Need advice - how to get my shop snoload to slide off

[CleElum Sledhead]

Not looking good IMO.

I have a 24 x 36 non-insulated/non-heated pole building in Cle Elum and the snow has been piling up big time the last week. I am getting concerned.

It has 2.5 - 3 feet of snow on it and it is now 31 degrees and raining.

Building was built to 80 PPSF.

What is the best way to get the snow to slide before it gets deeper? The slope is probably around 6/12 to 7/12.

I am thinking about building a long pole with rake to try and pull it off. Tried making noise and banging the rafters for vibration, but no luck. Thought about shooting off my SKS rifle near the roof to see if that would help.

Any ideas?

 

[theultrarider]

Hire a neighbor kid to come shovel it and make some gas money for his sled

 

[hilinerider]

got a m80,

worked at the mil in sd

 

[afrank3594]

Just asking but could you heat it with a construction heater? I helped my elderly neighbor rake the roof of his hip roofed garage (20x20) and it wasnt to bad but it only had a foot of snow on it.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Thanks for the idea.

No kid is going up on this roof.

I wish I had some M-80's.

How about tying a rake to a tow strap and trowing it onto the roof and pulling it down?

 

[Ollie]

Had the same problem here a couple years back.
I just took an 8' 2x4, screwed a 2' wide 2x4 across the end of it and used it like a rake.
Worked great. My building wasn;t as big as your is though.

Another option would be to take a 2x4 and tie a rope to each end. Throw the 2x4 as far up the roof as possible and use the ropes to pull it down. That would allow you to reach a LOT farther up.

If it is a metal roof, mount heat tape on the underside. that way you can just plug it in and walk away. It only takes a few degrees of difference to get it to slide on a metal roof.

Just had a crazy thought.
Take a cinder block and tie a rope to that. Toss the block up on the roof. It should have enough weight to dig in and be wide enough to get a decent amount of snow with it.

 

[graveler]

its not going to slide if its froze to roof so put the heat to it on the inside and get out of the way, that stuff will kill you when it comes off, just like an avy, I can loan you a ready heater if you want! 150,000btu

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Just asking but could you heat it with a construction heater? I helped my elderly neighbor rake the roof of his hip roofed garage (20x20) and it wasnt to bad but it only had a foot of snow on it.

Possibly. But my 10/12 pitch cabin that is heated to 70 degrees barely slid today, which it strange. As the snow was sliding everywhere else.

Snow conditions are really, really bad. Just plowing and I could see the snow crack and thump when it settled.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

if you could throw a ladder up ther get the 2x4 with the rope trick, but get up there and put it in really solid and deep probably would help allot.

it doesnt take much just needs a little to start it, we have an 8 pitch metal roof and it needs a bit to let go, but a soon as it breaks it all falls down.

maybe a long 2x4 and a good plywood chunk on the end to help hold it together.

 

[Mafesto]

Throw a rope from one side to the other.
Have a peron on the ground at each end of rope securing the rope.
Now someone can safely go up on roof while hanging onto (better yet, tieing off to) rope.

 

[togwotee9]

http://snowcutter.com/

Althought I do like the sks idea, but I don't think 7.62x 39 is a big enough cailber

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

its not going to slide if its froze to roof so put the heat to it on the inside and get out of the way, that stuff will kill you when it comes off, just like an avy, I can loan you a ready heater if you want! 150,000btu

I am well aware of the avy roof danger. I have the whole area blocked off. I actually saw what I consider to be a slab avy come off my neighbors roof today. I saw the crack forming and then about 10 inches deep slid down to the ice layer across 40 feet of their roof. Amazing stuff.

I really appreaciate your offer for the heating loan.

Do you have that heater on the east side of Snoqualmie or the west? Pass is still closed as far as I know.

I am also going to check with a neighbor up the road tomorrow and see if he has one of those heaters.

 

[ElectroTech]

2 guys, 100 feet of rope guy on either end of the building, start at the edge, say 2 feet in, use the rope like a saw and work the rope up the slope, a couple of feet at a time, you'll move alot more snow than you think, it'll slab off pretty good.

 

[medicman]

If it is enclosed just get a Big BTU kerosene heater or propane from your local rental place, Light it off and let er rip.. Let it run all day an night if you have to even longer..Once the snow unfreeses from the metal it should all fall off... We do this a couple times a year durring the winter at a friends place who has a uninsulated 24x24 shop enclosed with a tin roof. Works every time..

 

[Dobber1]

Give this kid a call.....

 

[MtnDoo]

roof

Here's a 12:12 pitch we've been trying to get to slide for days.
50"+ of hardened layers, wouldn't even slide in the sun and the back doesn't see sun.
If I stand at the pitch change, the snow is a little more than shoulder height.
Finally decided just to chip away at it.

Pic attached.

MD.

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

My Cle Elum neighbor was up on his 10/12 pitch, metal roof yesterday. He had to take a shovel and carve out each piece. Due to the warm weather and rain the past 2 Saturdays, it's iced up and the ideas of a rake, 2X4 and all of that will not work. I've always just waited it out and it slides off when it's ready.

On the other hand, I'm build for 140# snow load.

From my experience with our current snow conditions, it's take someone on the roof, hopefully roped off.....

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

http://snowcutter.com/

Althought I do like the sks idea, but I don't think 7.62x 39 is a big enough cailber

Those "snowcutters" look like they would work well. I might order one, but that will not do the trick tomorrow.

Thanks for the link.

 

[bighornrmk]

Google; roofrake

 

[ElectroTech]

I am pretty sure that unless it solid ice, the rope trick will work, just like they cut rock with wire.