Roofs are designed to handle the elements. Snow, rain, and debris commonly collect on your roof, especially in flatter areas. But, this doesn’t mean that snow buildup won’t become a problem. The best way to protect your roof from snow damage is by investing in a good quality snow rake. A snow rake is a simple tool that allows you to remove excessive snow buildup from your roof. Plus you can do this all while standing safely on the ground. To use, gently pull the rake towards you down the slope of your roof, being careful to stand away from falling snow and debris. It’s important to never push or pull snow across your roof as this could tear away shingles and cause unwanted damage that could seriously harm your roof. This simple tool is a proactive way to protect your roof in the winter months. During a snowstorm, we recommend clearing your roof often to prevent heavy and unnecessary buildup. As a local roofing company, we can’t recommend a snow rake more! It’s important to note that you should never put salt products on your roof. While there are products out there that can help remove snow and ice, salt can cause shingle discoloration.

Just as you remove snow build-up, you should also keep an eye on your roof for ice build-up. Ice can be especially dangerous when left accumulating for too long. The biggest areas of ice accumulation are your gutters. While icicles may look festive for the holidays they are a major threat to your roof. You can easily prevent icicles from growing by simply knocking them down with a broom or even your snow rake. But, we do strongly advise you to use caution when removing ice from your roof. Our roofing company has seen a lot of winter roof damage since we opened our doors 20 years ago. If you whack an icicle too hard, you could potentially wipe out your entire gutter if you knock it too hard. Gutting your gutters of icicles is especially important in preventing what is perhaps the worst winter worry when it comes to your roof: ice dams.

These extremely dangerous winter hazards can not only damage your roof and gutter system, but they can also damage the interior of your home (which isn’t fun for anyone!). If you notice an ice dam forming it is important to fix the problem right away. An ice dam is essentially a large clump of ice near the edge of your roof. If left long enough an ice dam can freeze your gutter and block snow from falling off your roof. You can prevent ice dams from forming by first staying on top of snow and icicle build-up. Regular raking ensures your roof stays clear of prolonged debris. If an ice dam does form, it’s important to follow a few expert tips. Try using a chemical de-icer. Make sure that water can flow freely from your gutters as ice begins to melt. Use an ice pick to gently chip away at large clumps of ice, removing them piece by piece from your gutter. As always, remember to stand away from your roof to protect yourself from falling objects. If you’re not sure how often you need to clear away snow and/or ice from your roof, check the weather forecast. If it looks like your area will be getting six inches of snow, this is generally a good time to get your snow rake ready.

As always, let our roofing experts give your roof a free estimate. Our experienced and professional roofing team is ready to help you with all your roofing needs!