How do professionals remove ice dams?

Steaming away ice dams is a professional-only task because it requires commercial steaming equipment that heats water and dispenses it under pressure. The roofing professional will first remove excess snow from the roof by shoveling and then steam channels through the ice dam to help it melt.

How long are roof rakes? Length and Weight Most roof rakes come with adjustable poles that can be lengthened from 14 to 22 feet for snow removal and shortened to less than 8 feet for storage.

Are roof rakes a good idea? Never, never use a roof rake or try to shovel snow off a slanted roof. It will do no good, will not cure ice dams, is extremely hazardous, and can harm asphalt shingles, and in your case, slate shingles.

Can a roof rake damage your roof? Roof raking can damage your shingles and if you’re a roof raker, it’s time to climb the ladder to inspect what damage has been done. Granules are scraped off in the winter when homeowners rake their roofs.

How long are snow rakes? Snow rake poles are usually between 14 and 24 feet long. The longer the pole, the more roof you’ll be able to access and the less control you’ll have over the rake. To aid in storage and to ensure that you’re not handling an unwieldy pole, look for a snow rake that can be lengthened and shortened.

Do roof rakes cause ice dams? THE CURE BECOMES THE CAUSE! best results when all of the snow can be removed from the roof. Only removing a portion of the snow can create problems further up – beyond any ice water barrier underlayments.

Are plastic or metal leaf rakes better? Most of the heavy-duty leaf rakes will be constructed out of metal. Even though they are the most durable material, you can easily cause damage to your lawn when raking with metal tines. Plastic tines are by far the cheapest option and are really lightweight, but they aren’t as strong as metal ones.

Do gutters go on eaves or rakes? Rain gutters should be positioned to extend beyond the eaves of a roof to collect rain and hail runoff. Gutters are placed on all sides of a home along the roof edge.

When should you rake your roof? As a rule of thumb, you should clear your roof after 6 inches of snowfall. The reason? Fresh snow – snow that has just fallen – is the easiest snow to remove from your roof.

Should you roof rake snow? If your roof is flat or has a low slope, roof raking is definitely a must once the snow gets to be about 6 inches or more. If your roof has a higher pitch, it’s still something to consider, especially if the snow is wet and heavy and it is building up.

How often do roofers fall off the roof? About 50 roofers are killed on the job each year, most by falls. The information in government reports suggests that inadequate fall protection is responsible for most of the fatal falls.

Should shingles overhang the rake? Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

Do roofers clean up after themselves? Your roofing contractor will clean up as they go through the entire 8-step process to replace your roof.

Do roof rakes prevent ice dams?

Depending on snow density, your slanted roof may be able to safely support up to 2-4 feet of snow accumulation. The most common reason homeowners rake their roof is to prevent the creation (or reduce the impact) of ice dams.

Do rakes need drip edge?

A drip edge should be installed on the eaves and rakes of the roof, flush with the decking and fascia. On eaves, the drip edge is installed directly to the deck with underlayment installed over it for proper water shedding. On rakes, the underlayment is installed over the drip edge.

Should snow be shoveled off decks?

However, you’ll want to shovel snow off your deck for one of two reasons: (1) you need to create a safe passage way for travel and (2) the snow accumulation is higher than your deck railings.

What can I put on roof to prevent ice dams?

Install Helmet Heat in Your Gutters The best option for a worry-free winter is to install gutter heaters to prevent ice dams. Gutter guards, such as Gutter Helmet, can stop any debris from clogging up your gutter system but can’t always stop ice from forming.

Should I shovel the snow off my roof?

Although most roofs in northern climates are designed to withstand the heaviest of snowfalls, it’s essential that you routinely remove snow from your roof to prevent ice dams, water infiltration, and even roof collapse.

What is the best rake on the market?

How do professionals remove ice dams? – Related Questions

What kind of rake works the best?

Metal tines are the most durable and suitable option for medium- to heavy-duty yard work. Metal rakes with steel tines typically are heavier and more expensive compared to those made of plastic, bamboo, and resin. Plastic tines have the least amount of strength.

What type of rake is best?

A bow rake (view example on Amazon) is generally considered homeowners’ best bet for leveling dirt, sand, and other materials that are heavier than leaves. The tines of a quality bow rake are made of metal and are shorter and thicker than those of a leaf rake (and spaced more widely).

Should there be a gap between roof and gutter?

The gutter should be installed as close to the shingles as possible; no more than 2 or 3 inches. If the gutter distance is more than 3 inches, the rain will run off the roof and won’t drain properly.

Why are houses built without gutters?

Some homes — homes with particular qualities — do not need gutters. A home with no basement or a home with excellent landscaping drainage may not even need gutters. Rain can roll off the roof all around your home and drain away from your walls, thanks to gravity.

Should water be sitting in gutters?

The way a normal gutter should work is that rainwater should flow from the roof to the downspout that then moves the water away from the house foundation. In short, there should NEVER be any amount of standing water in your gutters.

What time of year is best to replace a roof?

Fall. Fall is the universal go-to season for roof replacement. With spring’s mild temperatures and early summer’s weather consistency, fall is commonly referred to as the best time of year to replace your roof.

Is it OK to walk on your roof?

While it is OK to walk on your roof, it is not recommended and should be avoided whenever possible. Though you might be able to fix the leak or hang Christmas lights as a homeowner by walking on your room, there are serious safety and insurance risks involved in stepping onto your roof yourself.

How many times can you go over a roof?

At maximum, you can safely layer up to two layers of organic or fiberglass asphalt shingles for roofs with up to an 18.5-degree pitch. Any more than two layers adds too much weight to your roof. Some local building codes don’t allow overlaying at all; in those municipalities, you can only have one layer of shingles.

How many feet of snow can a roof hold?

Most roofs can support about 40-45 inches of fresh snow. Packed snow is more dense than fresh, fluffy snow. Therefore, a roof can support about 20 inches of packed snow. One inch of ice is the equivalent of one foot of snow.

How much snow should I rake off roof?

According to most roof warranties, snow should be shoveled off roofs before it reaches a depth of 2′; however, local snow removal companies may suggest sticking to the 6” depth to help prevent ice dams.

Is it OK to roof a house in the winter?

It’s completely possible for a successful roof replacement to take place during the winter months. In fact, when a significant leak or roof damage is discovered during the winter, we recommend replacing your roof as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of further damage.

How long is a standard rake?

Most rake handles are between 30 and 70 inches long. A longer handle allows you to reach farther, but you don’t want a handle that’s so long that it’s hard to control.

How do you measure a roof rake?

Place the end of the level against the bottom edge of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level. Measure from the 12-inch mark on the level vertically to the bottom edge of the rafter. That measurement is the number of inches that the roof rises in 12 inches. Locate a rake board that is readily accessible to you.

How far should shingles hang over rake?

Shingles should be installed over the drip edge a minimum of 3/8” (9 mm) at both the eave edge and the rake edge. If the drip edge extends… out from the rakes and eaves (typically called DL Style or D Type), the shingles may be installed flush with the drip edge. Can Shingles Extend Too Far Beyond the Drip Edge?

How are rakes and eaves measured?

Eave and rake overhangs should be measured from the exterior edge of the fascia to the exterior edge of the wall. Xactimate will require these measurements for each roof section of roof.