Crazy but effective method to remove snow from the roof of the house! Cleaning the roofs of summer cottages from snow and ice How to properly throw snow off the roof

Hello DIYers, as well as summer residents and owners of personal plots.

In winter, many summer residents are faced with the need to clean the roof overhangs from sliding snow. This phenomenon is mainly observed on the roofs of houses, sheds or other yard buildings, with a small angle of inclination of the roof slopes.

Here is just an example of such snow sliding from the roof of our barn.

As you can see, the snow slides in a rather large and thick layer and even rests against the neighbor's fence.

Naturally, such a layer of snow must be removed from the roof, because, firstly, it poses a serious danger to people, as it can break off and fall down at any moment, and secondly, this layer creates a very large load on the roof overhang and might just break it.

Well, and thirdly, such a powerful layer of snow can easily damage neighboring buildings (in our case, the neighbor's fence).

However, when cleaning such a snow layer, a serious difficulty often arises due to the fact that this layer turns out to be icy from below. That is, its lower part is a layer of ice, since during the thaw the snow lying on the roofs begins to thaw from below, at the very roof, and then when it freezes, this lower layer turns into ice.

Thus, in order to clean this layer of snow from the roof overhang, it has to be knocked down with something, for example, with a shovel.


However, this method is very physically difficult, and quite dangerous, since it is difficult to control the fall of snow fragments and they can easily fall on your head, causing serious injury.
In addition, when churning snow, there is a high risk of missing and damaging the roof overhang itself.

However, there is a very effective and easy way to remove a layer of snow sliding off a roof. And for this, you only need an ordinary saw for wood.


Stepping back about five centimeters from the edge of the roof overhang, so as not to damage it or the saw, we simply cut down this layer of snow.
I must say that snow with an ice layer is sawn very easily and quickly, and besides, with this method of cleaning, it is much easier to control the fall of large pieces of snow.


By the way, if you have to clean snow on high roofs in this way, you can fix the saw on a long stick for convenience. Then you won't need a ladder.

However, now, it also came in handy for me. Moreover, for sawing off the snow layer, I installed not a garden saw on this bar, but a saw with a longer and wider blade.


Sawing with such a device is much more convenient than with a conventional saw, and also much safer, since the sawn off pieces of snow fall in front, at a fairly decent distance.





Thus, it took me only about two minutes to clean the overhang of the roof of the shed, 5-6 meters long.


And a little later, in the same way, you will have to clean the roof overhang on the house, since a layer of snow is already starting to slide there too.

Well, in conclusion, I want to give one more piece of advice. After such work, do not forget to wipe the saw blade dry with a dry cloth so that it does not rust.

Well, that's all for me! Good luck to everyone in the fight against winter difficulties!

  • 1 Special attachments
  • 2 Bottle rope method
  • 3 We warm the roof

To a certain extent, snow cover can serve as a heater in the winter. Problems begin when there is a large amount of precipitation. Their significant weight can damage the entire structure. Also, the layers can thaw and build up, which can lead to damage to the roof. To prevent all this from happening, you need to know how to remove snow from the roof with your own hands.

Special fixtures

Chopper can be adapted

If you live in a private house, then cleaning the roofs will not cause great difficulties, as it may seem at once. To do this, you can build a few simple devices. In most cases, simply prying off the top layer is enough, and it can already entail everything else.

  • If you have a personal plot, then there must be a chopper available. It is necessary to take it and close the blade with a plastic or wooden lining. To do this, you can make a small cut half the depth in the bar and fix it with plastic ties. Now you need to lengthen the handle. This can be done with an aluminum or other light alloy tube. For such purposes, a wooden holder of a large length is also suitable. Next, using this tool, carefully pry off the layers and pull them together. It is important to stand at a sufficient distance so that you yourself are not covered.
  • The next option would be a similar design, but instead of a chopper blade, you can take a piece of a sheet of corrugated board or a tin, fix it perpendicular to the holder at the end and clean it in the same way.
  • You can make another simple device. To do this, we need a steel wire with a diameter of more than 10 mm. It is necessary to make a rectangle from it. Its sides can be 30 × 20 cm, 40 × 30 cm. They are selected depending on the circumstances. It must be done in such a way that the two ends converge towards the middle and they can be bent at an angle of 90˚ for a branch, which will then be fixed to the bar. The result should be a bent net of a rectangular shape. On the underside of the frame, it is necessary to fix a PVC sheet or a thick oilcloth, which will be the same in width as the large side of the rectangle, and 1.5–2 m in length. Cleaning is done as follows: the device must be positioned so that the film is at the bottom. We move our tool so that the layers of snow pass through the net. Once on the oilcloth, they will freely roll down. Thus, in several passes it is possible to remove all or part of the precipitation from the roof.

special device

If there is no desire to do something with your own hands, then you can purchase a finished design. In appearance, it usually resembles a curved snow shovel with a telescopic handle. The canvas is made of plastic, so it is lightweight and can be easily lifted to roof level.

Device in action:

Bottle Rope Method

For this option, we need ordinary plastic bottles (it is better if it is possible to use plastic canisters), as well as a strong rope. The length of the rope should be several meters longer than the size of two roof slopes.

  • We cut off the neck from bottles or canisters. The total length can be up to 10 cm. It makes no sense to make too much, because. they will bend.
  • We select a drill according to the diameter of the rope and drill a hole in the lid. You can do it with a knife. We put the cover on the rope and tie knots on both sides so that it is fixed.
  • If desired, sharp teeth can be cut on the cuts of the bottle so that a better grip occurs.
  • We wind the neck that we cut off onto the lid. We place everything in such a way that at one end of the extension of the cover look up. At the second end, we place everything in the same way, but we turn the bottles in the opposite direction.
  • The distance between these two parts should be equal to the length of the roof slope. It is better not to reduce it so as not to cling to the skate when performing the task.
  • If bottles were used rather than canisters, then several of these ropes can be made and tied into a knot around the edges.
  • Then we throw the rope over the roof and with our friend or life partner we pull the rope. Thus, we can remove the thickness of the snow.

If there is no one who could hold the second end, then you can hook the middle of the structure to the chimney or another stand and independently pull the edges of the rope alternately.

We heat the roof

Roof heating cable

It is important to know that this method is not suitable for all types of roofing. Some floorings from a sharp temperature drop can simply burst and will do more harm than good. Others can ignite easily. For such purposes, it is sometimes advised to use a building hair dryer. But imagine how much you have to run and stay on the roof to warm up the whole thing. Please note that this method will be available if you have an attic that is not used as an attic, and the roof itself is not insulated around the perimeter of the flooring.

  • To achieve maximum results, use heat guns. It is better if these are electrical units.
  • Do not use devices that have open flames.
  • The place of heating must be changed at regular intervals, otherwise an unnecessary temperature difference may occur.
  • Always stay close to the instrument to take action in case of an unexpected situation.
  • Provide good ventilation. During operation, heaters very quickly absorb oxygen from the air.

When cleaning the roof, use insurance

Sometimes cleaning the roof from snow and ice can be done with a puncher or a chisel with a hammer. This happens when the frozen layer has already reached a sufficient thickness and can injure others when sliding. In other situations, you can go with the standard method. To do this, you will need a shovel and a long ladder that can be raised to the ridge. You just need to climb up and throw off the snow.

This should be done very carefully so that the layers do not begin to shift and do not knock you along with the stepladder. Use safety straps. You can speed up the melting of snow by installing a heating cable system in advance. In this case, you do not have to make any special efforts - just click the toggle switch. Collected snow can be taken to the garden or flower beds. Subsequently, it will become a source of moisture.

Snow removal from roofs as an indispensable type of work in winter

The weather during the cool period of the year is often unstable: severe frosts turn into thaws, and snow gives way to rain and wet snow with strong winds. Because of this, a huge amount of snow accumulates on roofs, especially flat ones and those with shallow angles of inclination. Before proceeding with this procedure and removing the film from plastic windows, decide how you will do it. This leads to accelerated wear, destruction and water flow inside the house. Therefore, in late autumn and, especially, in winter, snow removal from roofs becomes extremely important.

Another severe winter threat is the formation of icicles on the roof, which can weigh up to 10 kg. How to remove snow from the roof with your own hands? If to buy how to remove snow from the balcony? The danger is that ice and icicles formed on unattended roofs fall down at once. Not only cars parked under buildings suffer from this, but, unfortunately, cases of injury or even death of people after similar collapses are not uncommon.

Therefore, removing snow from the roofs of buildings is not only a matter of maintaining the working capacity and maintainability of the roof, but also taking care of the safety of people, as well as the safety of buildings or property of motorists.

Reasons for removing snow from roofs

There are many ways to remove snow from rooftops. Conventional and more commonly used methods of mechanical cleaning by hand - using a shovel, crowbars and other hand tools, and modern - chemical, using roof heating, the use of laser and ultrasonic devices. It is worth noting that when performing all work on cleaning snow from roofs with your own hands, you must follow the safety rules. How to remove ice from a balcony visor? How to remove ice from snow from a roof. Often, they are bullied, forgetting about the sad consequences - injuries, disability and even death.

Before you start cleaning the roof manually, you need to find out what is under the layer of snow in order to assess the safety of the work.

Existing risks during snow removal from roofs:

  1. too steep roof slope;
  2. high height of the house;
  3. ice crust on the roofing;
  4. roofs with a complex pitched structure (for example, multi-gable).

Do-it-yourself snow removal from flat roofs

During the cold period, snow removal from the roofs of buildings should be carried out regularly. How to remove the protective film from plastic windows? This is done to prevent excessive accumulation of snow and icing on the roof surface. This rule especially applies to flat roofs, on which there are almost no opportunities for snow and ice crusts to fall off on their own in a timely manner. Only during short thaws, the melted snow masses and the ice crust can come off in the form of water through the installed drains, of course, if they are operational. With a rapid drop in temperature, the moisture in the drains freezes and can damage them, deform them and reduce the ability to drain water in the future. This type of roofs has to be cleaned constantly, for example, with a shovel, paying attention to the timely cleaning of gutters.

The appearance of a crust of ice on the roofing surface is facilitated by poor thermal insulation. This is due to the structure of the attic, which has zones of heat and cold. In cold zones, the temperature remains constantly low in winter, in warm zones, where ventilation ducts or a chimney pipe pass, the temperature changes and unpleasant surprises arise in the form of an ice crust. Who should remove the snow from the roof of the balcony? Not here, i.e. It will be snow removal for. Timely and regular cleaning of snow from the roof will save the owner from icing.

It is important to remember: The amount of snow accumulating on the roof directly depends on the angle of inclination of its slopes. The greater the slope angle, the less snow accumulates on it - it falls from the roof under its own weight. To prevent the formation of a crust of ice and icicles, it is necessary to regularly clean the roof.

Modern methods of cleaning the roof from icicles

Who should clean the balcony?

Why mountains snow lie in the yards of Perm for weeks? How much does it cost to knock down.

Snow on the canopy

Prevention of icicles: citizens are asked remove snow from their visors balconies But what about retirees?

Removing snow from roofs and, more importantly, from freezing icicles is a very labor-intensive process that requires skills and experience. If funds are available, this problem can be solved with the help of new technologies.

For these purposes, use:

  • ultrasonic devices;
  • laser devices;
  • chemical reagents;
  • installation of electric heating cable.

Any of the proposed ways to prevent the occurrence of ice crust or icicles on the roof have their advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of all these methods is the cleaning without the obligatory presence of a person on the roof.

Disadvantages - the high price of equipment, and the result from the use of such devices is not always positive. How snow is removed from roofs in Yekaterinburg. It is not possible to completely avoid the formation of ice on eaves, roofs and gutters. Itself clean the visor of the roof of the balcony, so the removal of snow from the visor of your balcony. In addition, the listed innovative methods have a high risk of uncontrolled descent of melted ice from the roof.

More effective and safer is the use of anti-icing chemical compositions. Such roofing treatment is carried out at the very beginning of the cold season. To create such compositions, various combinations of solutions are used: fluoroplastic, with the addition of rubber, organosilicon.

The action of such compositions is simple - due to the properties of the substances included in the solutions, the adhesion of the roof surface and ice is greatly reduced, it freely descends from the roof. An obstacle to the convergence of snow is the presence of a high fence on the roof.

Technically difficult is the use of different electric heating cables. Their installation requires correct and accurate calculations, which can only be performed by specialists, and the system itself has a fairly high consumption of electrical energy. In addition, the system requires periodic inspection and control of its serviceability by professionals.

It is important to remember: the use of innovative technologies has the risk of uncontrolled descent of snow and ice from the roof. Therefore, you should not leave cars, garden furniture, barbecues and other property under potentially dangerous areas.

Self-cleaning snow from the roofs of buildings - a guarantee of safety

The most accessible and budgetary way to ensure the safe condition of the roof in winter is to constantly clean it manually. Dangerous situations are better to prevent than to eliminate the consequences that arise later. A guarantee of safety is a roof on which there is no snow and icicles. It doesn't matter if it's a private house or an apartment building. Prepare for the upcoming cold season in advance.

Manual snow removal can be done on the roof or below.

In the first case, to remove snow from the roof do it yourself you need a special tool:

  1. Shovels made of wood or plastic;
  2. Various (not steel) scrapers;
  3. Wide two-handed shovel (not steel);
  4. Safety belt for a fitter or climber;
  5. Ladders (ladders), with devices (hooks) for mounting on a ridge;
  6. Safety rope.

Any shovels used to clean the roof are equipped with handles so that it is convenient to hold the icy stalk. A layer of ice from the roof of a balcony can cause snow from it and how to remove ice from a balcony. It is also advisable to attach the shovel to the belt with a rope so that it can be used with both hands.

The safety cable is attached to the attachment point of the mounting belt only at the back. Who should throw snow off the balcony? The hosts like the roofs of the verandas in children. garden. Snow is removed from the roof covering with shovels, starting from the ridge, and then, moving it to the edge, I dump all the snow mass down. The ice crust is removed from the roof surface with scrapers and shovels, so as not to damage the roof. Icicles are knocked down from the roof with a hook, not hanging over the edge of the roof.

Clothing for such work should be warm and loose, it should not hinder movement, and shoes should not slip. You can attach special anti-slip pads to the shoe sole.

An important detail that requires attention and maintenance in working order in winter is gutters. In the cold period of time, ice is not allowed in the drains. Alternating frosts and thaws cause water and snow to melt and freeze. Peculiarities of removing snow, ice, icicles and ice from roofs: removal photo. Snow removal: video on how to remove snow from the balcony roof. As a result, drains accumulate masses of ice and debris that prevent timely cleaning of the roof, and this, in turn, can lead to leaks and reduce its service life.

Discharge of snow from the roof is prohibited: on various wires, on the edges of the roof of the house and structures located below, on vegetation (trees) growing below, on that part of the building where there are protruding architectural elements or wall equipment

In the second case, you can use a special scraper - a scraper. This device is similar to an inverted shovel, to which a handle with a telescopic mechanism is attached. Its length will allow you to clean the roof of even a two-story house. Films from plastic windows? How to remove the film from the protective film. You can easily make such a device yourself, just take an ordinary snow shovel and fix the extension elements (shovel handles, ordinary long bars, etc.) on the handle with self-tapping screws or wire. How to remove the film from plastic windows (stood 2. Cleaning is carried out from below, carefully raking the snow mass, while trying not to damage the glazing of the house. Icicles can simply be carefully knocked down with a stick or bar.

Do-it-yourself snow removal from roofs is carried out during the day, in conditions of good visibility and with wind, the strength of which is less than 6 points.

It is important to be safe when performing any work to clean the roof from ice crust and snow. Safety wires, non-steel tools safe for roofing, must always be used.

Snowy winter very often becomes a serious test for the roof.

Snow gradually accumulates on its surface, cakes into heavy layers and gradually thaws, forming a solid frost. The weight of this ballast can reach hundreds of kilograms, which leads to deformation of the coating and the supporting frame.

In order not to risk checking the roof for strength, and not to engage in expensive repairs, it is necessary to free it from snow load in a timely manner. Cleaning the roof from snow and ice is a procedure that is equally necessary for both modern cottages and old buildings.

It should be remembered that not only excessive load, but also the leakage of a snow coat during thaws is dangerous for the roof. Water in this case does not leave the roof as quickly as in summer, but looks for every loophole and the slightest bump in order to seep under the tiles or slate.

Therefore, any flaws made when laying the coating, and the attachment points of the sheet material become risk areas through which the insulation and wooden elements of the truss system soak.

Snow removal from the roof of the house is also required when standing on it. The fact is that they do not save the roof from excessive load, but only protect the gutters and the perimeter of the building from falling snow layers. Moreover, roof snow guards sometimes need to be protected themselves, as thick sheet snow can tear them off their mounts.

The cable heating system reliably protects the gutter from ice, drainpipes and roof edges, but is not able to melt the snowdrifts lying on its main part.

Given all the existing risks, it is necessary to study in more detail the features and methods of removing snow and ice from the roofs of country houses, as well as consider the prices for such types of work.

On roofs with a slight slope, covered with slate, ondulin, bituminous or metal tiles The snow removal process is relatively simple. It does not require a special safety device, but you only need attention and accuracy when performing work. Take with you on such a roof not a steel, but a plastic or wooden shovel without a metal edge, so as not to damage the coating material.

When preparing for this work, do not forget about the safety of the household. Therefore, do not be too lazy to warn them of your intention and be sure to protect the area where the snow falls with racks with protective tape.

Working at height is best in light, warm clothing that will not restrict your movements. Shoes should have wide and non-slip soles. It is best if you have studded hiking boots at home.

Cleaning the roof of snow should begin with the cornice, and not from the ridge, since in this case a snowdrift will not form, obstructing visibility and increasing the load on the roof. If the right moment in the weather has been missed, and frost has formed under the layer of snow, we strongly recommend that you do not touch it. Removing ice is associated with a high risk of damaging the roofing material (especially on soft and metal roofing). Therefore, remove the snow with a shovel to the surface of the ice and go down.

With a favorable forecast, the sun and wind will delicately do the rest of the work for you. If desired, they can be helped, because ice, devoid of snow insulation, quickly thaws and is easily removed with a special scraper (but by no means with a crowbar or an ax!).

It is especially necessary to work carefully on a soft roof, since shingles become brittle in the cold and are easily damaged.

On roofs with a large slope (more than 25 degrees), snow removal is much more difficult and dangerous.. Therefore, stock up on a safety rope, one end of which must be securely fastened to the skate, and the other end tied around yourself. You will also need a solid metal or wooden ladder with steps at least 40 cm wide and with hooks at the ends. It is laid on a slope and fixed on a ridge fracture.

Working at height alone is dangerous, difficult and time consuming. Therefore, it is best to take a partner with you, who will not only be able to replace you, but also give you the right tool and insure against falling.

If high-altitude work is not for you, you can cope with the task from the ground. Today, special scrapers-scrapers with a long stackable handle have been developed for this.

Cleaning the roof from snow with such a device is not particularly difficult. The scraper slides from the ground onto the slope, and during the reverse stroke captures the snow in layers.

They will not be able to remove dense ice, but from fresh, not packed snow, you will successfully clear the slope without the risk of falling from a many-meter height.

An analogue of a branded snow plow can be easily made with your own hands. To do this, it is enough to plant an ordinary snow shovel on a long handle. If the length is not enough, you can increase the handle by attaching an additional bar with a section of 40 * 40 mm to it.

How to remove snow from a roof of complex configuration and with a large slope- this question interests most owners of modern country houses. To do this, it is best to take the help of specialists who are engaged in high-altitude work. They have all the necessary safety equipment and tools, so your task will be completed efficiently and on time.

Prices for cleaning snow and ice today start from 30 rubles. per 1m2 roof. For cleaning the eaves, professionals ask from 70 rubles. for 1 running meter. The final price is always determined on the spot, as no two roofs are exactly the same in terms of configuration, height and slope.

Clearing the roof of snow is half the battle, because you need to immediately think about the foundation and remove the snowdrifts that formed after the dumping of snow and ice away from it. In this case, in the spring you will not have to repair the basement finish and pump out water from the basement.

Useful video

To a certain extent, snow cover can serve as a heater in the winter. Troubles begin when there is a lot of rainfall. Their heavy weight can damage the entire structure. In addition, the layers can thaw and build up, which can lead to damage to the roof. To prevent all this from happening, you need to know how to remove snow from the roof with your own hands.

Special fixtures

If you live in a private house, then cleaning the roofs will not cause enormous difficulties, as it may seem right off the bat. To do this, it is possible to build a couple of simple devices. As a rule, the top layer is sufficient, and it may already entail everything else.

  • If you have a personal plot, then a chopper must be available without fail. You need to take it and close the blade with a plastic or wooden lining. To do this, it is possible to make a small cut half the depth in the bar and fix it with plastic ties. Now you need to lengthen the handle. This can be done with an aluminum or other light alloy tube. For such purposes, in addition, a wooden holder of enormous length is suitable. Then, using this tool, carefully pry off the layers and pull them together. It is fundamentally important to stand at a sufficient distance so that you yourself are not covered.
  • The next option would be a similar design, but instead of a chopper blade, it is possible to take part of a sheet of corrugated board or a tin, fix it perpendicular to the holder at the end and create cleaning in the same way.
  • It is possible to make another uncomplicated device. For this, we need steel wire with a diameter of more than 10 mm. From it you need to make a rectangle. Its sides can be 30 × 20 cm, 40 × 30 cm. They are selected depending on the events. It is necessary to make it so that the two ends converge towards the middle and it is possible to bend them at an angle of 90? for a branch, which will later be fixed to the rod. The result should be a bent net of a rectangular shape. On the underside of the frame, you need to fix a PVC sheet or a dense oilcloth, which will be the same in width as the huge side of the rectangle, and 1.5 × 2 m in length. We move our tool so that the layers of snow pass through the net. Once on the oilcloth, they will freely roll down. So, in a couple of passes it is possible to remove all or part of the precipitation from the roof.

If there is no thirst to do something with your own hands, then it is possible to buy a finished design. In appearance, in most cases it resembles a curved snow shovel with a telescopic handle. The canvas is made of plastic, therefore it has a low weight and can easily be raised to the roof mark.

Device in action:

Bottle-rope method

For this option, simple plastic bottles are useful to us (it is better if it is possible to use plastic canisters), and a strong rope. The length of the rope must be a couple of meters larger than the size of two roof slopes.

  • We cut off the neck from bottles or canisters. A non-specialized length is possible up to 10 cm. they will bend.
  • We select a drill according to the diameter of the rope and drill a hole in the lid. It can be done with a knife. We put the cover on the rope and tie knots on both sides so that it is fixed.
  • When thirsty, it is possible to cut sharp teeth on the cuts of the bottle so that a better grip occurs.
  • We wind the neck that we cut off onto the lid. We place everything so that at one end of the extension of the cover we watch upwards. At the second end, we place everything in the same way, but we turn the bottles in the opposite direction.
  • The distance between these two parts should be equal to the length of the roof slope. It is better not to reduce it, so as not to cling to the skate when performing the task.
  • If bottles were used rather than canisters, then it is possible to make a pair of such ropes and tie them into a knot along the edges.
  • Then we throw the rope over the roof and with a friend or life partner we pull the rope. So we can remove the thickness of the snow.

If there is no one who would be able to hold the second end, then it is possible to hook the middle of the structure to the chimney or another stand and independently drag it alternately by the edges of the rope.

We heat the roof

It is fundamentally important to know that this method is not suitable for all types of roofing. Some flooring from a sudden change in temperature can and will do more harm than good. Others can easily ignite. For such purposes, from time to time it is recommended to use a building hair dryer. But imagine how much you will need to run and stay on the roof in order to warm up the whole thing. Please note that this method will be available if you have an attic that is not used as an attic, and the roof itself is not insulated around the perimeter of the flooring.

  • In order to achieve a great result, use heat guns. It is better if these are electrical units.
  • Do not use devices that have an open flame.
  • The place of heating must be changed at regular intervals, otherwise an unnecessary temperature difference may occur.
  • Stay close to the instrument at all times in order to take action in the event of an unforeseen situation.
  • Provide good ventilation. During operation, heating devices very quickly absorb oxygen from the air.

From time to time, cleaning the roof of snow and ice can be done using a puncher or a chisel with a hammer. This is not uncommon when the frozen layer has already reached a sufficient thickness and can injure others when sliding. In other environments it is possible to go the standard way. For this, a shovel and a long ladder, which can be raised to the ridge, will come in handy. Need to throw off the snow.

To do this, go very carefully so that the layers do not begin to shift and do not knock you down together with the stepladder. Use safety straps. It is possible to accelerate the melting of snow by installing a heating cable system in advance. In this case, you will not need to make special efforts - by pressing the toggle switch. The collected snow can be taken out to the garden or flower beds. Then it will become a source of liquid.