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EDIT: Edited title to reflect that I found a rake.
Unfortunately I could only reach half of the backside of the roof, since the 2nd story deck only covers about 35 - 40% of the length of the house.
So I used a deck, ladder and 17 foot pole and could still only reach half about 55 - 60% of the roof at the height I needed...

(abbreviated words to make title fit).

Home Depot is completely out of roof (snow removal) rakes.

I need a store that sells them, so I can pick one up tomorrow, or Wednesday at the latest, before more snow and rain weigh down the roof.
The blizzard and low roof pitch left two piles of snow on the roof on the back side of the house.
To be safe, I would like to remove these two piles with a rake; I will also rake the bottom edges of the roof to prevent ice dams.

Does anyone know a store that carries these roof rakes?
HomeDepot sold them all out this weekend at the two stores I checked tonight.

Thanks!

You live in a snow area and don't have one? As a Minnesotan, I find that very peculiar.

aviationwiz wrote:You live in a snow area and don't have one? As a Minnesotan, I find that very peculiar.

Well, here are a few reasons
1) We get much less cold and snow than Minnesota.
2) I lived in a condo the last 10 years before moving to a house over this past summer
3) All the neighbors' houses are fine, since their roofs are more pitched
than mine; BUT EVEN buildings and houses with roofs that are pitched like mine don't have big masses of snow like the TWO masses on the back
of my roof.
Now that I know this, if I decide not to move when I relocate soon, I will be prepared for further storms.

I need to find a store soon, since not only is a little more snow going to fall tonight (only 1 - 3 inches), but it will rain later in the week, which will SIGNIFICANTLY affect the weight of the snow.

Found one; first store I called today has (had by now) 21 this morning. Just bad luck last night I guess.
Hope they still have some when I get there tonight.

The good news is
1) found rake and it was 50% off
2) got half of roof very well cleared

The bad news is that my 2nd story deck is only about 35% - 40%
the length of the house and the 17 foot pole, even standing on deck AND on ladder isn't long enough for the other half of the house.

They didn't have the 5 foot extension at the store; that would have made a big difference.
I hope the snow tonight and tomorrow (2 - 4 inches, so not a real big deal)AND the rain and snow later in the week doesn't weight down the side of the house where I couldn't clear the excess snow...

Too bad it was a blizzard (snow very unevenly distributed), my roof isn't steeply pitched and that the darn temperature hasn't gone much above freezing (today was first day above freezing in well over a week).

I wonder how come my next door neighbor (2 year old house), same roof pitch doesn't appear to have the big piles.

Hi Veff

I´m not sure what exactly your house looks like, but I cant stop wondering why you dont go up on the roof and rake the snow off?

I´ve read about your plumming problems earlier and as I dont know much about climate in different parts of US I have to ask if the part you live in dont have winters usually?

HotBlack wrote:Hi Veff
I´m not sure what exactly your house looks like, but I cant stop wondering why you dont go up on the roof and rake the snow off?

I´ve read about your plumming problems earlier and as I dont know much about climate in different parts of US I have to ask if the part you live in dont have winters usually?

Hi HotBlack,

Hopefully the followingf will clear things up a bit :

- My roof may not be as steep as some, but I am not about to climb on an ice / snow covered roof and possibly kill myself. The house is tall.
I actually lost balance slightly on the ladder (going down? can't remember exactly when it happened) the other night at one point, but since I was only 3 feet or so up above the deck, I was fine; I knew this, which is why it happened. If I had been on a high ladder or been on the roof, I would have been more careful due to the weight of the pole especially when using it sideways to reach other side of house (where there was no deck).

- We usually have winters, however, this is my first as a homeowner; I owned a condo before:
a) the roof was the association's responsiblity; besides which it never seemed to hold snow long due to pitch and heavy sun (southern) exposure.
b) the condo was on the top (3rd floor), and there were no trees close enough to unit and none close to that height so as to get leaves in the gutters (besides which it would have been the association's responsibility to clear them anyway); also never had problems with ice dams; probably also due to snow melting quickly in the sun and/or roof protection?
c) All piping was inside laundry room or middle of condo since bathrooms and kitchen and laundry room were not facing outer walls, which was surrounded by other rooms and a hallways on 3 sides; the 4th side was adjacent to neighbor's INTERIOR wall.

I guess I never realized how great the condo's setup was.

The snow on roof may not even be that bad in terms of quantity; it is just that I haven't lived there long enough to know what the potential limits are

It is supposed to be dry (storm passing to our south this weekend) and in the 30s, so there may finally be some meltdown...

The plumbing woes aren't really woes, I just needed to determine the appropriate course of action.
So far no problems, even though the low was 0 F last night and the wind chill worse (of course); all plumbing is working well; no frozen pipes (that I know of ;have to do laundry and dishwashing this weekend, but sure it will be fine.

[b]I am actually not concerned about any of it (plumbing and snow) anymore, now that I have done my research and learned a lot.
Something much more important, that I am thinking about: Time to decide if I should try to get back together with my ex gf or move on; probably one of the most important decisions of my life...

I imagined your roof nearly flat so now I understand. My house is also quite high and steep so I use a rope that is tied to the chimney when I has to remove the snow. Luckily the winters in sweden is milder and not so rich of snow nowdays. I miss the skiing though.

What made me wonder about the plumbing was that IF winters was to be expected in the region you live in, and the pipes are so poorly insulated so that you have to worry about them.

In swedish houses there are rarely problems with frosen pipes as long as the room temperature is above freezing. There is of course exceptions from this, my workshop for instance. The bloody plumber took the waterpipe the laziest way so below -10C I have to let the water left dripping.
But this is a very rare case. And every winter I tell myself that this must be taken care of coming summer....for 10 years now!
Anyway the responsibility is the landlords: Hmm I must whine about this this spring

Good Luck with your girlfriend decision!

Yes, the roof is far from flat, unfortunately.

Regarding the pipes, I was mainly concerned about the ones inside the garage.
The ones in the house should be fine.
There is one place (kitchen sink) where they may be (can't tell) up against the outside wall, which could be a problem, depending on insulation.
I must admit it doesn't make logical sense that houses have plumbing designed like this, but I am sure it has to do with saving money...

Thanks (about the wishes regarding the gf decision).

Have a nice weekend!