Snow Retention 101 – Reduce Liability And Prevent Damage
By Howie Scarboro, National Sales Mgr., SnoBlox-SnoJax
I spend a significant portion of each workday speaking with homeowners, commercial building owners, architects, and contractors. Damage from sliding snow and ice on metal roofs is the main issue people need a solution for. Some of them have small problems, mere inconveniences or strictly cosmetic issues. However, the projects that I most often consult on have serious liability exposure and a high risk of property damage and personal injury. A lot of times, we are being asked to identify causes and develop solutions after damage has already been done to the roof, structure, gutters, landscaping, etc.
Most damage caused by snow and ice on roofs can be easily avoided if the roofing contractors and/or gutter installers will simply educate the customers and explain the inherent nature of metal roofs to shed snow and ice. I’m advised time and time again that it was never even mentioned during the entire sales and installation process. Many first time metal roof customers are taken by surprise during the first hard winter. After paying for the damages they begin to look for a solution and someone to blame.
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Single-component snow guards designed to mount to the metal roof's seams do little to hold snow in the panel flats, as evidenced in the photo above. When a seam-mounted product is desired, Scarboro recommends a bar-type product that spans the panel flats. These systems often feature optional pieces that mount mid-panel to keep ice and snow from passing beneath the bar.
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A properly designed snow guard system would have prevented the majority of these issues from happening in the first place. Once they do, we just need to move forward and find a reasonably priced solution that will resolve the issues and protect the customer from further damage. Every solution starts with a discussion about the existing problem and the damage that has occurred. Once we establish the snow load, roof dimensions, pitch, style, and panel type, then it’s time to look at the customer’s options.
The three primary types of snow retention are bar, pad style, and seam mounted. The attachment options are screw down, glue down, or seam clamp. Bar systems and pad style guards are the best options and will resolve most issues that arise. Seam mounted snow guards are very ineffective at holding snow as it simply slides down the unprotected flat valleys (see photo). We have seen them cause damage by exerting too much torque on the seam when the guard is struck by heavy snow and ice on one side or the other. Based on our test results, we have never sold or manufactured seam mounted snow guards and probably never will.
If the customer chooses a bar system, we suggest a clamp be installed at each and every seam and depending on the bar height we might also suggest IceStoppers be installed to keep snow from slipping under the bar. The number of rows needed is determined by the snow load, pitch, length of the panels, etc. There is no such thing as a standard layout, every roof is different and must be calculated as such. We recommend only using bar systems backed with lifetime warranties to ensure a quality product and finish.
In the event the customer opts for a pad style snow guard system, which is the most popular option, they can choose either screw down or adhesive attachment. The screw down system typically is reserved for non-standing seam roofs with exposed fasteners. We suggest a visit to www.SpacingTool.com for a free layout and parts estimator. Buy snow guards from reputable manufacturers made and tested in the USA and backed with lifetime warranties to ensure quality.
In short, the easiest way to avoid damage is to be proactive and inform your customers of the need for a quality snow retention system as soon as they install the roof and gutters. The snow retention system can be one of the least expensive parts of the building yet it prevents costly repairs, insurance claims, and potential liability risk. I can’t think of another metal roof component that costs so little and gives such huge benefits in return.
Howie Scarboro is the national sales manager for SnoBlox-SnoJax. The company patented the first polycarbonate snow guard in 1976 and has continued to develop a full line of premium quality snow guards. Partnered with SnoBar, the first in bar systems, they are able to offer one of the most comprehensive lines of snow retention systems in the industry. Their snow guards, bar systems, and paint finishes are all backed by a standard lifetime warranty. Call 800-SNOJAX-1 or email Howie@SnoJax.com. To learn more about the company’s products, visit www.snoblox-snowjax.com.
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