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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

Removing snow from polycarbonate roof panels

16 years ago

Just bought a 16' retractable snow removal thing with a 22" plastic blade, intending to pull snow down from the double-wall polycarbonate roof panels on our new self-built attached greenhouse, among other things. But I thought I'd check here before using it to see if you all have any precautions or warnings or general advice about removing snow from poly roofs..

Featured Answer

birdwidow

16 years ago

Unless I am mistaken, your concern is in damaging the polycarb with the blade?

If so and it's a farily stiff piece of plastic, you might be right to be concerned, so to be on the safe side, get some of the self stick foam sold in the weatherstripping dept. of any home center and wrap it around the blade, to pad it.

Comments (9)

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
16 years ago
Depending how high is your GH and how much snow, a leaf blower hooked up with flexible 4" laundry dryer hose can be very handy to blow off the snow.

dcarch
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gardenerwantabe
16 years ago
If your roof has a steep pitch go inside and bump the roof panel's from below this should start an avalanche.
paulns
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your replies. We've had typical Maritime snow, though earlier in the season than usual. Even with a bigger pitch I'd expect this 2" crust of snow to be pasted to the panels, holding lighter snow on top. Complicating things scraper-wise, there are four screws (the kind with foam) holding each panel to the two-by-fours beneath. Maybe putting those in was a mistake? I was following directions...
Here's a picture of the greenhouse shortly after it was built.
I'm a little concerned about snow-load, but more about trying to dry some 6X6" lumber in there. (All the plants are out.) Having the panels clear would make a big difference in warming the space.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:310782}}
kittyl
16 years ago
I like how you designed the greenhouse on the side of your structure. For me, when I rarely get light snow, it just seems to melt off from the warmth inside, but I admit I'm talking a 1/4 inch. What about using water from a hose? Or is there still too much snow to melt? A wide push broom lightly pulling off the top snow might work too.
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
16 years ago
Snow is a very good insulator on a very cold day. I would just leave it on.

dcarch
paulns
Original Author
16 years ago
More food for thought - thanks again. I should have pointed out that the greenhouse is attached to an unheated workshop, not our house, and that it faces south..I'm leaning toward the broom idea too, and use the long handled scraper for the house roofs.
wyndyacre
16 years ago
Very nice self built GH Paul. What will you grow in it in the spring? Start your own veggies? Perennials?

I have a self built glass house, which I keep heated (50* minimum) so haven't any words of wisdom on snow removal off a polycarbonate roof.

But I live in a similar zone (in Ont) and can point out that you'll be surprised at how warm the GH will get during the day...especially with sun but even on a cloudy day there is still UV rays that will boost the temps.
My GH consistantly gets to 75-85* on sunny days in the winter with outside temps below freezing and to 60*+ even on cloudy days.

The inside temps will help warm the roof and the snow will slide off or melt away a good deal of the time. You may just have to wait until the afternoon to see that happen though.
HU-918674970
4 years ago
Thanks for sharing those information. It's really important to clean snow from polycarbonate panels to protect it from junk. Know more from https://www.palram.com

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