Snowfall is beautiful and with winter sports like skiing and sledging, it is also a lot of fun. All the roofs get covered with the falling snow and the entire area appears to be draped in a white blanket. However, this soft white snow on the roof tops slowly transforms into solid ice sheets, which can be extremely slippery, and result in numerous avalanches every year.
To protect your house and family from snowfall damage, you should install snow guards for metal roofs. Metal roofs with slopes between 30 to 45 degrees are most precarious and cause most avalanches. If the roof has a steeper slope than that, then the snows slips and prevents a huge snow buildup; and if the roof is flatter, then it decreases the chances of an avalanche because it requires more force to move the snow pack.
Snow sheds, fences, avalanche net and snow guards act like barricades to stop hazardous snow movements. Traditionally, people layered their roofs with stones and logs to increase resistance and protect themselves from seasonal snowfall. In the present day, contemporary snow guards for roofs have replaced these conventional methods of preventing snow slides.
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What are snow guards?
Snow guards are defensive obstructions mounted on the rooftops of buildings and houses to prevent snow from falling on the ground below. These guards are fixed in rows and hold the snow effectively so that it falls in small quantities or just melts completely. The number of guards to be installed and the manner in which they should be placed depends upon the construction and style of the roof. Often, heat tapes are also installed with these guards to melt the accumulated snow and offer enhanced avalanche shield.
Selecting the right snow guards for metal roofs
These days a wide variety of snow guards are available in the market. They can be made of plastic, copper, aluminum or poly carbonate. The type of guard, which you should install on your rooftop, depends on the roof’s material. Roofs of most houses in cold areas are made of metal and the best type of roof guards for such rooftops is metal snow guard. Metal guards can be installed on both new and existing roofs. These guards are available in many metal powder-coated colors and can add to the aesthetic appeal of the roof.
Tips to Install Snow Guards on Metal Roofs
• Compare all the available guards in the market before deciding the snow guard for your metal rooftop.
• The type of metal guards should be decided on the basis of the load of expected snowfall.
• The number and pattern of guards required for proper avalanche protection depends upon the incline of the slope.
• You should not use nails for putting guards on metal roofs (); instead opt for neoprene washer head screws.
• Make sure that you do not over tighten the screws.
• You should prefer the snow guards with fifty year silicone caulking.
• You should fasten the guards on the lowest section of the roof on the rafters and not on the actual metal roof.
• The first row of guards should be placed 6 inches from the roof’s perimeter and the following rows should be installed 12 inches apart.
• As metal guards bear the brunt of extreme weather, they should be made of very good quality material.
Professionals have understood the importance and benefit of installing snow guards on the rooftops. This has led to a vast increase in their demand and a variety of designs are available. This can cause a lot of confusion in selection. But with these tips at hand, choosing the right type of guards for your house will not be too tough. So go ahead and buy snow guards for metal roofs and protect your family from snow related disasters.
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