Does the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake work on a shallow pitch roof?
Yes, it does.

Does the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake work around dormers and angles?
Yes, it does.

Does the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake go over electrical roof heater tapes?
Yes, the wheels roll over electrical tapes, leaving them fastened as they were.

Are there any problems with vent pipes?
No. No snow collects on a vent pipe, so you simply go to the left, go to the right, and go around without having to remove the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake from the roof. The same is true of chimneys.

Can you use a Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake on a metal roof, a tile roof, or a roof with architectural shingles?
Yes, by adding a metal roof kit to your order or ordering the Deluxe and Ultimate Kits.

What's the difference between the Titan and the Dynamo models?
The Titan is best for very large roofs, especially metal roofs. It will move massive amounts of snow quickly. The Dynamo is best for cutting through heavier snow accumulations (12 inches or more) because of a smaller cross section.

The Titan razor head is constructed of 3/16" aluminum flat stock and is 36" wide and 6" high, while the Dynamo razor head is constructed of 3/16" aluminum flat stock and is 24" wide and 6" high. The Dynamo is 30% lighter than the Titan. It's easier to get up onto the roof, to work sideways, to get into dormer areas and around standpipes and chimneys.

Does the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake's weight present any problems?
No. While there are lighter-weight roof rakes, none remove snow like the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake does. Where there have been concerns, it has been that the product was too light weight to do the job.

Is it easy to ad poles?
Yes, as you can see in the video below.

Is the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake slide plastic?
No. The slide is specially treated cloth that is slippery to snow yet stays flexible in the cold.

How long will the slide last?
It depends. Sharp edges will cause cuts, for example. But used properly, the slide should last for several years.

Does deep snow on a roof cause problems?
No. The Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake easily removes snow two and three feet deep. But don't take our word for it.

What's the maximum roof height the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake can handle?
The lowest edge of the roof should not be more than 18 feet from the ground. Beyond that height, the angles get too complicated.

What's the difference between the MinnSNOWta Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake and less expensive products?

1. Better design
2. Better quality
3. Better performance
4. Longer durability
5. Better investment - the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake is an investment for your home maintenance. Check out our Testimonial page. If the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake can handle the applications you see and read about, just think what it will do for you and your roof!

Testimonials

We took the rake home and standing safely on the ground, was able to remove 80% of the snow in one and a half hours (we had been spending four hours daily to remove about 10% with what we had).
C.Z., Rainier OR

I live in South Central Wisconsin and after the Winter of 2007, which dumped 100" of snow on us, I decided on a short list of things I absolutely HAD to have before this Winter. One of the items on that list was a roof rake. I began my process of shopping for one in early Summer and found Minnsnowta on the internet. Having never purchased an item like this I was skeptical, but what totally sold me was the MPEG video you had on your website that demonstrated its use. I purchased our Roof RazorŪ Titan in October. I used it for the first time yesterday after we got hit with @ least 12" of snow in the area northeast of Madison and honestly in my neighborhood when all was said and done we had to have had 18" of snow to contend with. I used my Titan not only on my home, but on two other neighbors' homes as well and all of us were THRILLED with its ease of use, portablility and effectiveness. Simply put, it does what YOU say it does. You have not embellished at all and that is why I am writing. The snow is now falling once again as I write this email and I am enjoying much peace of mind regarding protecting my home and my neighbors homes from ice-damming during this and future Winters in Wisconsin.
Dennis Grejczyk Jr.

JANET'S HOUSE IN BAYFIELD COLORADO
With over two to five feet of snow on the roof of a 3100 square foot house, Janet found the Roof RazorŪ on the Internet. I spoke with Len and listened to his reasons why the Razor was the best tool for the job. Being both skeptical and desperate, I ordered one with an extra 12 feet of poles, figuring either the razor will work or I will get on the roof to remove tonns of snow. At my age, it's eaiser to buy a new tool than use an old back and shovel! UPS delivered the Razor and upon opening the box, I was intrigued by it's simplicty and stout design. I still had my doubts! Early the next morning I cleared over two feet of snow on the roof above the master bedroom in less than 10 minutes. All of it now on the deck! I took the razor to the front of the house to try it there. Knowing the snow was about five feet deep between the gables, I figured this would put the Razor to the test. The Razor cut through the snow and it slide down the trap onto the ground. With 36 feet of poles, I was able to reach the the top of the roof and clear the entire house roof. We did get on the roof to break up ice dams and clear snow in the valleys where the Razor just couldn't reach due to all the complex pitches of the houses roof. The Razor saves countless hours of shovel time. Now that I know how well the Razor works, I'd pay many times it's price. It works! Now if Minnsnowta can design a tool to remove all the snow that fell off the roof onto the deck, driveway, and front porch (see pictures here.)
Steve & Janet

ROOF RAZOR TO THE RESCUE!
I live on the East bench up against the mountains in Layton Utah 30 miles north of Salt Lake City as of last Saturday 2/02/2008, I had 27 inches of snow on my roof some drifts were 50 inches deep. My roof was moaning.

I received my Roof RazorŪ and put it together in 5 minutes and cleared my roof totally in 1 hour and 15 minutes. This includes the drifted compacted portion. Removing it off the driveway and the side walk took much longer but my son in-law and grand kids were a big help. Super Bowl Sunday we received 16 inches more by Monday morning. I was back after it Monday but this time I was able to clear it off much faster because it was not compacted. I am 58 years old and the roof razor is a life saver.

I would recommend this sturdy light weight product to any one with a big snow load save your roof and save your back.
Ray Nesslage

SIMPLY THE BEST
I don't normally write companies, however, I received my Roof RazorŪ today and gave it a try. In a word: Fantastic! Brilliant design and blows away those "roof rakes". Just wanted to let you know (that's how impressed I was with your product). Thank you.
Joe D.

2002 WINTER OLYMPICS SALT LAKE CITY
We just wanted to thank you for the excellent service and product that you supplied us with for the unique snow removal project that we were involved in at the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Roof RazorŪ demonstrated quality and durability that were tested to it's full extent.

As you know thanks to the Roof RazorŪ we were able to remove large amounts of snow off of all manner of roof types: Vinyl Tents, Slate Top Roofs, Flat Roofs, Metal Roofs and Single Membrane Roofs on Utility Trailers. The snow depth at some points were up to 36 inch drifts and the Roof RazorŪ cut and removed even the heaviest of snow with ease.

I have to admit that at first we were a little skeptical that the Roof RazorŪ would work. It was so light weight that we figured the extension polls (that we extended beyond your recommended point up to 7 extensions long) would bend and not be able to handle the weight. However we were presently surprised to see that even at great lengths the Roof RazorŪ out performed any other product that was available.

We commend you on your excellent product and customer service. It was nice to finally see someone who cared about the customers and their situations and did what ever they could do to ensure the customer was taken care of. We recommend this product and look forward to a long relationship with you.
Sutherland Landscaping, Inc.

SHORT WORK AFTER A LONG DAY
I bought your Roof RazorŪ last summer, and didn't get around to putting it together. I got home from work last night to find TEN inches of WET snow on the roof. I was tired from working late, and didn't look forward to the snow removal task. I opened your package, was quite surprised by the heavy duty construction and the quality of your product, and had it assembled in 8 minutes. Even though I have a low pitch, very long roof, I had the entire first ten feet of the roof edge completely cleared of the very dense snow in less than 25 minutes. It actually took me longer to clear off the fallen snow from the driveway than it did to clear the entire roof of snow. I have never had a tool to do this job as quickly and as easily. I am also quite surprised by how inexpensive it was relative to the strong construction. It also breaks down for storage quite easily. I am quite happy with your product, and I intend to spread the word to my friends.
Dean K.

TELL A FRIEND
During our last snowfall, I brought my Roof RazorŪ down to my local hardware store and demonstrated it to the owner, who is a friend of mine. He was very impressed. I think as more people here see it, you will be hearing from the "North Country" of New Hampshire on a regular basis!
Bill L.

LARGER THAN LIFE
I love the Roof RazorŪ...First, there was the earth. Later, there was the Packers. Then, the snowblower. And finally, the Roof RazorŪ.
E.M.H.

SENIORS, TOO
The Roof RazorŪ did a good job...I'm a 66 year old woman that finds your product great.

How to Use

Two 7/16 wrenches are required to secure slotted pole to head frame. Assemble so that trailing edge of the slide is closest to the long end of pole and that the single hole is opposite the wheels of the head frame.

All other poles are interchangeable in length, however, one pole has a hole approximately 16 in. from the male end. This pole should always be the 3rd pole because that is where the bungee is hooked to keep the slide tight.

• Avoid use in windy conditions.
• Keep away from electric wires and antennas.
• This tool is designed to be used while standing on the ground.

NOTE: When using the Roof RazorŪ Roof Rake, the distance from lowest edge of the roof to the ground must be no more that 16 to 18 feet on a ranch or older story-and-a-half house. A two-story colonial style house with the lowest portion at 20 feet or more is too high unless you are in a bucket truck.

Preventing Ice Dams

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the ice dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas. Because of this, preventing ice dams is critical.

For ice dams to form, there must be snow on the roof and higher portions of the roof's outside surface must be above 32°F while lower surfaces are below 32°F. For a portion of the roof to be below 32°F, outside temperatures must also be below 32°F, and the temperatures must be sustained over a significant period of time. Roofs with large surface areas exposed to the sun and having small run-off areas are prone to ice buildup. A classic example is a roof with several gables or dormers. Very heavy snowfalls also can create problems: a foot or more of snow on a roof combined with warm winter temperatures can warm the roof and cause snow melt and ice on eaves.

The snow on a roof surface that's above 32°F melts, and as the water flows down the roof, it reaches the portion of the roof that is below 32°F and freezes, making a dam.

As the dam grows, it is fed by the melting snow above it, but will limit itself to the portions of the roof that are on average below 32°F. The water above backs up behind the ice dam, remains a liquid, and finds cracks and openings in the exterior roof covering and flows into the attic space. From the attic it can flow into exterior walls or through the ceiling insulation and stain the ceiling finish.

Warm areas on roofs can have several causes. Cold wall-ceiling intersections at eaves where the insulation doesn't extend far enough (Figure A). In split level buildings, unblocked stud bays to the attic can cause warming problems where the stud bays continue past ceiling joists to the attic (Figure B). In two-story buildings, a gap below the kneewall in the second story is a common air leak area. Unless the joist space is blocked below the kneewall, cold air enters the joist space (Figure C).

Complex roof construction can increase the risk of ice accumulation, such as a roof with different surface angles that vary in their exposure to sunlight and drain into valleys. Weather also contributes to the problem: a foot or more of snow on a well-insulated roof, combined with warm winter temperatures, can result in snow melt and ice on roof eaves. In the latter case, applying a sidewalk snow melt product or having a roofer steam the snow off may be the safest means of removing ice. In each case, however, the most important step to stopping ice dams is to seal the hidden air leaks into attic spaces. If the principal cause was "the wrong type of weather," every roof would have an ice dam. Observing unheated garage or picnic shelter roofs confirms that weather is not a basic cause of ice dams.

While adding insulation helps reduce ice dams, insulation above R-44 adds little value. Roof vents are also, at best, a partial solution. Some people use power ventilators such as attic fans or other motorized devices, but these devices can depressurize the attic, drawing warm moist air out of the house and into the attic.

Snow loading is the downward force exerted on structures by the weight of accumulated snow. The roof of any building is the area subject to the greatest weight, temperature, and moisture extremes. A roof in an older building may be "underbuilt" and therefore more vulnerable to structural problems. A roof may also have been subjected to common abuses that include:

• insulation without adequate roof deck ventilation,
• reroofing over three or more layers of shingles, and
• employing ineffective practices to correct symptoms of structural problems.

Snow loading is determined by factors influencing snow and ice accumulation on the structure, and vary considerably by geographic location. The fact that a roof has endured many winters of heavy snow does not mean it will last indefinitely. Roofs of most older buildings were built with little or no insulation, so snow melted fairly quickly and roofs carried snow loads for very brief periods. If insulation has been added to a roof, less heat escapes, so snow and ice don't melt as rapidly and snow loads accumulate to new and sometimes excessive weight levels. The roof deck may not have been properly ventilated when insulation was added, therefore ice dams and subsequent backup of snowmelt under shingles and excessive condensation due to moisture transfer from the interior of the building may occur. This creates favorable conditions for deterioration of roof structural members and a decrease in fastener holding ability.

Another variable affecting a roof's snow-bearing capacity is roof dead weight, or the weight of all the roofing materials (sheathing, roofing paper, felt, shingles, or built-up membrane).

Several factors affect the amount of snow that can build up on a roof. They include:

• roof pitch (snow is less likely to slide off flatter roofs--3/12 pitch or less),
• drifting (wind blowing snow around other buildings and trees can create huge snowdrifts and uneven snow loads),
• lean-tos or other low roofs that receive snow or ice sliding off roofs above them,
• shingles or other roof decks which do not shed snow as easily as metal roofs,
• roof valleys or other roof areas which collect a lot of snow.

How much weight can a roof take? That varies. Snow loads for agricultural buildings in southern and western Minnesota are generally around 20 LB per square foot, not including the weight of the wood that makes up the truss or rafters, a ceiling if one is added to the lower cord of a truss, any equipment hung from the trusses or rafters, or wind loads. Many roofs for livestock barns and machine sheds are designed for a total load of 25 to 30 LB per square foot. Most house roofs in the eastern and northern parts of North Dakota should be built to hold 30 to 40 pounds of snow per square foot. In the southwestern part of the state, where snowfall is typically lighter, roofs are built to hold less; about 30 pounds per square foot.

The weight of the snow on a roof also varies, in turn varying the snow loading on the roof. A cubic foot of snow can weigh from seven pounds for snow that is new and dry to 30 pounds for old, compacted snow. Rain falling on accumulated snow will add more weight. Drifting snow can put excessive loads on the areas where it piles up, such as against equipment or penthouses, or at walls between roof levels.