Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof

Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Search For:

Steve_Cebu

Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Original Message Jan 28, 2011 3:50 pm

I'm looking for something that would be good for doing our roof. obviously the big 2 stage Toro won't be able to do it and would be a PITA to get up a ladder or out a window.

We have a new roof so I don't want to hurt the roof but the snow is really built up out there and it tends to melt very slowly. We are heading into Feb and lots more snow so I need something light enough and easy to manuever to use up there. The roof is pretty steep and in one section windows are mounted in the roof so that area might not be possible. They want a fortune to clear it and only the lesser section so I need something. Electric would probably be ok but it has to have enough power and the roof is pretty steep and high.

Any ideas?

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."

Replies: 38 - 47 of 71

All

View as Outline

hirschallan

If it aint broke don't fix it !!

Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #38 Feb 3, 2011 1:16 pm

Steve_Cebu wrote:

We don't have an attic

and as Shryp mentioned a piece of pipe is unlikely to hold my 200 lbs on the roof should I go over the edge. The trees are too far for a rope to be of any use and I'd have to get a rope up mighty high for it to be useful. trees to the front and back where I am most likely going to fall off are about 60 feet away at the closest. The sides are a bit closer but the roof is pretty huge. It doesn't show in the pics but I've been up there in the summer and it's vast and empty up there. I've asked my neighbor who runs a farm about it and he thinks a pro is the only way to go. Too risky he says and he's been up on this roof a few times. He feels the chimney would be too close to the edge to be useful. He said if I fell from up there it would be bad, very bad. I might have to pony up the $500 they want to clear the entire roof. I used to clean the metal roof for my fathers company before he retired back when I was 14 and I slid off it with no hope of stopping it had less pitch than this roof but this one is higher with a layer of ice so just as slippery. This roof is vast and empty with nothing to tie onto just like that one. Fortunately I landed in a deep snowbank which literally buried me big chunk of ice in that snowbank really hurt when I smacked into it. Ah to be young and stupid again.

Steve, If you can use your car on one side of the house and tie the end of the rope there or maybe put a large knot and roll over it to hold it.

Steve_Cebu

Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #39 Feb 3, 2011 1:23 pm

hirschallan wrote:

Steve, If you can use your car on one side of the house and tie the end of the rope there or maybe put a large knot and roll over it to hold it.

That might work, the only thing is I can only do that on one side and it's looking less likely because the layer of ice up there makes it tough to get any footing. I think I'm just going to pay a guy to do the job. If I get injured it'll cost me a lot more than $500.

Shryp

Location: Cleveland, OH
Joined: Jul 26, 2010
Points: 532

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #40 Feb 3, 2011 1:25 pm

Just found this video:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2e1_1296706889

and

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2fdad73e43

This message was modified Feb 3, 2011 by Shryp

Steve_Cebu

Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #41 Feb 3, 2011 1:28 pm

Shryp wrote:

Just found this video:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2e1_1296706889

and

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2fdad73e43

Yeah I saw that on NECN they've been running it for a couple of days now. Good thing those people are ok. Lots of other roofs going down but so far none in my area. I have a call into the guy who did the roof and since he's a neighbor hopefully he can evaluate how much more the roof can take before it gets too risky.

longboat

Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Points: 103

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #42 Feb 3, 2011 2:36 pm

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Only other thing I can think of is trailer house anchors or the corkscrew dog leash anchors - they'll hold you for sure. They might be a little tough to drive into frozen ground - might have to put some warm saltwater on the ground before you dig in (I've dug a few postholes in frozen ground that way - chip out a little depression in the ground, put some warm saltwater in there and cover it and let it sit overnight) . However, in the end, if you're not comfortable with what you are doing, then best to pay the pros.

longboat

Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Points: 103

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #43 Feb 4, 2011 9:08 am

LOL - just remembered the scene from Grumpy Old Men where they shoot water from a garden hose onto the snowy roof over an entryway, so that it forms a sheet of ice under the snow thus causing an avalanche for the unwitting homeowner who steps out the door (with slamming of said door causing the avalanche).

If you could shoot some water up along the peak of the roof, maybe you could create a similar avalanche situation...

p.s. - saw the Avalanche AVA300 roof snow removal system (sounds like it is easier/better than a roof rake), maybe you could stand on a tall stepladder strapped in the back of your pickup and reach some of the roof with that system...

Paul7

Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Points: 452

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #44 Feb 4, 2011 9:22 am

Steve...The Today Show just did a segment on roof collapses in NY and NE. Holy Molly! They said that roof rakes are selling like Cabbage Patch Kids in their prime, and companies that remove snow from roofs are booked 24/7. Main advice to property owners was to listen for any unusual sounds. I was able to force heat to my attic to melt the snow but without an attic that's not an option for you. I think that this is the time to call the pros...good luck.

Steve_Cebu

Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #45 Feb 4, 2011 9:33 am

longboat wrote:

If you could shoot some water up along the peak of the roof, maybe you could create a similar avalanche situation...

I don't have a pickup truck. Still I think that shooting water onto a roof that has 3 feet of snow would take some time and with temps at nigt going to -7F it's going to freeze pretty quickly. Last year during the snow melt, very warm very quickly, it overloaded the septic tank because all the runoff from the driveway goes into it.

I'll try and snap some pics to show how bad it is up there. If it was just a foot that would be ok.

For the lower roof and garage I can easily walk on those, the upper roof not a chance, you need a tall ladder and you'd have crap stability on the snow in the driveway.

Steve_Cebu

Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #46 Feb 4, 2011 9:37 am

Paul7 wrote:

Yeah I know, everytime the news is on we see roofs collapsing.

Most people up here are also now fully booked for clearing the roof. $100+ per hour is good money for these guys. Our roof guy hasn't called back, too busy I guess.

More snow on the way for Sat and then Mon & Tues. This is what I get for waxing my snowblower.

aa335

Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Best Snow thrower or Electric shovel for doing a Roof
Reply #47 Feb 4, 2011 10:07 am

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Yeah I know, everytime the news is on we see roofs collapsing.

Most people up here are also now fully booked for clearing the roof. $100+ per hour is good money for these guys. Our roof guy hasn't called back, too busy I guess.

More snow on the way for Sat and then Mon & Tues. This is what I get for waxing my snowblower.

If it was easy and safe, you would done it already, right?

Consider the people who offer that service, risking their life and limb, sometimes that's the only opportunity for them to make good money.

Replies: 38 - 47 of 71

All

View as Outline