Skip to content
Home / Roof raking and ice dams

Roof raking and ice dams north of Boston

We rake snow off the lower roof from the ground, for $85 an hour with a 2-hour minimum. Raking helps prevent ice dams at the eaves. We do not climb on roofs.

Reserve your passSee plans and prices

What roof raking does

We pull snow off the first few feet of the roof at the eave, from the ground, with a long roof rake. That is where ice dams form. Less snow on the edge means less meltwater to freeze there.

What an ice dam is

An ice dam is a ridge of ice at the edge of a roof. It forms when heat from the house melts snow higher up the roof. The water runs down, hits the cold edge and freezes. The ridge grows. Water behind it can back up under the shingles.

Signs

  • Icicles that keep growing along the gutter line
  • A thick ridge of ice at the eave
  • Water stains on a ceiling or an outside wall

Roof raking or a roofer?

  • Call us for a lot of snow on a roof you can reach from the ground.
  • Call a roofer for a steep or tall roof, a leak you can see, or ice that needs cutting out.
  • Call a pro if you worry about the roof holding the weight. We are not engineers.

How to book

Text a photo of the roof. We tell you if we can do it safely from the ground and how many hours it should take. Roof raking is best in January and February, when snow has piled up. Ask before the first storm to check availability. See roof raking service details or plowing prices.

Questions

Do you go on the roof?

No. We rake from the ground with a roof rake. If a roof is too steep or too tall to reach safely, we will tell you to call a roofer.

How much does roof raking cost?

$85 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, so $170 to start. We quote the hours from a photo before we begin.

What causes an ice dam?

Heat from the house melts snow on the upper roof. The water runs down to the cold edge and freezes there. Over time the ice builds up and water can back up under the shingles.

Will raking stop ice dams?

It lowers the risk by taking snow off the lowest part of the roof, where dams form. It does not fix the cause, which is usually heat escaping into the attic. A roofer or insulation contractor can look at that.

Is DIY raking safe?

Stay on the ground. Do not climb a ladder onto a snowy or icy roof. Do not hit ice with a hammer or pick, which can damage shingles. Look up for power lines and for snow that can slide down on you.

Do you remove ice dams?

We rake snow. Cutting or steaming ice out of a dam is a job for a roofer. We will say so if that is what your roof needs.

Where we plow

43 towns north of Boston

Reserve your pass for $100