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Roof Snow Raking in Montreal

Roof Snow Raking
Photo: Olga Shiryaeva / Pexels

Roof Snow Raking in Montreal

Most ice dams in Montreal start the same way: heat from the house melts snow higher up the roof, the water runs down to the cold overhang and freezes into a ridge that traps the next melt under the shingles. Roof snow raking in Montreal breaks that cycle by pulling the snow off the lower part of the roof before it can feed an ice dam. Roof Snow Bros rakes bungalows, cottages and split-levels across the city and the West Island.

Our Process

  1. Check the eaves: we look for existing ice, icicles, sagging gutters and signs of water behind the fascia.
  2. Rake from the ground when possible: telescopic plastic rakes clear single-storey eaves without anyone going up.
  3. Work from the roof when needed: on two-storey houses, a harnessed crew clears the lower slope from above.
  4. Open a drainage path: if ice has already formed, we steam a channel so meltwater can escape.
  5. Clear the drop zone: raked snow is moved off walkways, entrances and window wells.

Roofs We Rake

  • Bungalows and split-levels with long, low eaves
  • Two-storey cottages and older homes with dormers
  • Roof valleys where two slopes meet and snow collects
  • Porch roofs, garages and additions over living space

Raking Safely From the Ground

If you rake your own single-storey roof, a few rules prevent most winter injuries:

  • Stay on the ground; never rake from a ladder, where the pole’s leverage can pull you off balance.
  • Look up before you start: an aluminum pole touching a service wire can be fatal. Keep at least 3 metres away.
  • Stand to the side, not under the eave, because the snow comes down all at once.
  • Pull gently and leave a thin layer on the shingles instead of scraping down to the roof.
  • Stop if you see ice at the edge: pulling on an ice dam rips shingles and gutters.

Anything above the first storey, or any roof with ice already at the eaves, is a job for a harnessed crew.

Why Choose Roof Snow Bros?

Raking looks simple from the ground, but a ladder on ice with a long pole near a power line is how people get hurt every winter. Our insured crews work in pairs, use rakes that will not damage shingles, and can switch to full roof snow removal or ice dam removal on the same visit if the roof needs it. We serve Montreal and the region, including Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Beaconsfield and more. Doing it yourself? See our tool guide. Otherwise, call 438-476-8876 or get a free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Raking clears the bottom 1 to 2 metres of a sloped roof, where snow meets the cold overhang and ice dams form. Full removal clears the whole roof surface and is the right call when the total load is heavy, for example 30 cm or more of wet snow.
After every significant snowfall of about 15 cm or more, and always before a thaw or rain is forecast. On a seasonal contract we rake automatically so you do not have to watch the forecast.
A metal-edged rake dragged hard across shingles can strip granules and break tabs in the cold. We use plastic-bladed rakes with guide wheels and leave a thin layer of snow on the roof, so the blade rides on snow rather than on the shingles.
Raking only the eaves of a bungalow is usually at the lower end of our $250 to $450 single-storey range. Two-storey houses, where we often have to work from the roof, fall in the $350 to $650 range.
On a single-storey house with a proper telescopic rake, many homeowners can, as long as they stay on the ground and away from power lines. Our [roof snow removal tool guide](/roof-snow-removal-tools/) compares the options; for two-storey roofs we recommend calling a crew.

Roof Snow Raking in Nearby Communities

Need Roof Snow Removal in Montreal?

Contact Roof Snow Bros today for a free quote.

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