The 2010 – 2011 winter has been very extreme for parts of the south and northeastern U.S., with many snowfall records being set. And as of early January, no relief in sight.

Excessive snow or ice can be quite damaging to the roof of your house, and knowing how to remove them is critical to protecting your roof. Heavy snow can build up and become a major problem as the roof strains under excess weight it can have trouble handling.

As the snow begins to melt, however, it can form ice dams which are another area of concern. Ice dams can act to collect water on your roof & potentially cause extensive water damage to your home.

So how to protect your roof from snow and ice damage?

Begin by removing the excess snow off of your roof. Using a tool like the Avalanche Roof Rake to pull down snow build up from your roof will make the job easier and safer. On roof s with a larger pitch, removing 3 or 4 ft. of snow will help prevent growth of an ice dam If your house has a flat roof, you’ll need to shovel the snow most of the snow off .