Snow guards are essentially a snow retention system of safety accessories on the roof. It prevents intense snow and ice sliding down the metal roof. Once the home owners install snow guards, they are sure to have snow and ice mass evenly distributed on the metal roof. In this case the load of the roof ice and snow is optimized, and the under-roof space is additionally insulated.
Does the House Really Need Snow Guard?
It’s a common misconception that the roof snow poses no threat. Indeed it’s not the snow on the roof itself which is evil. It’s an important part of the roofing pie during the cold winter weather. This natural thermal insulation does reduce the heat cost. The more secure the mass holds on to the roofing, the safer are people indoors. However, once it begins to melt it may trigger an avalanche release of accumulated mass which cause damage to the roofing panels, the eave and the entire drainage system of the building, break the fence, etc. For example, the pressure of precipitation on the rooftop is no less than 20 pounds per square foot. That’s not small! The facility needs installing some know-how to prevent snow from crashing down. That’s why legislative norms provide for the installation of special roofing elements that hold the mass on property without letting it suddenly slide down the metal roofing.
How does Snow Guard Work?
The market offers several options of snow guards for metal roof. Among different types of guards the most common and reliable are tubular snow retention elements. They work with most roofing materials: metal roofs, metal tiles, corrugated panels, bitumen and standing seam roofing. For roof cleaning we recommend using gas pressure washers. By its design, the tubular snow guard consists of two-pipe structure that is secured to the roof with special brackets. Brackets are selected individually for each type of roofing materials, which eliminates the damage to the integrity of the roofs.
Installation of Tubular Snow Guards
The tubular snow guard is intended for the specific protection of your facility and roof’s elements. It is installed along the entire perimeter of the metal roofing of the house, flush with the load-bearing wall. Thus, the load will be distributed from the ridge and above the eaves. Sometimes special strapping is made in the places of the roof panel surface, where the safety systems are fastened. Snow guards for standing seam metal roof are attached to the seam with a special clip designed to prevent drilling the panel. The system is powder-coated with non-corrosive steel agent and comes in different materials: steel aluminum, copper. They fit any style of the building.
The installation of snow guards is what all the facilities need. During the winter season the installed safety system will save you a lot of trouble from pitch avalanches and protect your property from the heavy falling of the precipitation. The installation must be carefully planned. To obtain a high-quality result, you need certain knowledge, skills and equipment. Of course, you can determine the plan and do this project yourself, having previously having watched dozens of videos, posts and know-hows. Or you can trust the experts and order the services of specialized experienced contractor. They will not only be able to take on all the work on the preparation of material and installation of snow-retaining system, but also provide warranty for the work performed.
