You never use a roof rake or shovel to chisel at an ice dam.
A roof rake is used to remove loose material... even the shovels we sell for this purpose do not have the metal leading edges on them.
Sharp aluminum will also have a tendency to cut or gouge out more of the granular surface of the asphalt shingles.
And only a foam pad rake... like the ones we sell to clean off a vehicle should be used on a metal roof or eaves should the homeowner wish to lighten the load against them. Dinging a metal roof would damage the protective architectural coating resulting in increased snow/ice adhesion and rusting.
Ice dams are removed by professionals with steamers. By non-professional with the appropriate snow melt used in the appropriate manner that results in channels that allow for the melted salty water to run off the eaves rather than refreeze as temps fall or work up under the shingles.
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