I pulled these tool building and safety tips from a past OP article.
If you’re in one of the areas where snow and ice are accumulating, you may be worrying about all the weight on your barn roof (or on your house for that matter). From a quick search of the internet I found a variety of instructions for DIY roof snow rakes. Based on these examples, we’re sure you can figure out how to build one with odds and ends you have at your place:
Be safe out there!
In the rush to do something, sometimes we forget that the real rule is “Safety First.” So please be careful, and keep in mind these 5 Rules of Roof Snow Rakes from Popular Mechanics:
1. First, inspect. Beware of loose shingles, flashing and gutters that you might hook your rake on.
2. Beware icicles. A cubic foot of ice weighs about 62 pounds. Now imagine that falling on you if you knock off an icicle or ice dam. Not a pretty picture!
3. Beware power lines. Touching them with your ladder or your rake is going to ruin your day. Pay attention to where they’re attached to your barn or house!
4. Falling snow can damage what it hits on the ground. If it’s a person, an animal or a prize shrub, consider what’s going to be buried by the snow as it drops from the roof.
5. Right Back at Ya’! The steeper the roof, the more rapidly the snow comes off and right at you. This can be good or bad depending on where you’re positioned.
If you’re going to do something silly, be sure you have someone filming it, like this guy:
