ext_116396 ([identity profile] eclecticmagpie.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] jducoeur 2007-12-22 09:02 pm (UTC)

As I mentioned above, my roofrake is about 17' long; it reaches my first floor eaves, maybe some a little higher than that (I have a complex roof). One *could* buy two of them -- each is 4 4' sections, plus the rake part -- to make a longer rake, but it's pretty darn awkward to handle as-is, and requires a fair bit of upper-body strength as well. I'm not at all sure I could handle a 34' rake, and you're a tad smaller than I am.

I would NOT want to handle one from on top of a ladder.

The first time I had to sweep snow from an icedam location, I used a regular ladder, leaned against the gutter. In the spring, I had to replace the gutter, which I had squashed with the ladder.

As for why we have gutters and downspouts, some early houses don't. It's not at all clear that all houses need them. There are a number of other products out there that will divert some or all of the water away from the foundation.

If it's your DOWNSPOUT freezing, rather than your gutter, perhaps heat tape would help. Also, perhaps your downspout has some sort of partial blockage?

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