Removing Snow on a Roof With Uneven Weight Distribution

Many builders design roofs to hold 20 pounds of snow per horizontal square foot, according to Tim Carter of Ask The Builder. This equals about 12 inches of snow. If it rains after a snowstorm, the snow on your roof will become heavier. If it is also windy, the snow can drift across your roof and accumulate unevenly. This uneven weight distribution is a common cause of roof collapse. Use a 16- to 20-inch-wide roof rake to remove the snow and protect your roof.

Roof rake
Roof rake extension pole

Instructions

- 1
  Survey the roof to see where the snow accumulation is the thickest. Begin removing the snow in these areas first. Excessive accumulation of snow can cause ice dams and roof collapses.
- 2
  Grasp a plastic roof rake and stand several feet away from your home. Add a roof rake extension pole to the roof rake if necessary. This allows you to stand safely outside the area where the snow will fall.
- 3
  Push the rake up the roof about 10 to 15 feet. Allow it to dig into the snow until it is just above the roofing material.
- 4
  Pull the rake back down toward the gutters to remove the snow. Don't remove all of the snow or allow the roof rake to scrape against the roof as this could damage your home.
- 5
  Repeat this procedure until you have removed the snow accumulation from the rest of the roof.

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