Let’s face it – this winter has sucked. In the Boston area, we have seen 7 feet of snow in just three weeks. Home supply stores have seen their shelves stripped bare – kind of like the supermarkets with milk and bread prior to any storm. Hell the local Home Depots have started selling their home-made roof rakes since they cannot meet the supply with another crappy storm coming in less than 24 hours (for a whopping $50).
So if you are scared that your roof is going to cede to the elements? Do you just want to clear the 2+ feet of snow off of your roof? or is your store out of roof rakes? Well, I may have the solution for you – build your own.
Build my own? YES.
It is actually quite simple. All you need is the following:
- 10′ piece of 1″ PVC tubing
- 10′ piece of 1 1/4″ PVC tubing
- 2 aluminum brackets
- 2 sets of nuts and bolts
- 4 zippy screws
- 24″ 1×8 pine
- 4 3″ nut/bolt set up
- 2 wingnuts
- Optional
- 3″ PVC elbow
- Additional PVC @ 1/4″ increments
To assemble, slide the smaller PVC into the larger. Slide smaller PVC up and attach mounting brackets. Cut pine to appropriate length and then find center, attach PVC/mounting pieces. Slide mounts flush with larger PVC, drill two holes, using two bolts to hold in place. Remove bolts and PVC – measure 4 inches from bottom and draw red line. Reinsert smaller PVC/pine apparatus, extend until red line meets lower hole originally drilled, drill hole – insert first bolt, then drill another hole in top hole inserting other bolt. This will complete the build. Use these two holes with wingnuts.
I added a 3″ elbow so that I could drop ice-melt into our gutters. Overall cost is ~$30.
The inspiration that I used was the video below, however the 36″ ther recommended was too heavy for the 1″ PVC so I reduced the size of the wood.
