Homemade Snow Roof Rake
Snow on the roof of your house can pose many problems. Accumulation of snow can become heavy, causing the roof to crack, bend or give way entirely. The snow can also slide down off the roof in large chunks, which can cause injury to people and pets. During heavy snow seasons, roof rakes are sold out of stores. However, it is possible to make your own roof rake that will work well.
Things you will need:
- Long handle, such as from a broom
- 10 inch long PVC pipe
- Utility squeegee
- Duct tape
- Wire
- Locate or purchase a long piece of pipe or stick to act as the handle. You can use the handle from an old broom, shovel or rake. You can also purchase a pipe or something similar from a hardware store.
- Decide what you will use for the rake part. You will need something sturdy and long. A utility squeegee, like the kind that is used for spreading sealant, works well and can be purchased inexpensively at any home improvement store. You can also use a piece of PVC pipe that is approximately 10 inches long.
- Lay the handle and the PVC pipe or squeegee out on the ground. Put the rake part at the bottom, perpendicular to the handle.
- Wrap duct tape around the pipe or squeegee and the handle to connect the two parts. Loop the duct tape from one side of the handle, down and over the rake part, and back up and around the other side of the handle. Repeat this several times to wrap enough duct tape around the pieces to secure them tightly.
- Secure the pipe or squeegee onto the handle using a piece of wire, if necessary, for a stronger hold. Wrap the wire around the pieces the same way you applied the duct tape in step four.
- Test the strength of the hold by pulling on the rake part. Do not pull too hard or exert an unnecessary amount of pressure on the rake. The homemade snow rake is ready to be used to remove snow from the top of your house. Always be careful when getting onto or standing upon the roof, especially when it is slick with snow.