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Roof Raking?

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Kevin T

Junior Member
Why? I don't like to leave the warm cab, except to blow some snow or fill the tailgate spreader. Oh yeah....and to get another cup of coffee. I feel I make enough money doing what I do now and don't wanna put me or employees at anymore risk then is needed.
 
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Kraco_1

Member
npalomba, yeah I've been asked a few times, it's just about always older people that want it done. There's a kid that does it in the area so I give him a call and let him take care of it. I've done my own house and it's not an easy job, if I had to charge someone for it myself I don't think they would pay me what I'd ask. lol. And this way after he gets it off the roof and it ends up in there drive, they call me back to plow again. Funny how that works out hey? lol......Kraco_1
 
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MJ

Senior Member
nplomba - after our last 14" snow, I got more calls wanting roof raking than plowing. Problem is nobody around here does that except roofing companies and they're expensive. When I looked into adding roof raking, I found that I'd need additional insurance, additional equipment and that one of the problems with hiring people for that is that there is a lot of Workman's Comp claims. While working without the right equipment (ropes for anchoring etc) results in falling off the roof, some workers intentionally fall. Landing in a pile of snow helps cushion the fall and they can still claim an injury which will keep them from working "the rest of their life". So the cost of WC insurance is now high so you need to charge more to cover the cost. Then along comes some guy with a ladder and a shovel who'll do it for 1/2 of that and your just out. And remember, even if you do it without employees, you still need additional business insurance.

But your area might be different.

Mick
 
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4 Saisons

Senior Member
Location
Sherbrooke Qc Can
MJ, roof raking did'nt raise my insurance cost, may be a little, and your right, it needs to be careful, i use the belt and rope from tree working to work safely on steep roof.

[Edited by 4 Saisons on 02-18-2001 at 09:07 AM]
 
OP
Caneplow

Caneplow

Senior Member
Location
In my truck
Thanks for all the feedback; what I suggested to the person is that I could try to help them find someone in the area to do it as I am not willing to take on that in my business model. Thanks for all the feedback.
 
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jason2

PlowSite.com Veteran
Location
Columbus, North Dakota
I've shoveled a few roofs this winter. And it is a major pain in the butt. Not much fun shoveling knee deep wet snow. The first couple I did, I underestimated how long it would take me and I screwed myself. It took me four times as long as I estimated on the first one. I've never been so tired in my life after doing it. As much as I hated to I stuck with my original bid and ended up working for peanuts.

I think there is some potential to make some serious money doing this. One idea I've kicked around while lying exhausted on someone's roof is to buy a bucket truck, and a large two stage blower. Of course the roof couldn't have too steep of a grade or you might dump the blower off. A person could whistle through a pile of houses in a day.

Main problem again is the pitch of the roof couldn't be too steep. Also getting the bucket truck close enough to get the blower on the roof could be a problem. A two stage blower and a man to operate it adds up to a lot of additional weight on a roof already stressed with two feet of snow.

Anyways if I do any more roofs I will be charging considerably more, it isn't a whole lot of fun.
 
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plowking35

2000 Club Member
Location
SE CT
With a bucket truck, attach a plow like object to the bucket, and plow the roof off. Being that they have ground controls, you couild do this from the ground.
Dino
 
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MJ

Senior Member
Denis - I like your graphics.

I went and got a snow scraper on a 16 foot handle. From the ground I can clear a 5 foot area to avoid ice build up. (Actually my wife brought it home and said "here's something for you") I have to be the only guy in the country who's wife would do something like that.

Mick
 
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4 Saisons

Senior Member
Location
Sherbrooke Qc Can
MJ, the graphics came from the Nordicity gov url. ( the one on my signature, before i'll get a digital cam, I'll promote my province).

About roof shoveling, in the first fact sheet, There is a article of Pratt & Whitney roof shoveling contract. 1 350 000 square feet. 4 weeks of hard working for 120 shovelers. they remove 35 000 cubic yard of ice and snow and needs 1 600 truck travel to the snow dump.

Denis
 
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Deere John

Senior Member
Location
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Last weekend, our satalite reception wuz poor - it was blocked by some of the 30" of snow on our roof. I too wanted to catch up on last year's Soprano's before the March premiere.

I have been getting requests for roofs too - I refer them to the roofers because 30 inches at 30 pounds to the cubic foot = too much for my sore back. Rates for clearing roofs here are $100 simple (just onto the ground, not much ice) to $350 with ice and the need to rehandle the snow. The roofers are pulling Bobcats around behind them. Several buildings and garages have already collapsed. We got 8" again yesterday, so the fun will continue.

I have responded with the loader to about 1/2 dozen calls from people who shovelled 5 tons of snow down onto their driveways (or their neighbours driveways) and then figured out that they had to move it again.
 
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