks and your pitch is 4/12 or steeper I would not waste my time.
John

P.S I do roof top snow removal and side wall and attic insulation for extra cash and have been doing it for 20 years.
Click to expand...


Do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs??? Now do you know what 2 feet of snows weighs when it has ice ontop of it??? Now do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs when it has rained for 8 hours on it??? Do you know what 2 feet of snow weighs when you add another 18" of snow on top of that?? I don't care what pitch roof you have it will not support that weight. Trust me I have a couple rafters from a few years ago to prove it. As far as ice damns building up yes those can build anywhere on the roof and it does not have to be right at gutter line. My roof is an older roof and it does not have the varithane ice dam menbrane under it and it had leaked a couiple years ago. I have a ranch house so I am able to use the snow rake easily and believe me this year it has a work out.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how your home was built, But a standard roof truss or rafter on 24" centers with 7/16 O.S.B can hold ALOT of weight per square foot. Most trusses and rafter are on 16" centers and that will hold a tremendous amount of weight. If you don't believe me look in the code book (Bocca) for your area.
 
Sorry no offense John! I live in northern Michigan and we get 100-140" of snow a year and our codes call for a 50lb snow load. With 24" truss span and 7/16 O.S.B and I can,t remember when the last time I heard of a roof collapse around hear from to much snow. Just roof leaks from poor attic insulation and no Ice and Water shield.
 
John, not sure how your home is built but you might want to build a Knee Wall half way from the eve to the peak.
That should help if your rafters a braking. The builder should have done that from the start for extra support.
 
I will not take any chances so will continue to do what I am doing. An ounce of prevention as we say. Hope to not read anyone has roof collapses this winter. Good luck all.
 
Well the ice storm has arrived and it is a sheet of ice everywhere. My sister has lost power for 8 hours now and it looks like another 8 before she is back on. I will have to take the generator there to get her some heat and some lights. Oh this winter will not let up. Another day of misery. This storm is suppose to turn to rain for abit and then the where is the water going to go questions will be asked. Tonight it suppose to again freeze and end with abit of snow to top things off.
 
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