I’ve been in this house 15 years. Usually the metal roof sheds the snow and ice but not this year. We had a very snowy and cold February. With more snow on the way I decided to do something about it.
Heat from the house melts some of the snow on the roof. The water flows down onto the overhang which is still freezing cold where it freezes and creates an ice dam. In northern homes it is best if your house has very little overhang. Also it is best if your roof/attic is insulated so that the snow on your roof does not melt unevenly. In the south, where it does not snow, you want a wide overhang so that the house is shaded.
I fell off a ladder just like that 6 years ago. Snapped my humerus completely apart up by my shoulder joint n busted part of that too and cracked my lower arm bone. Almost lost my arm due to the way it broke! It took 1 1/2 years for complete healing and a titanium bar, clamp n several screws! Not good to be on an unsteady ladder, using both hands to work on that! Can create a lot of pain, while it heals, and life long surgeries too! Not fun or good!
Wow. Sorry you went through all that. :( I agree, the ladder wasn’t very safe on top of all the snow. I’ll probably have to do it again this year but I’ll dig down so the ladder has a really solid base. Thank you for the comment.
First: He needs a better ladder. Second: I do live in Florida. We have hurricanes once every dozen years or so. You have snow and ice every year. Hurricanes are usually category 1 or 2. I have been through many of them. We gas up our car in case the gas pumps don t have power, and bring in the trash cans. The longest we have lost power is two days. Years ago i lived in Urbana Il. We had an ice storm and power was out for a week.
RICHARD Young The ladder isn’t too bad, trying to stick it through about 24 inches of snow wasn’t optimal. 😂 The ice and snow storms up here (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) can shut power off but it’s usually back in a matter of hours.
Hey bud, bad idea to have yourself and that ladder directly in front of the ice you're trying to make fall. Those slabs can be several dozen pounds if not hundreds of pounds depending on how much comes off at once. If that sucker decides to lose its grip on the roof while you're pounding on it, its gonna take you with it and land on top of you. Stay above or off to the side of the ice. It'll save your life.
Thank you! I will approach it from a more off to the side angle if I do it again. I did do it on a cold day to try and minimize any melting /sliding while I was working.
@@Backbeat1992 no doubt, it can be difficult to positions ladder on snowy/icy/uneven ground. Not trying to give you a hard time, just concerned about another's safety and well-being. I've taken a 12 foot dive from a roof onto my back, I'd hate to see someone else go through that if i can help it. A wider chisel would speed up the process and going from one side to the other either left->right or vice versa, while keeping your ladder to the side you've already cleared. Never stand on the top portion of the ladder, 2 steps down is the maximum safe height where you can brace yourself on the ladder to keep from falling. A bigger ladder fixes that though. Chipping ice might save your roof but it's not worth your life man. Take Care! Love from maine
