Crazy but effective method to remove snow from the roof of the house! Removing snow from the roof of a house: risks, features and methods for removing snow and ice from the roofs of houses Clearing snow under pitched roofs

Lush caps of snow on a rooftop look very pretty, but homeowners have good reason to take those white caps off. Fortunately, today there are many tools that make it easier to work.

If you do not clean off the snow, its masses will put pressure on the roof, which can lead to subsidence and even collapse. But this is not the only danger. A series of frosts and thaws leads to the formation of ice. In the spring, the ice scab melts, and water seeps into the smallest cracks in the roofing. At the same time, rafters and others wooden elements structures begin to rot.

So far, it has not been possible to solve the issue of cleaning the roof without human intervention. Cable heating systems do not allow snow to collect around the perimeter of the roof and accumulate in the gutters, but most of it remains on the slopes. Snow retention systems (grids installed along the edges along the overhangs) save from sudden avalanches, but also do not completely solve the problem. Snow has to be removed from the roof by hand. More precisely, with the help of various tools.

Snow shovels

If the roof is flat and you can walk on it without risk to life, the easiest way is to use an ordinary shovel. But even this unpretentious tool must be chosen wisely. What to pay attention to first of all? Of course, on the bucket.

Shovels with metal bucket strong, but quite heavy. In addition, during operation, they emit an unpleasant rattle, which will be heard inside the house.

When clearing snow with a metal shovel, you need to be careful. The sharp edges of the bucket can damage soft roofing materials such as shingles.

wooden shovels also quite heavy, but safe. True, their lifespan is relatively short. Usually, after one or two seasons of operation, you have to buy a new tool.

Finally, plastic shovels light, comfortable, but also not very durable. Under the influence of low temperatures, the plastic becomes brittle and breaks easily. Of course, there are models made of high-quality frost-resistant polymers, but they are not cheap.

Now let's talk about the cutting. It should be comfortable, durable and light. The wooden ones are not very good - they are too smooth, because of which they slip out of the hands, and are quite heavy. Plastic ones are much lighter and more comfortable, but they do not tolerate cold well. But metal cuttings show their best, although they are relatively expensive.

It is best if the shovel handle has a telescopic design. Then the snow can be removed, almost on the spot.

Scrapers (scrapers)

If the roof of the house is pitched, it is not safe to walk on it. It is better to remove snow from the ground using a scraper (scraper). Usually a tool of this kind has a telescopic handle (metal or plastic). But some manufacturers offer prefabricated structures of 3-4 tubes 1.2-1.5 m long. If a very long handle is not needed, you can remove several knees, thereby reducing the weight of the inventory. And this is very useful, because it sometimes takes several hours to remove snow from the roof, constantly keeping your hands on weight.

When choosing a roof scraper, pay attention to its weight. It should not exceed 3 kg, otherwise it will be difficult to work with the tool

The scraper of the tool is a narrow long blade fixed at an angle, approximately the same as that of a garden rake. For most models on the market, it is made of frost-resistant plastic. Metal blades are quite rare. They are more durable than plastic ones, but at the same time they are heavier, more expensive and more dangerous.

When choosing a scraper, you should pay attention to the number of attachment points for the scraper to the handle. It is desirable that there be three of them, not one. So it will be stronger. Ribs with reverse side the blades also noticeably extend the life of the tool. Some manufacturers supply their models with rubberized pads or plastic brushes, which improves the quality of cleaning.

In addition to the "rake", there is another interesting type of scraper. Instead of a scraper, a metal puller in the form of a rectangular loop is fixed on its handle. It cuts off the layers of snow and they just roll down. Some tools have special tape- a guide that regulates the movement of the snow flow, but it is quite possible to do without it.

The main advantage of a scraper with a metal stripper is that it allows you to remove huge layers of snow from the roof in one motion. Working with an ordinary scraper requires much more time and effort.

Publication date.

Every year, with the advent of winter, snow falls in our city. Sometimes more, sometimes very little. The number of accidents and damage to roofs and property depends on this, but isolated cases occur even when the winter is extremely snowy. That is why it is so important to monitor the condition of the roof in the winter. Houses located on the busy streets of the city require special attention. Perfect option– snow removal after every heavy snowfall.

The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the formation of icicles that can fall on passers-by, parked cars and outbuildings. But the formed icicles also indicate that a layer of ice has formed on the roof itself, with a thickness directly proportional to the weight of the icicles (there was ice more than 30 cm thick), as well as snow deposits on the roof, creating loads up to 1000 kg / sq.m.

In the most advanced cases, falling icicles can even break through the roofs of outbuildings and porches.

The most common dangers associated with untimely snow removal can be divided into several types:

Deformation and damage to the roof.

For metal and slate roofs: Snow deposits create an additional load, from which the load-bearing roof structures are deformed: the rafters and roof sheets bend, which can cause gaps at the joints of sheets and valleys, where snow can clog, ice can form and, as a result, the roof leaks, as during snowmelt, and in the subsequent summer period. In case of poor thermal insulation attic floors or attic, these problems are simply inevitable due to the melting of snow and ice under the snow cap. It is extremely rare, but roof collapse occurs, most often this occurs in the case of rotten wooden structures roofs.

In some cases, an avalanche of snow carries away elements of external valleys and drainage elements along with snow.

For a soft roof: Snow on the roof with poor thermal insulation of the attic creates a layer of ice, which, when repeated melting-freezing cycles, destroys the soft roof, forming leaks primarily at the joints of the sheets of the soft roof, in rare cases - in an arbitrary place, provided that the screed under the layers is of poor quality soft roof.

Deformation and damage to drainage systems.

The formation of snow drifts and icicles on gutters quite often leads to their damage or collapse. For a metal roof, the danger is enhanced by the possibility of an avalanche-like snowfall, which can tear off or bend gutters along the entire length of the collapse.

To prevent snow avalanches, our company recommends installing snow retention or regularly cleaning the roof from snow.

The collapse of snow and ice on people and their property.

The worst thing that can happen is the death of people and their injury due to snow melting or falling icicles. Also, transport parked nearby regularly suffers, less often - the roof of outbuildings and canopies of entrances.

How is snow removal done by climbers?

There are three main types of roof cleaning:

Complete cleaning of the roof from snow and ice.
The most reliable way to guarantee the safety of people and their property.
Snow removal around the perimeter a meter from the edge of the roof.
A preventive method that protects only from the collapse of snow, ice and icicles directly from the edge of the roof.
Does not protect against snow avalanches in the absence of snow retention.
Cleaning icicles and snow deposits in the most problematic places.
The method, also related to preventive measures, is the most economical, but it only protects against collapse from the edge of the roof of the cleaned sections of the roof.

What safety measures are taken by climbers?

The work area is fenced off with signal tape.
Climbers work on special equipment with self-locking belay systems.
A person is on duty in the snow and ice fall zone, warning pedestrians and drivers about the danger outside the territory fenced with a signal tape (can be provided by the customer or the contractor).

What determines the cost of snow removal from the roof?

The cost of work primarily depends on the convenience of work: the possibility of access to the roof, the presence of a ladder to the canopy, the presence of a fence, etc. There were roofs where the total area of 400 sq.m. there were only two dormer windows, there was no barrier, snow retention and a ladder to the visor.
Scope of work. The larger the volume, the cheaper each meter.
Type of snow removal Depending on the type of snow removal selected from the above, the cost of cleaning one square meter changes.
The thickness of the snow cover and the thickness of the ice. We met snow drifts up to 1.5 m and ice over 30 cm thick, but this is the extreme degree of neglect of the roof.

Rarely there are other factors that affect the cost of work, if they are present, they are determined by a specialist directly on the inspection of the object.

All roofs are different and it is impossible to describe each of them within the framework of one article, but most problems with snow are typical and can be solved standard ways, of course, if these are handled by professionals.

Why do you need to clean and remove snow from the roof?

In multi-storey residential buildings, the problem of removing snow from roofs is solved by employees of public utilities (management companies), and owners of their own real estate must monitor the condition of the roof on their own. With the advent of winter, it must be regularly cleaned of snow mass and ice.

It seems that there is nothing difficult in this work, but in reality you need to know how to clean the roof of snow correctly, observing safety precautions. On sunny days, a thaw is often observed, the snow begins to melt, and as the temperature drops, the water freezes and the roof surface becomes slippery, and if you do not follow the rules for cleaning roofs, troubles cannot be avoided.

Icicles that collect along the perimeter of roofs are known to pose a threat to human health, as they can cause serious injury if they fall. The descent of snow layers can damage vehicles in the parking lot near the house, destroy evergreen ornamental plantings and other property.

Cleaning the roofs from snow is necessary, since the mass of snow, as in the photo, exerts a significant load on the roof structure, which can lead to its deformation, while there is a violation of the tightness of the joints and a displacement of individual fragments of the coating is noted. In many domestic regions, a large amount of precipitation falls in winter, and the thickness of snowdrifts often reaches a meter or more. Not every roof can withstand their huge weight. So that in frosty weather it is not necessary to urgently repair the roof, it is necessary to clear it of snow.

If snow is not removed in a timely manner, in the event of a sharp warming, it begins to melt rapidly and the drainage system installed on the building may not be able to cope with a large water flow, which leads to numerous leaks, wetting of ceilings, walls, foundations and other undesirable consequences.

The sequence of cleaning the roof from snow

As already noted, there are rules for cleaning the roof of snow, they must be followed and then the roof of the building will last a long time without major repairs.

It does not take much time to eliminate snow and icicles, and from a financial point of view it is more profitable than restoring its surface and drainage system.

Stage one.

Getting Started with Roof Cleaning own house necessary from icicles hanging from slopes:

you need to take a long rail and gently knock them down, while you should not stand directly under them: the longer the object, the better;
not to damage the elements drainage system and roofing is not desirable to hit the icicles strongly;
if with a little effort the ice does not go astray, it is removed directly from the roof.

Stage two.

Before shoveling snow from a roof, select the appropriate tool and use a safety strap or strong rope because the surface of the roof is always slippery. It is better not to do this work alone, but to use the services of an assistant. As for the tool, the shovel should be plastic or wooden, but in no case metal, which can damage the coating.

In this case, it is advisable to follow the following recommendations:

work is performed during daylight hours, when there is no precipitation, as they complicate the process and increase the risk of injury;
you need to wear the most comfortable, non-restricting clothing, from shoes, a model with protectors on the sole is preferable;
it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that during the work in the reach zone there were no people, animals and vehicles. Otherwise, the fall of a layer of snow may injure a passer-by or cause material damage to the car;
after the snow is removed from the roof, it is necessary to carefully clean off the remaining icicles on the roof, firmly frozen to the roof slopes and to the elements of the drain. They can also be cut with a hacksaw.

If for some reason self cleaning snow from the roofs is difficult, then it makes sense to seek help from professionals who, thanks to the acquired skills and the availability of climbing equipment, can easily and quickly cope with the order.

How to prevent snow accumulation

Roof cleaning from snow in winter has to be done often, especially in the northern regions of the country. The constant attraction of industrial climbers costs a lot of money, and many citizens cannot afford it. Exist modern ways prevent snow accumulation on the roof. This is especially true when it is necessary to clean the soft roof from snow (read also: “How to repair the roof in winter”).

The most effective option is the installation of a roof anti-icing system, which is desirable to be installed in the process of creating a roof. It is a set of equipment consisting of a heating part, a distribution network and a control system.

Lay the heating cable until it is laid on the roof finish coat in places where ice formation and accumulation of snow mass are most often observed. The snowmelt system is then connected to the power supply and the roof surface is completed. The included thermostats automatically monitor the temperature environment and provide optimal heating.

The cable is also laid in gutters and drain pipes, as a result of which ice does not form in them.

Another option for protecting against the descent of a large snow layer is the installation of snow retainers on the roof, but they do not eliminate the need to remove snow from the roof. Their installation in the right places prevents snow and ice from falling on the heads of citizens passing by the building and prevents melted ice from floating on the elements of the drainage structure and damaging them.

Some owners of their own houses to protect the roof from the accumulation of a large amount of snow mass create a large slope of the slopes and absolutely smooth surface on the roof.

Measures to prepare the roof for winter

Before the onset of winter cold, when heavy precipitation begins in the form of snow, and in anticipation of regular attacks on the roof, experts recommend preparing it for this in a timely manner.

First of all, you need:

clean the surface of leaves, branches and other debris that may disrupt the functioning of the drainage system;
close the funnels with special covers or plugs;
paint over damaged areas;
check the reliability and integrity of the coating fasteners, otherwise poorly fixed fragments may move and the tightness will be broken;
consider installing an anti-icing system, since better protection for a roof for the winter period does not exist today. The considerable cost of the heating system will justify itself, since a large amount of money can be saved on the service provided by the climbers and the annual repair of the roof.

Winter time is, first of all, snow, which at first you admire, then you look with a tired smile, and in the end you start to curse, especially if you are the one tasked with cleaning the roof from snow. It makes no sense to wait for spring in this matter - of course, the gentle sun will help to immediately clear the roof of snow, but before that time it will have time to get pretty bad from snow, as well as debris that could rot under this snow - not to mention icicles, which usually hold on to the eaves with enviable stubbornness. Therefore, take the need to remove snow from the roof for granted in a timely manner and learn how to do it correctly.

How often should snow be removed from the roof? It depends on the type of roof, as well as on the intensity of snowfall. For most roofs, cleaning is not necessary unless the snow is more than 5-10 cm thick, but as the layers become more extensive, it is recommended to start cleaning them immediately so that the snow does not freeze, and then cleaning it will become much more difficult and dangerous. event.

The first thing to do to clean the roof is to equip yourself workplace. Well, if the roof is small and can be fanned with a broom from a ladder firmly installed on the ground, or flat, with convenient exit on it - then a shovel or a broom will help you cope with snow mounds very quickly. Some people use water hoses for cleaning, but this, although it will reduce cleaning time, can cause more damage to the roof when the water starts to freeze and form ice that will have to be chipped off, and the like. water procedures in the cold season, not a single roof has yet benefited. If the roof is not very comfortable, provide yourself with reliable and high-quality insurance - at least a rope that will give you freedom of movement on the roof and at the same time help you stay on it in case of a sudden gust of wind. Without insurance, no roof cleaning procedures should be carried out - at least in the summer you skated on it. In addition, you will need some protective tape, or at least a stern warning to the household that you should not walk under the roof.

How to quickly and safely remove snow from a roof

By the way, choose proper shoes, which will have a sufficiently stable sole and will not slip on a wet roof.

Then you can proceed directly to cleaning. It is better to start from the middle of the roof and gradually move towards the edges so that the snow does not prevent you from doing it. Ice can be cleared from the ground (at least with the help of an ordinary stick, even with the help of a water jet, if available - at the same time, move to a safe distance from the intended place where the icicles fall). If you have children, you can forbid them to eat icicles on the eve of cleaning, because “although they are tasty, they are harmful”, then by the day of cleaning there will be an order of magnitude fewer icicles. From snow and ice, it is necessary to clean not only the roof itself, but also all the elements adjacent to it - gutters, cornices, and so on, this will prevent the growth of snowdrifts and icicles in the future. Do not try to remove the entire layer of snow from the roof - by scratching it, you only contribute to the harmful effects of moisture on the roof, and for good cleaning it is enough to remove the thickest layers of snow.

Do not forget about cleaning the roof not only on a residential building, but also on sheds, bathhouses, gazebos - they all equally need timely winter care. If you do not have time to do the cleaning yourself, you need to contact a cleaning company that will provide the services of industrial climbers to clean absolutely all the roofs on your site - and save you time, effort and money on repairing a roof that could be damaged from - for the snow.

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Roof snow scraper

A real snowy winter brings not only joy to the kids and headache public utilities, but also creates problems for owners of private houses. We have to think about how to remove from the snow adjoining territory, entrances to the house and sections of streets. Until we clean it ourselves, no one will do it for us. But snow tends to accumulate not only on the ground, but also on the roofs.

When snow is not fun

Snow ceases to be a nice decoration of the roof, as soon as the thickness of the cover reaches a critical point. But it is better to prevent the accumulation of snow mass on the roof. In addition to the fact that this is an additional load on the rafter system, it is also constant thawing and leakage, and as a result, the formation of a large layer of ice.

Ice on the roof is much more difficult to deal with, so it is better to prevent its formation. Constant wetting of the roof can lead to destruction truss system, cause decay processes, as well as a warm and damp atmosphere - an ideal environment for the formation of mold and fungi. In a word, it is necessary to deal with snow on the roof.

Dangerous snow cap

To be more convincing, we will present the main dangers that lurk in the snow cap on the roof of our house:

One conclusion follows from this. If in multi-storey buildings the housing office bears all responsibility for snow removal, then in a private house this is the owner's problem.

Methods for cleaning the roof of snow

To implement this method, you need only a cord, a dozen plastic cans or bottles and helper. How the design works is clear from the diagram. Yet the most effective is a snow scraper with a telescopic handle.

Varieties of scrapers for snow removal

Industry Offers different models scrapers with a telescopic handle up to 9 meters long. With the help of such a device, you can easily remove snow from the roof, while remaining on the ground and at a safe distance. When choosing a scraper, you need to remember a few important rules that relate to the materials from which the tool is made.

Under no circumstances should metal elements be used to come into contact with roofing materials. No need to explain what soft roof bitumen-based becomes extremely brittle in the cold, so damaging it with a sharp metal scraper is as easy as shelling pears. The scraper should only be plastic or wood. This equally applies to metal roofs, since a steel scraper can touch the joint and break the integrity of the roofing.

Scraper Requirements

It is also highly recommended not to remove frost with a scraper. It can also damage the cover. The ice itself will melt in the spring, and its formation is better to warn in advance. Therefore, the primary task for the scraper is only the removal of snow masses.

A snow scraper is a simple and effective piece.

Roof cleaning from snow and ice

Thanks to telescopic handle, it can be brought by the ridge, after which, with gentle movements, remove gradually, layer by layer, all the snow from the roof. Of course, taking everything possible measures security and limiting the passage and passage under the house.

The scraper can be done independently, but before you make such a tool, you need to find either a snow shovel with a minimum weight of plastic, or simply use a plastic plate, fixing it in an L-shaped manner to the telescopic handle. We will not impose special requirements on strength either to the handle or to the scraper itself, since their main task is to move loose snow, and not to deal with ice. Successful work to all!

Do-it-yourself snow removal from the roof: quickly and safely

This is both difficult and does not give a good result.

In the end, the option is, in my opinion, quite simple.

Of course, these devices will not be able to clean strong ice. But cleaning up fresh snow from the roofs of country houses is quite real.

The main thing is that you can clear the snow with your own hands, without spending much effort and without risk to health.

Article Author: Love

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Light in plant life. Signs of excess or lack of light | Hydrogel is an excellent assistant in planting care

Despite the fact that the general principle of cleaning the roof of snow is the same (moving snow and ice masses from top to bottom), ways its implementation exists so many.

In this article we will talk about most of these methods, because each of them depends on:

various tools;
personal qualities.

For one way required:

scrapers, which can be bought at any hardware store;
excellent physical shape.

For another needed:

technical savvy;
electric motor.

For the third way will need:

special ladder;
wooden shovel.

In addition, we will tell you how to clean the roof of ice growths and icicles.

How to remove snow, ice or frost from the roof, including icicles, without damaging the roofing?

Consider list of major impacts for snow and ice:

physical movement;
mechanical destruction;
vibration;
heat.

physical movement is the simplest effect.

Its essence is that they rest against snow or ice with some object and, using physical strength, push the mass from top to bottom.

Such impact does not require some complex technique and great skills, but it directly depends on the physical form, namely:

coordination of movements;
balance;
accuracy;
eye.

This kind of influence only effective in a relationship:

snow;
melting ice.

Therefore, with the help of this effect, snow can be removed at any time, and ice can be cleaned only during a thaw. Trying to clear the ice during a frost will only damage the roof or the tool.

Mechanical destruction- it's sawing. Such an impact is used if the thickness of the ice layer exceeds 20 centimeters. For sawing use conventional electric and gasoline saws.

This mode of influence very difficult to perform, so it is used only when no other methods have worked, and the ice needs to be removed urgently.

Vibration- one of very effective methods that act on snow in any weather, and on ice only in positive weather.

A huge plus of this method is that everything can be done in the attic without climbing out onto a slippery roof.

minus there are very high requirements for the truss system - the impact will be effective if all the boards of the truss system are free of rot and damage.

Heat roofing is effective as preventive measure, because it prevents the snow from caking and sticking to the roof, turning into ice.

However, against a thick layer of packed snow and ice, roof heating is ineffective.

Exception is a simultaneous effect:

heating;
vibrations.

In this case, even a thick layer of ice is cleared without any problems. minus this method is huge power consumption if you heat the roof. If you warm up the snow and ice from above, you will need a powerful gas burner.

How to clean the roof

All methods of cleaning the roof of snow, which we will discuss below, can be conditionally divide by location who will do the job:

standing on the ground;
from the stairs;
from a self-propelled lift;
from the attic;
from the roof.

We will also tell you how to clean even roofs (soft roofs) and such an exotic method of dealing with snow as sawing.

This method is effective when no possibility remove snow in time.

That's why accumulates a huge volume of ice mass that can damage:

roofing;
rafter system.

standing on the ground

This cleaning method is used only for one-story not too high private houses, in which the distance to the lower edge of the roof does not exceed 3 meters.

To work for you you will need:

wooden or plastic (you can use homemade) scraper;
handle 4–5 meters long;
handle 6-8 meters long (it can be made of plastic water pipe suitable diameter)
assistant.

For work, you can use both one scraper with interchangeable handles, and several scrapers with different lengths of handles.

Problem only that it is very difficult to store a scraper with a handle longer than 6 meters, therefore the best choice there will be a scraper with a collapsible handle. We talked about the manufacture of such a scraper and a handle for it in the article (equipment). In this case, you can increase the length gradually as the roof is cleared.

Start cleaning with icicles, which must be carefully knocked down with a scraper.

How to knock icicles off a roof without damaging it?

To do this, the scraper is taken away from the house (swing) and beaten on icicles 10–15 centimeters below the edge of the roof.

Don't hit the icicles next to the roof swipe Maybe damage the roof.

If the temperature is positive outside, then hit the icicles not hard, but several times to tear them away from the main mass of ice.

In frost time only shorten them and all. After that, carefully place the scraper on the roof (the distance to the lower edge of the roof is 30–50 centimeters) and gently pull towards you. If the snow is packed, you can reduce this distance to 10–20 centimeters.

Do not try to pull the scraper hard, if it meets some obstacle, lift it up to bypass an obstacle.

Perhaps there:

snow retainer;
ice growth.

In both cases, an attempt to disrupt the obstacle by force will not lead to anything good.

Having cleaned the bottom of the roof along the perimeter, proceed to cleaning the next section, located a little higher. Cleaning the roof around the perimeter, climb up to the top ridge.

If on the roof snow guard installed then lift the scraper so that it passes over it. Do not press the scraper against the roof; its weight is sufficient to safely remove snow.

How to remove frost or ice from the roof of a private house in the safest way to cover the roof? Most sparing option: heating combined with vibration or light mechanical impact during a thaw. Most wrong- strong mechanical impact in frost.

From the stairs

This method is suitable for one-story houses, in which the lower edge of the roof is located at a height of 3-4 meters.

To work for you will need:

light scraper 40–60 centimeters wide with a handle 2–3 meters long;
wooden block(you can use a leg from a chair or stool) or a small rubber mallet;
ladder or a ladder at least 4 meters long with rollover protection (wide bottom step);
safety belt;
two assistants.

Place the ladder so that the slope angle relative to the ground is no more than 60 degrees.

Climb up the stairs and fasten your belt.

Both partners at the same time must insure the stairs(one on the side, the other on the back) so that it does not fall, even if you fall.

First, with a wooden block, knock down icicles at a distance 5–10 centimeters from the roof.

Hitting higher is undesirable, because you can damage the roof.

During frost and thaw proceed as described in the previous section.

If it is necessary to completely remove the icicles during frost, then hit them with a bar from the wall of the house, so the risk of damage to the roof is minimal. Hit lightly with a light block of wood or a rubber mallet.

When you're done with knocking down the icicles, throw the block down or put it in your belt, then ask an assistant to bring the scraper.

Take the scraper while standing upright, because the slope can cause the stairs to move. Place the scraper on the roof to your side (make sure the assistant is standing on the opposite side), and the distance from the scraper to the edge of the roof should not be more than 15 centimeters.

Clear the snow in strips 1.5–2 meters long And 10–15 centimeters wide by moving the scraper from top to bottom without much effort.

After cleaning the strip, lift the scraper up, gradually moving from the bottom of the roof to the top ridge.

After clearing one area from top to bottom, proceed to another.

For this:

unfasten yourself from the stairs;
get down to the ground.

Then rearrange the ladder, climb on it and buckle up again.

From the cradle of a self-propelled lift

Self-propelled lifts based on trucks, many enterprises have. These devices lift a load weighing 200–300 kilograms by 20–30 meters.

To clear snow and ice from a self-propelled lift you you will need:

safety belt;
folding scraper;
wood bar or rubber mallet.

Having climbed into the cradle of the lift, fasten your safety belt to its lattice. Having risen to the roof, knock down the icicles with a bar at a distance of 5–10 centimeters from the roof.

If you need to completely remove the icicles, then lightly hit the icicles with a mallet from the side or side of the wall. After that, clean the roof in the same way as described in the previous sections.

Snow should not fall into the cradle, so clean the roof a little to the side of it. Do not try to break off ice growths. So you either damage the roof, or greatly shake the cradle.

You can remove ice growths or a thick layer of ice only by standing on the attic or roof, combining:

thermal impact;
vibrating impact.

During frost and thaw, proceed as described in the previous sections.

standing on the roof

To remove snow and ice, you will need shovel with wooden or plastic bucket. You can also use a plastic scraper with a handle 1.5–2 meters long. A wooden scraper is not suitable due to its excessive weight.

In addition, you will need wooden or plastic ladders, after all, walking on ice and snow cover is possible only on roofs without a slope. Going down the ladder to the very bottom of the roof, knock down the icicles with a shovel.

For this:

lower the shovel bucket to the level of the middle of the icicles;
holding the handle of the shovel by the edge with the left hand, right hand take the shovel to the right for a swing;
smoothly, with not too much effort, move the shovel to the left, making a swing;
during the thaw, try to remove all the icicles from the roof by hitting them several times.

After that:

turn over a shovel so that its bucket is directed to the roof;
lower it on the snow (the distance from the edge of the roof is 20–40 centimeters);
push snow mass down.

Do not try to clean off all the snow to the very roof, as you will only damage roofing material. Permissible balance between the shovel and the roof 5–10 centimeters.

Follow this rule even during the thaw, so you protect the roof from damage.

Clean the entire piece of the roof in the same way up to the ridge, then move the ladder and proceed to cleaning the next section.

If you clean the roof during the thaw, then removing upper layer snow all over the roof, try gently push flaking pieces of ice.

Do not try to break through or knock down the ice, as you will only damage the roof.

You can quite lightly, moving the shovel only with your fingers and hands (without the participation of the forearms), apply light blows with a bucket on the ice from top to bottom to move it.

If the ice doesn't go down after a few hits, stop hitting and move on to another area.

If you do not use a shovel, but a plastic scraper, then the sequence of actions with it is the same.

From the attic

This most:

safe;
effective

a method of removing snow and ice, however, it can only be used where all the boards of the truss system are not damaged by rot or cracks.

For this cleaning you will need 2–3 electric motors with a power of 50–100 watts with a shaft rotation speed of up to 2 thousand revolutions per minute, as well as a hockey puck.

Can be used instead of a puck wooden or metal block. It is necessary to make a vibrator from the motor and the washer. To do this, the washer or bar is placed on the shaft and fixed, but not in the center, but by moving it to any edge. A metal bar can be welded to the shaft, and for a washer or wooden block make a switch.

One vibrator is enough for 100–150 square meters roofs. Attach the vibrator to any rafter so that the rotating eccentric does not damage anything, and lower the wire from it into the house.

The effect of the vibrator will appear through 20–60 minutes after turning it on, so warn your household not to go outside or walk under the edge of the roof while it is running. After all, when exactly the snow and ice will melt, and also what will be the mass of the descended section, no one knows. Usually snow melts within 2–4 hours, and ice within 5–8 hours.

Most effective vibrator during thaw and on roofs where the roof is heated from the inside.

Also increase efficiency operation of the vibrator can be done by heating the roof from the outside with gas burner. To do this, you will need the same ladders as in the previous section.

At the same time, the impact high temperature without the participation of a vibrator is very inefficient.

Flat roof cleaning

To clean a flat roof, you will need a wooden or plastic snow blower or a snow blower with a metal auger. A plastic or wooden scraper may also come in handy.

Start cleaning from any edge of the roof and move around the perimeter throwing snow out.

After clearing a strip around the perimeter of the edge of the roof, move a little closer to the center and clear the second strip.

After cleaning 2–3 lanes, the next lanes slide first to the edge of the roof, and then throw it down.

In no case do not pile up piles of snow and do not try to chip or cut ice.

When moving snow from the center of the roof to the edges, make sure that it thickness did not change. from the thickness of the remaining or already thrown snow.

If you make the layer thicker, then can damage:

roofing;
rafter system.

During the thaw, do not try to break the ice from the roof. If the roof is fenced with a parapet, then clean the drain holes so that melting water can escape freely.

On flat roofs, especially soft roofs, all ice should melt on one's own, and the snow is cleared only to reduce the load on the truss system.

Sawing ice

This operation is carried out only if the total weight of the ice poses a threat to the truss system. To work, you will need a gasoline or electric saw.

Ice can be cut only if its thickness exceeds 35 centimeters. Saw ice from the top skate. First, a cut is made parallel to the roof slope, at a distance of 5–10 centimeters from the roof.

If you are not sure that you can make a cut parallel to the slope, then increase the distance to the roof. This cut is made along the entire ridge, first on one side, then on the other. Ladders are used to move on the roof.

The ice over the cut is divided in pieces convenient size (30–70 centimeters), for which they are sawn, holding the saw guide bar parallel to the roof. After that, a longitudinal cut is made, which will completely separate the ice from the main ice mass.

Ice bricks are thrown down, then the whole cycle of work is repeated on the next section of the roof. At the same time, it is taken into account that if the guide bar is parallel to the roof, then the distance from it to the ice will be 2–5 centimeters, depending on the saw model. Therefore, the saw is tilted so that the front of the blade is at the level of the already cleaned cut.

The most common mistakes and their consequences

The most common mistake, which people who do not have much experience allow is an attempt to chip ice from the roof.

It doesn't matter whether the ice is broken with a shovel or a crowbar, the consequences are always the same - damage to the roof. The only difference is that the crowbar pierces the material through and through, and from blows with a shovel:

slate and roof tiles are covered cracks;
from corrugated board peel off protective layer ;
soft roof exfoliates.

In the spring, all materials, except for corrugated board, start to flow and corrugated board, having lost a thin zinc layer, starts to rust and after 2–4 years a hole appears in it.

Another mistake- an attempt to cut down icicles on the roof under the very roof when sub-zero temperature, directing the blow towards the wall of the house or striking from above.

Uncommon and very dangerous mistake- go out onto a roof covered with snow and ice without ladders.

Indeed, in this case, the only way to ensure stability is to use studded shoes.

But spikes damage any roofing material, so it is very likely that a roof cleaned without ladders spring will leak.

Exception is the cleaning of snow from the roof by climbers, because they use shoes without spikes, and stability provides them with:

tensioned safety rope;
Huge experience.

conclusions

By reading this article, you have learned:

how to clean roofs from snow and ice with your own hands or with the involvement of climbers in various ways;
how to remove ice from the roof of a private house or high-rise building;
how to knock down icicles in various conditions.

Between all the methods of cleaning roofs from snow described in the article, there is one thing in common - they allow you to clean snow and ice, without damaging:

truss system;
roof covering.

Choice how to clean the roof of snow depends on:

accessibility one or another equipment;
your physical data;
technical ingenuity;
states roofs;
thickness snow and ice layers.

In contact with

In winter, cleaning the roof of snow becomes very important, as frost can harm buildings.

During a thaw, a snowball and ice falling from a great height can injure passers-by and cause damage to cars.

Cleaning the roof of snow and ice will help preserve the integrity of the facade, roof and gutters.

Ice can easily destroy metal structures, concrete and brick, so you should be interested in how to remove snow from the roof before the start of frost.

Safety precautions during roof cleaning

The high load exerted by ice causes deflection of the crate on the roof, as a result of which the frame of the entire building becomes less durable.

But a neglectful attitude to cleaning the roof of snow can also lead to other dangerous consequences: from partial sliding of ice from the roofs to the total collapse of frozen masses.

Responsibility for possible damage lies either with the owners of the building, or with the services responsible for the timely completion of work.

Snow and ice removal from roofs should be carried out using wide wooden shovels. Tools made of wood will not damage roofing materials.

It should be borne in mind that cleaning the snow on the roof of the house is not needed when its layer is too thin. But on overhangs and in places where icicles are close to gutters, cleaning the roof from snow and ice must be done without fail.

Along the edge of pitched roofs, ice must be removed using special hooks. Complete cleaning of roofs from snow is carried out when its layer reaches 30 cm.

A worker who cleans the roof with his own hands must be attached with a safety rope at least 1.2 cm thick from any solid construction on the roof to the life belt.

But a cable cannot be tied to a chimney pipe, television and broadcasting antennas, because they are not very durable and cannot hold an adult.

Without insurance and special non-slip shoes, removing snow from the roof is very dangerous, so an unequipped person is not allowed to work.

Snow removal from roofs should be carried out from all slopes. It is necessary to do this in order to general design the roof was not subjected to unilateral loading.

When cleaning the roof from snow and ice, it is necessary to leave a thin layer (up to 5 cm) of ice crust, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the coating on the roof.

Most important rules for safety when cleaning roofs:

snow and ice removal worker must be equipped with non-slip shoes and insurance;
it is forbidden to use a wet rope for insurance - it must first be dried;
it is impossible to dump masses of snow and ice on television, electric and telephone wires and cables, on protruding parts of water and gas pipes.

Mechanical way to remove snow and ice

On pitched roofs snow removal should be carried out regularly 2 m from the edge after each heavy snowfall and the roof should be cleaned completely once a month.

If winter precipitation falls frequently, then the snow masses slide to the edge much faster, and the amount of ice increases.

During the period of frequent and heavy snowfalls, a complete cleaning of the roofs should be carried out two or four times a month, depending on the thickness of the layer.

Flat roofs are cleaned after each snowfall, as snow masses under their weight form a hard ice crust, which can only be broken with a crowbar.

Due to the abundant amount of snow, the roof is experiencing great pressure, and during the removal of frost there is a risk of damaging its coating.

When warming, the ice frame will begin to melt quickly and abundantly, and the resulting water will flow into all the holes in the material, so it is necessary to clean the roof as carefully as possible.

To clear a private house from a large amount of snow on the roof, you need to use the most affordable mechanical method. For this, a special shovel with a wooden blade is suitable.

If mechanically roofs of large buildings are being cleaned, then industrial mountaineering methods are used to improve work efficiency.

Cleaning roofs from frost begins with the designation of the points of attachment of safety cables on the roof.

In some cases, air ducts are used for such purposes, but it is best to install fasteners for a stationary safety cable located along the roofs.

Specialists, cleaning the roof of snow, use tools selected depending on the characteristics of the roofs.

If metal tiles, which are common today, were used to cover the building, then snow can be removed from the roof surface with specially designed pushers designed for the profile of the covering material.

You can clean snow from a roof covered with other materials using wooden shovels. Some models of this tool on the blade are equipped with protective rubber inserts.

Special blunted picks are used to break off masses of ice.

Technical method of cleaning roofs

At technical way cleaning roofs from snow and ice, achievements are applied modern technologies in this area.

To protect your home from excessive icing of the roof, you can use one of these developments - the "roof without icicles" system.

If the water drainage system does not work (its passage may be blocked by ice and debris), then frost will form abundantly on the roof of the building.

But even when the fluid is drained correctly, it is not always possible to avoid the appearance of icicles.

The roof at any time of the year, including winter, radiates a small amount of heat, which contributes to the melting of ice and snow.

The liquid that appears slowly flows down the roof, and freezes during frost, forming icicles.

The work of the anti-icing system of the roof is aimed at preventing the formation of ice and icicles with the help of heating electrical cables.

They are laid along the edges of the roof, including in gutters - in those places where ice is mainly formed.

There are several requirements for the quality of heating electric cables:

the cable and its sheath must have high wear resistance;
resistance to sunlight, temperature changes, precipitation and wind;
the presence of a metal braid;
high degree of isolation.

When installing cables for heating the roof, "cold" supply cables, controls and junction boxes are connected to the system.

Anti-icing systems are equipped with automation, so they are equipped with sensors that measure the temperature and humidity of the environment.

This is necessary because the “anti-ice” system works only during the thaw period, since at sub-zero temperatures the snow does not melt naturally, and the system consumes a large amount of energy without providing a useful effect.

When installing the anti-icing system, rubber and self-regulating cables are used.

Rubber have a constant resistance along the entire length and increased strength.

The main disadvantage of these cables is that they have a limited length, so installation of the system can be difficult.

Self-regulating cables are available in various lengths. In addition, unlike rubber, they are able to change the heating temperature by different areas, which eliminates the inefficient consumption of thermal and electrical energy.

Roof cleaning with chemicals

One of available funds for cleaning, salt is pure or mixed with sand, as it is inexpensive.

The freezing point of a salt solution is much lower than clean water, so snow and ice coated with a powder or solution begins to melt quickly.

Benefits of using salt:

availability;
profitability;
low freezing point of salt solution;
long shelf life;
fast action;
fire safety.

With proper use in compliance with safety regulations, technical salt does not harm nature.

The main drawback of salt is that, once it gets on the sidewalk and asphalt, it destroys car tires and shoe soles, and increases the risk of metal corrosion.

Solid and liquid reagents are a substitute for technical salt. Once on the ice, the solid reagent actively absorbs the liquid, and it begins to melt quickly with the release of a small amount of heat.

An increase in temperature causes active destruction of snow and ice masses. The resulting reagent solution freezes at temperatures lower than water, so no new frost is formed.

The difference between liquid and solid reagents lies in the way they are used. During snowfalls and active melting, solid mixtures are used, in dry frosty weather - liquid ones.

The most high-quality tool in the fight against ice masses is a reagent that can dissolve large volumes of ice and snow during severe frosts.

In addition to the above requirements, the drug should bring the least harm to the environment, buildings, vehicles and pedestrians.

Of course, none of the listed methods for removing snow and ice is completely effective and suitable for all situations.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a cleaning product, from the characteristics of the roof to the budget.

To choose the most suitable option cleaning the roof of snow, it is better to seek help from a specialist.

Employees of public utilities (management companies) decide, and owners of their own real estate must monitor the condition of the roof on their own. With the advent of winter, it must be regularly cleaned of snow and ice.

Snow on the roof - beautiful, but dangerous

If snow is not removed in a timely manner, in the event of a sharp warming, it begins to melt rapidly and the drainage system installed on the building may not be able to cope with a large water flow, which leads to numerous leaks, wetting of ceilings, walls, foundations and other undesirable consequences.

The sequence of cleaning the roof from snow

As already noted, there are rules for cleaning the roof of snow, they must be followed and then the roof of the building will last a long time without major repairs.

It does not take much time to eliminate snow and icicles, and from a financial point of view it is more profitable than restoring its surface and drainage system.

Stage one. It is necessary to start cleaning the roof of your own house with icicles hanging from the slopes:

you need to take a long rail and gently knock them down, while you should not stand directly under them: the longer the object, the better;
in order not to damage the elements of the drainage system and the roofing, it is not advisable to hit the icicles strongly;
if with a little effort the ice does not go astray, it is removed directly from the roof.

Stage two. Before shoveling snow from the roof, you should choose the right tool and use a safety strap or a strong rope, as the roof surface is always slippery. It is better not to do this work alone, but to use the services of an assistant. As for the tool, the shovel should be plastic or wooden, but in no case metal, which can damage the coating.

In this case, it is advisable to follow the following recommendations:

work is performed during daylight hours, when there is no precipitation, as they complicate the process and increase the risk of injury;
you need to wear the most comfortable, non-restricting clothing, from shoes, a model with protectors on the sole is preferable;
it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that during the work in the reach zone there were no people, animals and vehicles. Otherwise, the fall of a layer of snow may injure a passer-by or cause material damage to the car;
after the snow has been removed from the roof, it is necessary to carefully clean off the remaining ones, firmly frozen to the roof slopes and to the elements of the drain. They can also be cut with a hacksaw.

If for a number of reasons it is difficult to clean snow from roofs on your own, then it makes sense to seek help from professionals who, thanks to the acquired skills and the availability of climbing equipment, can easily and quickly cope with the order.

The most effective option is the installation, which is desirable to mount in the process of creating a roof. It is a set of equipment consisting of a heating part, a distribution network and a control system.

The heating cable is laid until the finishing coating is laid on the roof in places where ice formation and accumulation of snow mass are most often observed. The snowmelt system is then connected to the power supply and the roof surface is completed. The thermostats included in the kit automatically monitor the ambient temperature and provide optimal heating.

The cable is also laid in gutters and drain pipes, as a result of which ice does not form in them.

First of all, you need:

clean the surface of leaves, branches and other debris that may disrupt the functioning of the drainage system;
close the funnels with special covers or plugs;
paint over damaged areas;
check the reliability and integrity of the coating fasteners, otherwise poorly fixed fragments may move and the tightness will be broken;
consider installing an anti-icing system, since there is currently no better roof protection for the winter period. The considerable cost of the heating system will justify itself, since a large amount of money can be saved on the service provided by the climbers and the annual repair of the roof.