Snow Retention Systems - Do You Need One?
When considering whether to install a snow retention system on your roof, you may first want to consider what type of roof you have.
Will your roof allow snow to slide? In places with heavy snows, it is common for snow to slide from certain types of roof systems causing heavy ice and snow build up to sit in gutters, which causes damage over time.
If you have a metal, tile, slate or Membrane roof with a pitch of 1/12 or greater, snow may slide off and cause this problem.
Gutters will either hold the heavy snow, or they will fall, creating costly repairs.
To prevent this, you can simply put snow retention clips on your pitched roof above the gutter and throughout the problem area to keep snow on the roof and to keep it from sliding.
For example, you may want more retention clips in areas above a patio, walk way, or driveway to prevent large amounts of snow from falling and damaging the property or even worse, causing serious injury to pedestrians below.
It can be safer for your roof, your gutters, and the area around your home if your snow is allowed to thaw instead of evacuate your roof by avalanche.
There are 3 main types of snow retention systems for metal and tile roofs:
However, snow fences are probably the best choice for a metal panel roof.
For a standing seam metal roof, snow clamps are usually the recommended choice.
For tile or slate roofing systems, you may want to choose snow brackets as a retention system.
For TPO roofs, even with a low slope of 1/12, it is recommended to install a snow retention system in areas with moderate to heavy snowfall.
If the snow is allowed to flow with the slope of the roof, it could build up in one area, causing damage to your roof and drainage system.
However, snow clips and fences are not usually as effective because TPO membrane is a flat roof system.
This means that, without proper precautions, the moisture could sit around the fasteners that hold the snow fences on and cause leaks.
The best course of action in this situation is to install clad metal on the TPO roof to hold the snow.
Brady Roofing is able to fabricate this metal in our shop, as well as install and seal it on your TPO roof.
Will your roof allow snow to slide? In places with heavy snows, it is common for snow to slide from certain types of roof systems causing heavy ice and snow build up to sit in gutters, which causes damage over time.
If you have a metal, tile, slate or Membrane roof with a pitch of 1/12 or greater, snow may slide off and cause this problem.
Gutters will either hold the heavy snow, or they will fall, creating costly repairs.
To prevent this, you can simply put snow retention clips on your pitched roof above the gutter and throughout the problem area to keep snow on the roof and to keep it from sliding.
For example, you may want more retention clips in areas above a patio, walk way, or driveway to prevent large amounts of snow from falling and damaging the property or even worse, causing serious injury to pedestrians below.
It can be safer for your roof, your gutters, and the area around your home if your snow is allowed to thaw instead of evacuate your roof by avalanche.
There are 3 main types of snow retention systems for metal and tile roofs:
- Snow Fences
- Snow Brackets
- Snow Clamps
However, snow fences are probably the best choice for a metal panel roof.
For a standing seam metal roof, snow clamps are usually the recommended choice.
For tile or slate roofing systems, you may want to choose snow brackets as a retention system.
For TPO roofs, even with a low slope of 1/12, it is recommended to install a snow retention system in areas with moderate to heavy snowfall.
If the snow is allowed to flow with the slope of the roof, it could build up in one area, causing damage to your roof and drainage system.
However, snow clips and fences are not usually as effective because TPO membrane is a flat roof system.
This means that, without proper precautions, the moisture could sit around the fasteners that hold the snow fences on and cause leaks.
The best course of action in this situation is to install clad metal on the TPO roof to hold the snow.
Brady Roofing is able to fabricate this metal in our shop, as well as install and seal it on your TPO roof.
