Brush it Off With the Best Roof Rake for Snow Removal

A roof rake is a specialized rake designed to push and pull snow off of a roof. They look similar to the rakes used to gather up leaves but have a blunt rectangle at the end of the pole instead of the traditional spikes. Many can also be used to remove wet leaves, giving them multiple uses. After an extensive examination of several roof rakes, we’ve found that the best roof rake is the AVALANCHE! SRD20 roof rake. Despite the unwieldy name, this rake is one of the most stable, being heavy enough to keep its shape but not so heavy that it hurts to use. The broad rake head includes wheels. These wheels prevent the rake from scraping along the roof and damaging shingles and slate. Finally, the AVALANCHE! is the only rake on this list which can be disassembled and hung up out of the way, making it convenient for people with little space in their garages and tool sheds.

Our runner-up rake is the Snow Joe RJ204M. It is made of a poly material instead of aluminum and has a telescoping pole instead of one which needs to be assembled, which makes it lightweight and easy to use. The main reason it didn’t come in first is that it doesn’t have wheels on the rake head, so it’s more likely that someone will accidentally scratch their roof.

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Roof Rake Buyer’s Tips

There are a few considerations to be aware of when shopping for a roof rake. We’ll look at the major points here.

Shaft Length

You want to be sure that the shaft you’re purchasing is long enough to enable you to reach the snow you wish to remove. You also need to be able to see what you’re doing, which means you’ll have to stand several feet back from the edge of the wall. You also need to keep in mind grade changes around your house (e.g. does your land slope down as you walk away from your house, or is it flat?) It’s hard to give exact estimates for roof rake shaft lengths, but generally, 20’ roof rake shaft will reach to the top of most single-story roofs, while they’ll reach several feet up most 2nd story roofs.

Telescoping vs. Shaft Pieces

Telescoping shafts are generally easier to manage. You extend one section as far as it can go, then extend the next section if needed. Everything is compact and organized, and pretty easy to manage. Shaft pieces, on the other hand, allow you to add as many extensions as needed, but the process of adding an extension is a bit more difficult than telescoping handles.

Rollers

Rollers are a big help when present on a roof rake. These little wheels help ensure that the rake does not scratch or otherwise damage your roof shingles.

Blade Width

The wider the blade, the quicker you’ll remove snow. However, if you have tight spots to squeeze into, or narrow valleys to deal with a wider blade may be a hindrance, making work more difficult. Also, wider blades may blow around in the wind more than compact blades.

Rake Weight

Most rakes only weigh a few pounds, but when fully extended, can be quite challenging to handle. All the weight is at the very end of the pole, and the wind has a tendency to blow the shaft around a bit when extended. Lighter weight poles are generally easier to work with.

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Snow Rake Reviews

In this section, we’ll look at five of the top roof rakes available. We’ll compare and contrast, and conclude with our favorites.

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Snow Joe RJ204M 21’ Twist-n-Lock

Key Points at a Glance

• Blade is made of a poly material
• Works on snow and wet leaves
• Telescoping pole

Dimensions

Reaches 21 ft.

Weighs 4.8 lbs.

Rake head is 6 in. x 25 in.

This snow rake comes from Snow Joe, a leading manufacturer of many products related to clean up and the outdoors, like snowblowers and pressure washers. This snow removal tool features a telescoping aluminum pole that is designed to help users reach even the highest of roofs and gutters to clean out pesky snow. It maxes out at 21’. Because the rake head is 6 in. x 25 in., it covers a large surface area with minimal effort. The lightweight materials additionally make it easy to hold the rake overhead and go about one’s business without strain. One convenient aspect of the Snow Joe rake is that it works on wet leaves as well as snow, meaning it can be helpful investment year round. The blue color makes the head of the rake easy to see so the user always knows where they are reaching. The poly material is yet another benefit - unlike the metal on standard rakes, the poly won’t rust. The pole can be adjusted for a range of 6 ft. - 21 ft., making it a good tool for many one and two-story homes.

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Garant GPRR24U Yukon 24-Inch

Key Points at a Glance

• Poly blade
• Anti-slip grip
• Works on snow and wet leaves
• Adjustable pole

Dimensions

Stretches up to 15 ft.

24 in. blade

Weighs roughly 4.2 lbs.

The Garant GPRR24U Yukon (despite having a complex name) is a simple roof rake with minimum frills. The aluminum pole comes with three separate sections, each 5 ft. long. The user can connect them together to get an overall height of 15 ft, which works well for people with flat roofs who need to be able to reach far back. If you have a two story house, you’ll need to pick up an extension or two. Extensions are available in 5-foot sections, enabling users to reach further and further up.

This snow rake is extremely lightweight and works on wet leaves as well as snow. It possesses a unique anti-slip grip so people don’t drop the rake when trying to scoop particularly heavy loads of snow off of the roof. The poly blade also has smooth edges to prevent scratches on regular roof tiles, and won’t rust since it’s not made of metal.

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Ohuhu 21 Inch Twist-n-Lock

Key Points at a Glance

• Blue head
• Telescoping pole
• Non-slip grip
• Works on snow and wet leaves
• Poly rake head

Dimensions

Reaches 21 ft.

Weighs 4.5 lbs.

24 in. blade

The Ohuhu 21 Inch Twist-n-Lock is a telescopic snow rake with an adjustable handle. Users can change the length of the pole so it measures anywhere between 6 ft. and 21 ft. for easier roof access. To adjust the length, users simply twist to unlock and twist to lock back up at the desired length. However, there’s no possibility of adding additional extensions with this system. The non-slip grips mean it’s easy for someone to move around heavy loads of snow and wet leaves without dropping the device. The product’s light weight is beneficial because it means the user is unlikely to strain themselves while handling the rake. The rake head is made of synthetic materials and covers a wide surface area. The blue head is easy to see in the snow.

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AVALANCHE! SRD20 Snow Rake

Key Points at a Glance

• Blue rake head
• Aluminum pole
• Works on snow and wet leaves
• Vinyl group

Dimensions

Pole comes in five 4 ft. sections

24 in. rake head

Built-in wheels

Weighs 5.8 lbs.

The AVALANCHE! snow rake is more expensive than other products on our list, but it has a few features that make it a really strong roof rake. The SRD20 includes five four-foot pole sections in its default package, and additional eight-foot extensions are available (two four-foot pieces per package). These snap to the base, and allow the rake to be extended to whatever length is necessary.

The vinyl handle is easy to grip, even when wearing gloves, and doesn’t peel off like the handles on some other products. Additionally, the blue rake head is easy to see, covers a lot of surface area, and works well on even the wettest of snow. It does a good job of getting the snow off! And the most important feature included in the SRD20 is the small set of wheels located on the bottom of the head. These wheels prevent the blade from scratching your roof. This is super important for those who use soft roofing materials. The entire rake comes apart easily and can be stored with an included hanging mount, keeping it out of the way until it’s needed.

Garelick 89421 Roof Snow Removal Rake

Key Points at a Glance

• Silver colored rake head
• Heavy aluminum design
• Wheels along the bottom of the rake head
• Works on wet leaves and snow

Dimensions

Weighs 5.75 lbs.

24 in. rake head

Pole comes in five 4 ft. pieces

Built-in wheels

The Garelick similar to the AVALANCHE SRD20 in that it includes wheels on the head to stop the heavy aluminum from digging into the roof. It also uses extension poles in 4’ increments and comes with five 4’ lengths. Unlike the other rakes that use pole sections, Garelick does not sell additional extensions. The product features an extremely stable design, meaning it works well on heavy snow and wet leaves without too much trouble. The entire rake weighs 5.75 lbs. and has an adjustable pole that comes in five pieces. The Garelick is easy to use and is constructed of aluminum (except the wheels). The 24 in. rake head covers a broad surface area and it lightweight enough to hold overhead without straining the individual using the rake. The silver color is a bit harder to see from far away than the blue rake heads on our list.

Conclusion: Best Roof Snow Rake

A roof rake is particularly beneficial to individuals who live in snowy or wintry areas because it can eliminate pressure on the roof. Our overall choice has been and will continue to be the AVALANCHE! SRD20 for its convenient design, weight, and use of wheels, and the Snow Joe RJ204M is a great second choice, especially for those who are looking for a telescoping handle. Regardless, any of these rakes will clean most roofs off, as long as you understand the limitations as explained in the reviews. May you have no leaks or ice dams this season!

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