{"id":731,"date":"2025-03-28T19:07:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demozone.designswebs.com\/kleenroofs\/?page_id=731"},"modified":"2025-05-13T22:18:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:18:37","slug":"roof-snow-removal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/demozone.designswebs.com\/kleenroofs\/roof-snow-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Roof Snow Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Roof Snow Removal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why do I need to get the snow removed from my roof? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The main reason you should keep your roof as snow-free as possible is that it\u2019s vital for preventing ice dams from forming on your roof.<\/p>

Ice dams can\u2019t form without snow.\u00a0 Being pro-active to prevent ice dams, you\u2019re far more likely to prevent your roof from leaking and causing damage to the inside of your home.<\/p>

Another reason roof snow removal is so important is that it\u2019s a good idea to keep all that excess weight off your roof.\u00a0 As a rule of thumb, one square-foot of snow that\u2019s one-inch in depth weighs about a pound.\u00a0 If your roof has 12 inches of snow on it, that could easily amount to thousands of pounds of stress on your roof.\u00a0 That\u2019s not even counting the weight of any ice dams that may form as a result of leaving the snow on your roof; just one cubic foot of ice weighs 57 pounds, and a typical ice dam can weigh thousands of pounds.\u00a0 Minimizing the stress placed on your roof is a great way to minimize the risk of leaking and cave-ins (the latter of which occur more frequently than you might think).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Are there any good alternatives to roof snow removal? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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From what I have seen, no.<\/p>

The most commonly hyped \u201calternative\u201d to roof snow removal is Heat cables. People sometimes use heat cables to try and prevent snow from piling up on their roofs (primarily on the overhangs\u00a0and in the valleys).\u00a0 The trouble is that the little amount of hot cables used typically isn\u2019t enough to mitigate the effects of Mother Nature in the wintertime\u2014or to do much more than melt little grooves in the snow after a major snowstorm.\u00a0 Very few people have long-term success with heat cables; if you\u2019re one of them, consider yourself part of a lucky minority.<\/p>

Heat cables are also prohibitively expensive to install and run.\u00a0 Because heat cables are a relatively specialized product, the installation costs alone are significant.<\/p>

In addition, heat cables run on what\u2019s called a\u00a0dead-short<\/em>\u00a0circuit\u2014meaning that the \u201cpositive\u201d and \u201cnegative\u201d wires are in constant contact with each other.\u00a0 As a result, the cables use a ton of electricity, and they frequently fail by shorting out.<\/p>

Even if you can afford heat cables, you\u2019re taking a gamble that they\u2019ll actually keep your roof snow-free enough to prevent ice dams and leaking. \u00a0We\u2019ve removed countless ice dams entangled with hundreds of feet of heat cable\u2014which was either broken, or which\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0working correctly but simply not preventing ice dams or keeping snow from piling up.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How do I know when roof snow removal is necessary? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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A good rule of thumb is to get your roof cleared after every 6 inches of snowfall.\u00a0 If you prevent too much snow from piling up on your roof, it\u2019s much harder for ice dams to form and you can certainly stop worrying about any sort of leak from ice dams.<\/p>

Of course, it all depends: I\u2019ve seen ice dams form with only a dusting of snow on the roof.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also seen roofs with mountains of snow remain free of ice dams.<\/p>

Generally speaking, even though every roof is different, you\u2019ll especially want to consider this \u201c6-inch\u201d rule of thumb if you\u2019ve repeatedly had problems with ice dams in the past.<\/p>

On the other hand, if you\u2019ve\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0had an ice dam and your\u00a0only<\/em>\u00a0concern is avoiding a roof collapse, then you might want to consider holding off on any roof snow removal until you\u2019ve accumulated a foot or more of snow.<\/p>

When deciding the right time to get roof snow removal, it\u2019s also important to take into account how heavy the snow is. \u00a0Wet, heavy snow can weigh 6 or more times as much as lighter dryer snow.\u00a0 One cubic foot of snow can typically range in weight from as little as 0.26lbs (light, dry snow) to as much as 1.66lbs. (heavy, wet snow).\u00a0 If you step outside and pick up the snow and it seems heavy and wet, that\u2019s one factor that might indicate you should get your roof cleared sooner rather than later.<\/p>

How often you need to get your roof cleared also depends partly on the weather forecast.<\/p>

If 6 inches of snow falls on your roof but the nighttime and daytime low temperatures are forecast to stay\u00a0above<\/em>\u00a0freezing for a couple of days, you probably don\u2019t need to get the snow removed\u2014because it will likely melt soon enough (or at least decrease significantly in weight) and never become an ice dam.<\/p>

However, if 6 inches of snow falls one night and another 6 inches of snowfall is forecast for later in the week, or if the low temperatures remain below freezing, you may want to remove the snow ASAP.\u00a0 Or better yet, give us a call for roof snow removal service right away and schedule your roof snow removal in advance \u2013 for shortly after the second storm is forecast to arrive.\u00a0 This way, you\u2019ll get both snowfalls removed from your roof with one phone call,\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0you\u2019ll be first in line during a particularly busy time for local roof snow removal companies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How should the snow be removed\u2014with a shovel or a rake? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sometimes you need your roof snow removed by shoveling, other times by roof-raking.\u00a0 It depends largely on (a) how big your roof is and how tall your house is, (b) how much snow your roof received, and (c) whether the snow itself is powdery and light versus wet and heavy.<\/p>

Roof-raking<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0is generally best as an ongoing, winter-long task that we provide to keep snow from being able to form ice dams. We typically rake the roof when 4\u201d to 6\u201d of snow has fallen. The bottom 6\u2019 to 8\u2019 of the roof is kept clear of snow. This can help relieve excess weight on the weakest part of your roof (the overhangs) as well as aid in ice dam prevention.<\/p>

Shoveling is probably the better option for roof snow removal when there\u2019s heavy lifting to be done, or when you want your roof\u00a0completely<\/em>\u00a0cleared (so as to minimize the chances of a cave-in or the formation of ice dams).<\/p>

If you need to or simply want to hire us for roof snow removal service to rake your roof, we charge the same rates that we would for shoveling your roof\u2014usually $95-175 \/ hour.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What should I know in case I need to get my roof shoveled? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first thing to know about getting your roof shoveled is that it\u2019s most likely NOT a good idea to try to do it yourself.\u00a0 You can easily injure (or kill) yourself trying to climb onto your slippery roof.<\/p>

As a snow-removal technique,\u00a0shoveling<\/strong>\u00a0picks up where roof-raking leaves off.\u00a0 Your roof probably needs to be shoveled (a) after a storm drops too much snow to remove with a rake, (b) if the snow is too heavy or hardened for a roof rake, or (c) if your roof is too large or tall to be able to rake it. Shoveling is probably the better option for roof snow removal when there\u2019s heavy lifting to be done, or when you want your roof\u00a0completely<\/em>\u00a0cleared (so as to minimize the chances of a cave-in or the formation of ice dams).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How about a recap? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Let\u2019s sum it all up with a few \u201cdo\u2019s and don\u2019ts\u201d of roof snow removal:<\/p>

Do<\/strong>\u00a0get the snow removed either by shovel or by rake, so as to minimize your risk of a cave-in and\/or ice dams.<\/p>

Don\u2019t<\/strong>\u00a0put any salt products on your roof\u2014unless you want to run the risk of discolored shingles and dead plants or grass.<\/p>

Don\u2019t<\/strong>\u00a0use heat cables unless you are prepared for significant costs, and the high probability that they just won\u2019t work or will go bad within a year or two after installation.<\/p>

Do<\/strong>\u00a0try,\u00a0as a rule of thumb<\/em>, to get your roof raked after every 6 inches or so of snowfall, so that it never piles up too much.\u00a0 If your main goal is to prevent ice dams, you should have your roof cleared after about every 6\u2019\u2019 of snowfall.\u00a0The best way to do this is to sign up for our snow removal service for the season. \u00a0But if your main concern is a roof collapse, then raking your roof after every 12\u2019\u2019 or more of snowfall\u00a0should<\/em>\u00a0be adequate.<\/p>

Don\u2019t<\/strong>\u00a0try to shovel your roof snow yourself.\u00a0 If there\u2019s simply too much snow or if the snow is too hardened or heavy for your roof rake to handle, hire a roof snow removal service instead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Let Kleen come by and do a window cleaning estimate and evaluation on your Grand Rapids area home today! If you are not home, no worries \u2013 we can leave an estimate and you can get back with us at your earliest convenience.<\/p>

Give us a call today<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0(616) 914-9064<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or send us an email at\u00a0kleen@inbox.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to get started on your next Grand Rapids window cleaning project.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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