How to Remove Snow From a Rubber Flat Roof Top

Clear a space next to the house for the ladder. Make the space twice as wide as the ladder and the length should measure from the edge of the house to 1 foot past the base of the ladder. This will eliminate any potential for the ladder, or you, to slip in any direction.

Place rock salt in the space you just cleared. Even on grass, ladders still require a strong foothold. The rock salt melts any remnants of snow or ice and provides a better base for the ladder.

Extend the ladder so the top three rungs are higher than the roof. Lean the ladder against the roof. Having the ladder higher than the roof ensures the ladder won't slip under the roof. Climb up to the roof.

Shovel a small section of the roof to determine which direction the seams go. You want to shovel parallel to the seams to avoid damaging them, which would cause leaks in the roof.

Scoop up enough snow to fill the shovel. Avoid pushing the shovel against the snow; in doing so, this could force the blade of the shovel into the roofing. Leave a thin layer of snow to avoid direct contact with the rubber roof.

Toss the snow from each scoop over the side of the roof. As you move across the roof, toss the snow in a different area to avoid creating a large snow bank. When melting, large snow banks can seep into the basement, causing damage to walls. Continue shoveling until the entire roof is cleared.

Sweep off the remaining snow with the push broom. Use the same pattern for removal as you did with the shovel. Avoid pushing down into the roof material. Otherwise, you will be driving the moisture further into the roof. The water from the melted snow can refreeze to ice under the roof, causing problems after the ice melts in springtime.