[UPDATE Sat 3:53 pm: I couldn't remember my student's last name when I posted this. But I got an email from a reader who looked up the patent and asked if Leroy Groat was the man with the patent. Yes he is. And I've now left a message with his daughter's business and hope to find out soon if the snow chute is still available to buy. Or if you know how to get hold of Leroy, email me .]
A long time ago I was paired as a mentor for a student at the University. I've lost touch with her over the years, but I thought about her today as I went looking in the garage for my Snow Chute. This is a patented device her dad had invented. It's so obvious and simple and easy to use. So I bought one. I haven't used it for a long time, but this year with all the snow, and stories of roofs having trouble in Cordova, I decided it might be a good idea to get some snow off the roof. So today I decided to find it and experiment with the lower roof over our 'greenhouse.'
The video shows how easy this is because I had to do it one handed to use the video. With two hands it's nothing at all to do. Brilliant in it's simplicity and effectiveness.
Windows XP home, Firefox 9.0.1.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the video, only audio.
Sounds like a great idea, thought@
That is a REALLY NEAT idea! It would be relatively easy to rig something like this IMHO!
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:20: Try a different browser or go straight to Viddler and see if you can see it there: Viddler
ReplyDeleteany idea where you can buy one of these gizmos?
ReplyDeletehoneybabe, Sorry I don't. I tried to find it before I posted, but couldn't find it anywhere. I did find something else called a snow chute, which looked like it was a piece of plastic you put on the roof, then shoveled the snow onto it and it slid off the roof.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Steve!
ReplyDeleteLeroy applied for patent in 1996. http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/5570524.html
It may have been invented by Tom Tilden of Dillingham. I test-drove this equipment on my roof in the early 90s. It works great. The trick is to not let snow accumulate and harden. Like up on your roof. :)
Big plastic tarp is invaluable for shoveling roofs. You lay it down with an edge trailing off the edge of the roof; shovel into the tarp instead of pushing shovel loads around and walking 'em over to the edge to dump off. If the snow doesn't slide down on its own, grab a handful of tarp and shake down to move the snow.
Another trick for the more organized and prepared amongst us - spray your roof with Pam non-stick cooking spray or some such product. But not where you will step. The snow slides off, instead of sticking.
I have a fear of height, so it is not a task for me. I am even afraid to stand on a chair, so I do it when it is very necessary. However I have a question about this device. What is the use of it? Why don't you wait until it melts off in the spring? Does the snow weight that much that it can endanger the structure and stability of the roof?
ReplyDeleteIn Cordova and Valdez there were some roofs collapsing. They had way more snow than we've had, but at a certain point it can become a problem. We've had a record amount of snow so far this year and we have four more months when snow is common, so it seemed a good idea. Also with a big snow pack there is more likelihood of leaks.
DeleteI also see that when Blogger switched to the new commenting system - you can reply to specific comments directly now - it messed up the time stamp by an hour.
My cousin lives in Cordova too! I just don't know where exactly. I went there before during winter. When I arrived, the snow was falling heavily. One of her friends helped us shovel the snow from the roof and she almost slipped off. It was a good thing I was able to hold her arm right away. Be careful when removing snow from the roof. You might slip suddenly, and that's why you should never do the cleaning alone.
ReplyDeleteWill, I have a healthy respect for gravity. I didn't get to t main roof, just the low one. Too much other stuff to do and below zero temperatures.
DeleteDoing that with one hand holding the camera is dangerous, Steve! Good thing you didn’t fall off the roof. Obviously, the snow has been stuck there a long time because of how thick it has become. I suggest you start early and remove the first layer of snow to prevent your roof from collapsing.
ReplyDeleteLue Madson
Lue, thanks for your concern. I was being very careful to get the pictures. And I checked with an engineer and he assured me that most houses in town were built for much heavier loads of snow than last year which was the heaviest snowfall ever in Anchorage.
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