Some would argue there is no winter without snow, but, at the same time, snow can be an inconvenience in so many different ways. Traffic becomes more difficult, sidewalks become more slippery, and heavy snow can cause ice dams that can eventually lead to shingle and home damage. That means that if you live in a house, you're going to have to remove snow from your roof periodically. Since it's in no way safe to climb a ladder to the roof during the winter, there is a tool that can help you remove snow safely. You've guessed it: it's the roof rake.

Most of the BYB team live in colder regions, so we can test and review snow removal items like snowblowerssnow shovels, and, here, roof rakes. If you're looking for the absolute best we've found, then the Avalanche! Roof Rake System is for you. If you need a budget-friendly but effective option, we like the Garant GPRR24 Snow Roof Rake. And, if you live in a house with two or more stories and you're looking for a wheeled roof rake, then the Extreme Max 5600.3207 Roof Snow Rake will probably be your best choice. Check out our reviews of these and other roof rakes we like below.

BACKYARD BOSS TOP 3 ROOF RAKES

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Garant GPRR24 Snow Roof Rake - $$title$$

Garant GPRR24 Snow Roof Rake

  • Pole length: 15 feet
  • Weight: 4.2 pounds
  • Material: aluminum handles, polyethylene blade

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Avalanche! Original 500 Snow Removal System - $$title$$

Avalanche! Original 500 Snow Removal System

  • Pole length: N/A
  • Weight: 5 pounds
  • Material: aluminum

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Extreme Max 5600.3207 Roof Snow Rake - $$title$$

Extreme Max 5600.3207 Roof Snow Rake

  • Pole length: 21 feet
  • Weight: 5.75 pounds
  • Material: aluminum

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With this convenient buying guide at hand, it is now time to go roof rake shopping. If that's not something that you want to spend your time doing, we have put together a list of the top five roof rakes that money can buy right now, so maybe you won't have to browse dozens and dozens of models to find one that's suitable for you.

Best Budget Roof Rake for Most Regions

      Pros:

    • "Lightweight construction
    • "Easy to assemble.
    • "Low price.
      Cons:

    • "The rough handle texture makes it uncomfortable to use without gloves. "

WHY WE LIKE IT: This roof rake is slightly different from the other ones we have in store for you because it combines a sturdy and lightweight aluminum handle with a polyethylene blade that measures 24 inches in width. The result of this combination is one of the lightest roof rakes on the market, making it super easy to manipulate.

The anti-slip grip design is a perfect feature to have—freezing temperatures will make it difficult for you to get a good grip on the handle otherwise. The handle is made from three separate aluminum rods, with each of them measuring 5 feet in length.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those who want an effective, easy-to-use option for removing light-to-moderate snowfall and don't mind using a little elbow grease to get the job done.

Best Roof Rake for Heavy and Deep Snow

      Pros:

    • "Great for ice dam prevention.
    • "Plastic slide included.
      Cons:

    • "Doesn't really work on crusty snow."

WHY WE LIKE IT: Avalanche! is one of the best brands when it comes to roof rakes, and this particular model stands as proof of that statement. It is designed to be easy to manipulate and brings forth the features you expect to see in a product pertaining to this category. This roof rake is designed with a 17-inch x 8' plastic slide and a cutter frame with 1.5-inch wheels.

As for the construction, this product comes with a fiberglass handle and a head that combines metal and plastic. With about 10 pounds in weight, the rake itself is relatively easy to maneuver, as it uses plenty of lightweight aluminum in its construction. It also comes with wheels that can be attached to the rake to prevent any potential roof damage.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: People who live in areas that get a lot of snow—both in frequency and volume—and need an effective way to prevent damage without too much difficulty.

Best Roof Rake for Multi-Story Homes

Extreme Max 5600.3207 Roof Snow Rake

    The Extreme Max 5600.3207 is a lightweight rake designed for people who are interested in investing in a durable product. The angled blade makes it a good purchase for people with low-pitched roofs or for those that are looking to clear snow off of two-story houses.

      Pros:

    • "Lightweight construction.
    • "Corrosion-resistant aluminum.
    • "Snap-button handle assembly.
      Cons:

    • "Poles don't fit correctly inside of each other"

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Extreme Max has really good construction and a fair price. It can reach up to 21 feet, and it comes with a 7 x 24-inch blade that removes snow from places that are otherwise difficult to reach without a ladder.

The angled blade can serve you if you have a two-story house or a low-pitched roof, and it tends to occupy less space and can be easier to maneuver in these two scenarios. The blade's bottom side is equipped with rollers that protect your roof shingles while still making sure that the blade is close enough to the roof to efficiently scrape the snow. The rake is lightweight aluminum with corrosion resistance.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Those who live in homes with multi-story or unusually-shaped roofs and get regular snowfall in winter.

Best Roof Rake for Shingles

WHY WE LIKE IT: This particular rake is available in a 16 and 21-foot pole length version, depending on how far you want it to reach.

It is designed so that the blade never actually touches the shingles on the roof (thanks to the wheels mounted on the blade), which helps prevent damage to the roof. The installation process is fairly easy except for the rollers, which seems to be more difficult to mount than most.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: Single-story homeowners with shingled roofs who want an effective, easy-tpo-use option for removing light-to-moderate snowfall.

Best No-Frills Roof Rake 

WHY WE LIKE IT: This roof rake doesn't require any tools for assembly, which makes it one of the easier roof rakes to put together. Whenever you are not using the rake, you can detach the connector and collapse it so that the rake doesn't occupy that much space.

Being able to reach up to 20 feet in length, this rake offers great roof accessibility for your best convenience. The 7 pounds in weight make it easy to maneuver the rake, whilst the aluminum construction is perfect for people who want to invest in a durable product. Note that aluminum rakes are best used with gloves because the metal is really cold in your hands during low winter temperatures.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: We like to think of this as the rake that's best for people to have around when using a roof rake isn't a frequent chore. It works great, takes up very little space, isn't expensive and is lightweight enough for most people to use without injury.

How to Choose a Roof Rake

Pole length

It is always best to choose a rake that comes with an adjustable pole. This means that you can expand the handle's length so it can reach a greater distance, preventing you from climbing to get to the center parts of the roof. Most roof rakes have poles with handles that can be adjusted between 14 and 22 feet, but these handles can also be collapse to be as short as eight feet for easier storage. However, keep in mind that longer poles also make the rake more difficult to maneuver.

valanche snow roof rake in use winter two story roof

The Avalanche! Roof Rake in action. The length of the pole is important when choosing the right rake for your needs.

To determine what size rake you need to purchase, you can use a tape measure to determine the distance between the gutter eaves to the roof's ridgeline. Make sure you grab these measurements during the summer so you can avoid the danger of climbing ladders during the winter. Generally speaking, most people need a rake with a pole that can extend to about 18 feet.

Rake size

The rake's size isn't just given by the length of the pole, as this tool has other important components that, when measuring the right size, will be of more use to you. The rake must be built with a sturdy frame because longer poles make it difficult to control the rake. A sturdy frame will do just that: ease the control you have over this tool even when the pole is expanded to its maximum length.

Also, make sure to check the blade of the rake. When the blade is wide, it will allow you to remove more snow with a single stroke. This allows you to be more efficient and put less effort and time into removing snow from your roof.

Types of handles

A roof rake can have various handles, and each type is suitable for certain snow-removal actions. For example:

Straight handles are the most difficult to work with because they lack an ergonomic design and are tough to maneuver.

Bending handles are useful when you need to remove snow from tight corners of the roof.

Telescopic handles allow you to adjust the length of the pole. These handles are expanded or collapsed with the push of a button or a ring-lock on the shaft.

Materials & Construction

Naturally, it's always to pay attention to the materials used to make a specific product that you're thinking of buying. When you go over the details in construction and the materials used, you can pretty much guess other specifications of the product in question, such as durability or ease of care.

roof rake bad form using ladder unsafe in winter

Ideally, a roof rake will be long enough that you can avoid using a ladder in winter, as this is unsafe and avoidable.

When it comes to roof rakes, look for those with poles made of aluminum, as this is a durable and lightweight choice that makes it easier to manipulate the rake. As for the rake head, you can opt for heavy-duty plastic, aluminum, or molded polyethylene. While all three choices are good, aluminum excels in durability, but it's usually heavier in weight and harder to maneuver.

Additional features

Consider buying a roof rake with wheels. These help ensure a smoother and safer operation because they prevent the blade from touching the roof's shingles, which could cause damage. 

Consider the size of the caster. The bigger it is, the easier it will be to move it over the roof's shingles without sticking. 

Consider opting for roof rakes with tread as they will smoothly move up and down the roof.

Bottom Line

When you're looking to buy a snow rake, you will have to consider the comfort and safety it provides while you have to do an activity that's rather difficult, tedious, and, if done the wrong way, even dangerous. With the right roof rake, you can protect the integrity of your roof and the house's structure overall by constantly removing layers of fresh snow and making sure no ice dams are formed, and no roof melts so that it can destroy parts of the house.

Our top choices for the year's best roof rakes:

Best Budget Roof Rake For Most Regions: GARANT GPRR24 SNOW ROOF RAKE

Best Roof Rake For Heavy And Deep Snow: AVALANCHE! ORIGINAL 500 SNOW REMOVAL SYSTEM

Best Roof Rake For Multi-Story Homes: EXTREME MAX 5600.3207 ROOF SNOW RAKE

Best Roof Rake For Shingles: GARELICK 89421 21-FOOT ALUMINUM SNOW ROOF RAKE

Best No-Frills Roof Rake: YARDEEN BLADE SNOW ROOF RAKE