There’s something beautiful about the first snowfall of the winter season, but it can also be a problem. Snow is an inevitable part of winter for many northern states, especially Minnesota. You can often expect damage to trees, powerlines, and even your home. That’s why it’s vital to use a roof rake for snow to keep these ice crystals off your roof.
To prevent damage, keep reading to learn about some great roof rake options you can try out this winter!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
SNOWPEELER Roof Rake
Budget Option
EVERSPROUT SnowBuster
Best For Flat Roofs
Avalanche Big Rig Rake 2000
Best Overall
SNOWPEELER Roof Rake
The SNOWPEELER roof rake for snow is an excellent choice for ladder-free and effective snow removal! It uses a sturdy aluminum frame, which helps you slice through the snow quickly and without struggle. And there’s no need to worry about harming your roof! This roof rake for snow has gliding pads to protect your shingles from scratching and overall damage.
Getting the rake onto your roof should be an easy task, as it can reach as far as 30 feet! This telescopic design means you won’t need to drag your ladder out of your garage for help. The rake also has an almost 10-foot-long slide attached to it to allow the snow to slide down effortlessly. This means less work for you, as you won’t have to scrape the snow all the way down your roof.
A roof rake like this works best for multi-story homes, cottages, garages, low-pitched roofs, and roof valleys. It can be the perfect addition to your snow removal tools and will help you keep your roof in good shape.
Pros
- It has an almost 10-foot-long tear-resistant slide attached to it
- The rake head has gliding pads to protect your shingles from damage
- It can clear snow at distances of up to 30 feet
Cons
- It’s a little heavy, as it uses metal as its primary material
- The rake can be challenging to put together
Budget Option
EVERSPROUT SnowBuster
If you’re looking for an affordable snow removal tool, the EVERSPROUT SnowBuster is a great choice! This roof rake for snow uses lightweight materials, including aluminum and compacted foam. While the foam blade will be easy on your arms and back, it will also keep your roof damage-free. The entire thing weighs under three pounds! So you don’t need to worry about scratches or ripping up your shingles.
The pole of this roof rake for snow removal has a telescopic design, allowing it to extend to 12 feet. It also has some grips to ensure you don’t drop it in your snow removal process. And the foam blade has a slight curve to it, which allows you to grab the snow with ease.
One of the best parts is that the rake comes fully assembled! There won’t be any confusion about attaching the pole pieces or worry about missing screws.
Pros
- The roof rake uses condensed foam, which prevents roof damage
- It has a lightweight design that comes pre-assembled
- The foam blade curves to help cup the snow and drag it off the roof
Cons
- The blade can sometimes become loose
- It can’t handle heavy, compacted snow
Best For Flat Roofs
Avalanche Big Rig Rake 2000
Do you have a relatively flat roof that makes it hard to use normal roof rakes? This can be the case for mobile homes or non-pitched roofs. If this happens to be one of your scenarios, the Avalanche Big Rig Rake 2000 is your best option!
This roof rake for snow offers an angled handle, making snow removal on flat roofs a breeze. There’s no need for you to stand on ladders or climb on your roof to remove snow effectively. Simply attach all the pieces, and you’ll be on your way. There aren’t any tools needed for assembly!
It has a 24-inch wide blade, allowing it to grab a lot of snow with a single swipe. This might help reduce your time outside, allowing you to relax and warm up on your couch sooner! The blade will also keep your roof scratch-free, as it uses wheels to keep it slightly raised. You’ll be rolling the blade rather than scraping it.
A roof rake for snow removal like this one uses plastic as its primary material. So, it’s very lightweight and easy on your body. You won’t need to strain your body, which could help you reduce your chances of injuries.
Pros
- It has a 24-inch wide blade
- The blade has wheels on it, preventing it from scraping your roof
- It has an angled handle, allowing you to easily remove snow off flat roofs
Cons
- The plastic may crack with too much force
- It doesn’t use an adjustable telescopic design
Roof Rake For Snow Buyer’s Guide: Things to Consider
Not all roof rakes are the same. Keep the following information in mind before making your purchase to ensure you pick the best option for you.
Blade Width
Most roof rake blades are around 1.5-2 feet wide. But some are larger than this. With this in mind, you should have a general understanding of the size of your roof. If you have a large home, you probably also have a large roof. So, it’s more efficient for you to get a larger blade, as this will keep your snow removal time manageable.
Small homes, like Capes or tiny homes, don’t have a lot of roof surface area. So, a typical 1.5-foot blade will do just fine. Pick the blade width based on the size of your roof.
Slide or No Slide
Some roof rakes for snow have slides. This means they have some kind of sheeted material, like plastic, attached to the frame. These can help the snow fall down your roof due to their slippery surface. Roof rakes with slides require pushing motions to allow the snow to fall through the frame and onto the slide. And roof rakes without slides require pulling motions, as you’ll be dragging the snow off the roof.
Make your roof rake decision based on which motion is more comfortable for your arms and back.
Length
The length of your roof rake is vital. You can find roof rakes for snow with all kinds of lengths. Some are just a few feet long, while others are 30 or more feet long. There are also telescopic options, which allow you to adjust and extend your rake.
When choosing your roof rake, it’s best to try to find one you can use from ground level. Keeping yourself on the ground during snow removal is typically safer. So, oftentimes, a longer or extendable roof rake is better, especially for multi-story houses. It’ll help you get as close to the peak of your roof as possible.
If you have a one-story home, you can most likely use a fixed length or a short telescopic option. You won’t need to reach tall heights like multi-story homes.
Storability
Do you have somewhere to store your roof rake for snow? You’ll typically want to keep it in a garage or shed. Telescopic options are excellent when it comes to storability, as they slide down to a small and manageable size. Those are the easiest to store.
But, if you choose a fixed-length rake, you’ll need to ensure you have enough space. You may need to store the rake horizontally, as it may be taller than the ceiling. Some rakes also allow you to take them apart for easy storage.
How to Use A Roof Rake For Snow Removal
The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that snow can weigh just over 62 pounds per cubic foot. That can add up to a lot of weight on your roof! This is why snow removal is important, and learning how to use a roof rake is just as crucial.
There are two types of roof rakes, with each having different ways of usage. Your options are a roof rake with or without a slide.
Roof Rake With Slide
To use a roof rake for snow with a slide, you’ll be using pushing motions. Once you have the rake together, you’ll place the slide side on top of the roof. The open frame should be on top. Starting at the bottom edge of your roof, you’ll push the rake upwards. The snow should come through the frame and fall down the slide towards you. You may need to do a few layers before reaching the shingles.
Continue doing these pushing motions until you get as much snow off your roof as possible.
Roof Rake Without Slide
A roof rake for snow that lacks a slide works to scrape the snow off the roof. After your rake is together, you’ll place the blade on your roof. You’ll want to start a few feet behind the edge of your roof. Then you’ll pull the rake with the snow until it slides off the roof. Continue doing this until you clear all or most of the snow.
Roof Rake Frequently Asked Questions
Do roof rakes for snow damage shingles?
Roof raking can damage your roof if you aren’t careful. Most options use hard materials like plastic or metal. And if you use too much force, you may damage your shingles. Try to keep the blade from scraping against them too much, and don’t push down too hard.
Do roof rakes cause ice dams?
Roof rakes usually help prevent ice dams rather than causing them. Ice dams form when the built-up snow on your roof melts and refreezes. They create giant ice pieces on the edges of your roof. Removing the snow completely with a roof rake will prevent ice dams, as there is no snow left to melt.
How often should you rake the snow off your roof?
Your roof will typically need raking after six inches of snow accumulates. Anything over this amount can cause damage and lead to huge ice dams. Keep in mind that storms can drop multiple feet of snow. If you get a large snowstorm, you may need to remove snow multiple times.
Grab a Roof Rake For Snow Before Winter Hits!
Most roofs can handle an inch or two of snow. But anything more than that can damage your shingles and gutters and may even cause your roof to collapse. A roof rake for snow can come in handy exactly for this reason. Hopefully, these options gave you some ideas and helped you pick the perfect roof rake for your needs!
Are you looking for more information on the winter season in Minnesota? Check out our Winter in Minnesota section for more snowy, cold-related help and fun!
- About the Author
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Born in Madelia, MN, to a now 5-generation Minnesota family, Ryan’s MN roots go deep.
A painter by day, Ryan founded Life in Minnesota in 2013 with his wife Kelly to chronicle their musings on everything Minnesota. Ryan and Kelly are raising their 7 kiddos in Maple Grove, MN.
When he’s not shuttling his kids around to hockey practice, you might find him in the shop working on his leatherwork. Undoubtedly, there will be a family trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every summer, and of course weekends at Grandpa’s cabin up north in the summer.