Roof Rake or Professional? Choosing How to Clear Snow From Your Roof

A roof rake is the tool most homeowners reach for first when snow starts piling up. It’s a wide, shallow blade on a long telescoping pole that lets you pull snow off the lower part of a roof while standing on the ground. For some houses and some storms, it’s all you need. For many Summit County roofs, where snowfall averages about 268 inches a year and storms stack up one after another, it isn’t. Here’s how to decide.

What a roof rake does well

• Clearing the lower few feet of a single-story roof. Pulling snow off the eaves reduces the snow that feeds ice dams at the edge.
• Light, fresh snow. Powder that hasn’t settled comes off easily.
• Regular maintenance. Raking a little after each storm is easier than tackling a deep, compacted load later.
• Staying off the roof. The whole point is that you work from the ground, which is far safer than climbing up.

Where a roof rake falls short

• Height. Even long poles only reach so far. Two- and three-story homes, roofs over walkout basements, and upper roof sections are out of reach.
• Valleys and complex rooflines. The deepest drifts tend to collect where roof sections meet, and those spots are often the hardest to reach from the ground.
• Dense, icy snow. Thawing followed by refreezing adds weight and creates ice. Snow that has been through a few of those cycles doesn’t pull off with a rake.
• Ice dams. A rake can’t remove an ice dam, and scraping or hacking at the ice can damage the roof. Ice dams call for steaming. See ice dam removal.
• Volume. On a big roof after a big storm, raking by hand can take hours of hard work in cold, slippery conditions.

Safety first, whichever you choose

Professional roof snow removal often involves working on the roof itself, with safety equipment and techniques that protect both the worker and the roof. It’s dangerous work on a sloped, slippery surface, and it isn’t something to improvise from a ladder.

Protecting the roof itself

Whether it’s a rake or a shovel, the goal is to take weight off without damaging the roof. Aggressive scraping can crack or strip granules from asphalt shingles and scratch or dent metal roofing. Metal tools and sharp edges can catch on shingles, flashing, and fasteners. Good technique removes the bulk of the snow without digging into the roofing.

When to call a professional instead

• The roof is more than one story, or the snow you need to move is out of reach from the ground
• Snow has drifted deep in valleys or on lower roofs below taller sections
• The snow has turned dense and icy after a thaw-and-freeze cycle
• You see an ice dam, thick ice in the gutters, or large icicles
• You notice warning signs inside: sagging, new cracks in walls or ceilings, doors that suddenly stick, or leaks
• The property is a second home and nobody is there to keep up with it
• The deck below is also loaded. See deck snow removal.

What about cost?

A roof rake is a one-time purchase. Professional roof snow removal costs vary by property, depending on pitch, height, size, snow depth and density, ice, access, and whether it’s an emergency call. As a general benchmark, snow removal labor and equipment in Colorado typically runs about $75 to $200 an hour, with emergency service often priced higher. Roof work is often priced differently, so get a quote for your roof. Our roof snow removal cost guide walks through each factor.

A practical approach

Many owners use both. They rake the reachable eaves of a low roof after each storm, and call a professional for the upper roof, the valleys, ice dams, and the big storm cycles. In past heavy seasons, contractors in Summit County reported waits of up to a week when everyone called at once, so it pays to line up help before you need it. When you do, call or request help and we’ll connect you with an independent local professional.