Roof snow in the Grosse Pointes.
Raked from the ground.
Snow left heavy on a roof raises the chance of ice dams at the edge and of the roof failing under the weight. A long handled roof rake lets someone pull it off without climbing.
A referral service for homeowners in the five Grosse Pointes. An automated assistant answers; calls are recorded.
Typical cost: roof raking $200 – $500 a visit — a national range (HomeGuide, December 2024)
- Cost to call
- Nothing
- Answered by
- Automated assistant
- Hours
- Any hour
What the weather service tells Michigan homeowners
- Keep heavy snow off the roof, which lowers the chance of both ice dams and roof failure (the weather service).
- A roof rake, from the ground, is the tool it names (the weather service).
- Gutters and downspouts clear, of debris in the fall and of snow and icicles through the winter (the weather service).
- The attic is the cause: R-30 insulation at minimum, R-38 preferred in northern climates, and venting that keeps the roof cold (the weather service).
If raking turns into roof or gutter repair, that is a licensed trade in Michigan, and you can check any license yourself at the state license lookup.
Questions
When does a roof need raking?
- After heavy snow, before a thaw refreezes it at the edge. At Detroit Metro Airport, the nearest station with a long record, most of the season’s 45 inches falls from December through February (the weather service’s normals).
Can I ask for the gutters to be cleared at the same visit?
- Ask the contractor when they call: the weather service pairs clear gutters with a raked roof for the same reason (the weather service).
Will I be charged for the visit?
- Calling us costs nothing. Some contractors charge to come out and look at the job. Ask before they come, and get the price in writing.