Run on Roof Rakes

“Ever since the storm,” said Branford Building Supplies employee Dan McDonald, “it’s been crazy.”

The storm he’s referring to was , which dumped more than 13 inches of snow on Branford. The “it,” is the sale of roof rakes.

Before this year, McDonald and crew at Branford Building Supplies, who have been in business more than 75 years, report they sold about two to three roof rakes every winter. This year, they’ve been wiped out of shipments and today, after last night/this morning’s snow, ice and rain mix, they are clean out of roof rakes again. However, by 11 a.m. tomorrow morning, they will have about 15 rakes in stock and ready for purchase.

A roof rake, which costs about the same price as a decent snow shovel, is a safe way to clear the snow and ice from your roof and looks like a 6-inch by 18-inch shovel on a 16-foot-pole. It allows homeowners and business owners to access lower roofs from the ground without having to climb a ladder. Before today’s wintry mix, which left roads, cars and homes blanketed with ice, the asked residents to try to clear roofs and gutters of ice to avoid cave-ins and other issues.

McDonald explained that using a ladder and a traditional garden rake to clear a roof can be done, but it’s dangerous, mainly because people have a hard time securing the base of a ladder because of the deep snow. McDonald notes, if people are trying to clear roofs or gutters by this method, they should nail a two-by-four piece of wood into the ground with long nails to brace the ladder. “The biggest thing,” said McDonald, “is using common sense.”

Gutters, he furthered, can fill with water and ice and expand up under roof sheathing. It’s important to clear them out, but he cautioned; the ice can be rough, so wear gloves.

Whether your home is old or new, doesn’t really matter said, Mc Donald. “People get nervous,” he said, adding that some of his job during the recent storms, has been calming down residents.

He asked one customer, “How old is your house?” She replied, “1972.” He said, “It survived the blizzard of 1978, so chances are it will survive this.”

Roofs, explained McDonald, are built either conventionally or through a truss system. Conventional roofs, he said, drawing a diagram on scrap wood, can disperse weight, where truss systems do not. It would be wise to assess the kind of roof your home or business has, so you know the risk snow and ice run on damaging your structure.

Safety is the most important thing said McDonald. Roof rakes are metal, so stay away from power lines and do not climb on your roof to clear the snow. Roofs cannot take any additional weight, and most residents cannot afford to slip and fall.

As of this afternoon, had two roof rakes left and Branford Building Supplies will be restocked tomorrow.