PDA

View Full Version : Cost of Clearing Snow from Roof



Cypress
2-11-15, 4:10pm
May I vent? I live in Massachusetts and am coping with a series of snow storms beginning about three weeks ago. Each storm has dumped about 10+ inches or more with no melting in between. I must say, I am getting claustrophobic with the drifts.

My little house is 1 1/2 stories high and a roof rake will not reach the roof from the ground. I called a local roofing company and asked them to drive by and recommend a clearing or not. The cost will be $400. They advertised the service and unless I am willing to climb a ladder, I need to hire a professional to do this. I could try to find a local guy but am concerned about liability. What if the local guy falls off the ladder? Or damages the house?

The roofer explained that part of the problem of cost is finding adequate footing to set up the ladders to climb to clear the roof. I had a similar job done in 2011 after a series of storms with no melting in between.

Oiiii! I feel it must be done as more snow is predicted and it's very deep up there. I am afraid for my little house. The job is scheduled for Friday of this week. The company was prompt, gave an estimate and are ready to do the work. Oh, the cost of a happy home :(

Blackdog Lin
2-11-15, 9:19pm
Bummer, Cypress - but worth it in the end, eh? Home maintenance has to be done when it has to be done.

Sending good thoughts your way.....

Tradd
2-11-15, 9:21pm
Well, first of all, if the service is a regular roofer, they will carry insurance. A guy falling off your roof or a ladder clearing the snow is no different in my mind than if the guy fell off the roof while redoing your roof in the summer.

jp1
2-11-15, 10:04pm
There's a reason that roofers are the highest cost workers' compensation insurance premium. Hiring professionals with insurance is a wise choice and worth the money to have the peace of mind, at least in my opinion.

Float On
2-12-15, 8:43am
Gosh that's hard to do isn't it? Pay for removal of something that's going to melt anyway. Course I know it can ruin roofs and do other damage but it's not something I've ever thought of. I think the most snow we've ever had was maybe 2 foot and typical weather for here it hit 55 within 3 days so everything melted quickly.

Cypress
2-12-15, 9:22am
This is the 2nd time in five years I am having this service done. As I commute into work, I look at rooftops and see so many homeowners with drifts up to five feet on top of their roofs. My house seems well built and is going on 100 years old. It's small and I call it Little Atlas. But, the load is heavy and there is a forecast of potentially more snow on Sunday. An additional 6" is possible. So, I will find a way to cover this cost.

As I am not young anymore and have enjoyed home ownership for five years now, at 54 years old, I am starting to consider how I wish to spend my later years. I am strongly going to look into a move or retirement to the Delmarva peninsula. I have a dream vacation scheduled for May this year. After this wonderful adventure. I should sit down and sort out this idea and find out if I can do it.

ToomuchStuff
2-12-15, 8:06pm
During the warmer months, maybe you could have a structural engineer come in and look at the attic/roof inside. They might be able to do a load calculation, as well as recommendations like roof warmers, to melt the snow in the future.

shadowmoss
2-13-15, 1:15am
Remind me of this come this next summer when it hits 110-118* here in Phoenix. The saying here is 'at least you don't have to shovel sunshine'.