Roof snow removal: what to clear from the ground and when to worry
Most roofs do not need the snow taken off. Here is how to tell, and what is safe to do yourself.
Most roofs do not need their snow removed at all. They were built to carry it. The cases where snow does matter are narrower than the internet suggests, and none of them require you to climb up and shovel.
The one job a roof rake does well
A roof rake is a wide blade on a long pole, used from the ground. It pulls snow off the lowest few feet of the roof. That is the strip that matters, because it sits over the cold eave where ice dams start. Clearing it gives melting snow somewhere to run instead of piling up behind a ridge of ice. Our page on ice dam removal explains why that ridge is the real trouble.
Stand on the ground, pull toward you and keep the blade a little above the shingles. Leave a thin layer of snow behind. Scraping to bare shingles pulls off granules and shortens the life of the roof.
Why you should not shovel the roof
Shoveling means standing on a snowy slope. You cannot see where the edge is, the surface hides ice, and the snow can slide with you on it. Falls from roofs in winter are serious, and a shovel blade also gouges the shingles under the snow.
If you are tempted, remember that you can check the roof from the ground. Take that route first. A lot of roofs look worse from below than they are.
How much snow is too much
There is no single depth that works for every roof. Depth depends on how old and how wet the snow is, and on how the roof was built. Fresh powder is light. Wet, heavy snow or snow soaked by rain weighs far more. A building code sets the design load for your area, and that is the figure a structural engineer works from.
Do not guess from the depth alone. Look for signs instead.
Signs from inside that the load is a problem
Check the house, not the roof. Doors or windows that suddenly stick, new cracks in the drywall near the ceiling, or a ceiling that has started to sag are all warnings. So are creaking or popping sounds from the attic and a ridge line that no longer looks straight from outside.
If you see any of these, stay out from under the area and call a licensed structural engineer. Do not climb up to look. A sagging roof is a structural question, and the engineer should be independent of anyone who would sell you the repair.
Take a position: leave most roofs alone
If there are no warning signs and no ice at the eave, do nothing. The roof is doing its job. Raking a sound roof every storm adds wear and gains you little.
Where snow has caused trouble before, rake the low strip after each heavy fall and put your effort into the cause. Warm air leaking into the attic is what melts snow from underneath. Sealing it, adding continuous insulation and keeping the deck cold with working ventilation does more than any amount of raking. If you would rather have a professional clear the roof, hire one who works with fall protection. We cover the mechanism in what causes ice dams.
Frequently asked questions
Should I remove snow from my roof?
Usually not. Most roofs are built to carry the snow. Clear the lowest strip with a roof rake from the ground if ice dams have been a problem, and call a structural engineer if you see signs of overload inside the house.
Is it safe to shovel snow off my roof?
No. You would be standing on a hidden-ice slope with no clear edge, and the shovel can damage the shingles. Use a roof rake from the ground or hire a professional with fall protection.
How do I use a roof rake without damaging the shingles?
Stand on the ground and pull the snow down toward you. Keep the blade slightly above the surface and leave a thin layer of snow. Scraping to bare shingles strips granules.
What are the signs there is too much snow on the roof?
Sticking doors and windows, new drywall cracks near the ceiling, a sagging ceiling, creaking from the attic and a ridge that no longer looks straight. Stay out of the area and call a licensed structural engineer.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- NOAA / National Weather Service. Winter — National Weather Service safety hub
- NOAA / National Weather Service. What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm