Proper S5 Snow Guard Mounting Block Position & Limits On Free
Improper Snow Fence, Versa-Clip & Mounting Block Positioning
Then there is the question of positioning the mounting block and the actual sliding Versa Clip clamp that connects the snow fence to the mounting block.
An important detail that was not obvious in the manufacturer’s written instructions was the position of the snow guard Versa Clip clamp and its connection to the snow fence itself.
The mounting block has seven tapped openings. Along with the Versa Clip that clamps the snow fence to the mounting block there are quite a few possible orientations for these parts. A first-time installer may be doing some head scratching.
Above we show the snow brake, its Versa-Clip mounting clamp that slides along a groove in the snow brake’s flat or bottom edge, and a mounting block in the wrong position. Don’t do this! As shown above the snow brake support will be weaker than its design strength. The mounting block in the photo needs to rotate 180 degrees from the way it’s shown in my wrinkled hand.
The manufacturer said to “face the clamp up-roof” but which side was the “face”? To answer the question we watched the company’s installation video where the detail was shown.
Correct Mounting Block, Versa Clip & Snow Fence Mounting Position
In our photograph we see the mounting block, clamp, and snow guard fence in the proper orientation.
The up-roof side of the sliding clamp then bolts down onto the mounting block.
Stagger Your Snow Guards
Stagger your roof guards for better snow control. Moving left to right, mark the location of the first guard 1 foot from the edge of the roof. Then, plan for the second guard to be 2 feet from the edge of the roof. Repeat this pattern for all the guards in the first row.
- Use a marker to mark the position where each snow guard will be installed.
- Stagger snow guards so that half the guards are 1 foot from the edge of the roof and half are 2 feet from the edge.
- Rows of snow guards should only go midway up the slope of your roofno higher
When planning additional rows of snow guards, mirror the staggered pattern for subsequent rows. This offset pattern helps to control snow more effectively. When planning your rows, remember, snow guards should only go halfway to the peak of the roof. There is no need to install rows higher than the midway point.
Do I Need Snow Guards On My Metal Roof
Metal roofs especially need roof snow guards because metal surfaces are smooth and do not provide any traction. This provides a slippery surface for snow and ice, making it more prone to sliding off to the ground unexpectedly. This is why its so important for metal roof snow guards to be installed on metal roofs.
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How To Install Snow Rails On A Metal Roof
- Posted byDenis
Weightless, fluffy snowflakes, falling on the roof, have the unpleasant effect of lingering and thickening over time. After several thaws and freeze periods the snow layer grows to a considerable chunk with dense and heavy ice layers. This monstrosity is ready to slide from the roof surface at the most inopportune moment. If at this time a person, an animal or, for example, a parked car, is under the roof, the falling snow can cause severe damage. Landscaping structures and plants near the building may also be affected.
That is why it is a good idea to think about installing snow safety system also collectively known as snow guards, snow rails, snow stoppers, safety devices or snow holders. In this article we will discuss this safety system in detail.
Overall Takeaways Of Snow Guards
Not only do they provide additional safety for your home, snow guards for metal roofs also reduce the risk of property damage during winter. If you need something to preserve your roof structure, and the rest of your home, from heavy snows and ice storms, snow guards are going to do the heavy lifting for you. This combined with knowing how to defrost your roof will keep you protected all winter long.
If you want to avoid the dangers of heavy snows and ice storms this winter, be proactive by taking a look at our roofing services and scheduling your snow guard installation today.
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How To Install Snow Guards On Metal Roof Efficiently And Safely
A metal roof is a smart choice. However, installing a metal roof must consider the risk of rooftop avalanches. High quality of snow guards system will actually help maintain the roof and avoid personal and property damage. It will also allow the snow to efficiently and safely melt off the structure. Hence, we come with the idea of how to install snow guards on the metal roof.
If you have your property along with a metal roof while living in a snowy country, you will certainly understand the importance of installing snow guards for metal roofs. Whether residential or commercial, installing such snow guards is a smart choice since it offers the longest service of life.
Tighten Snow Guard Supporting Clamps To Factory Specification
Torque the mounting block set-screws to the manufacturer’s specifications. This is important as a too-loose clamp attachment risks loss of the snow brake system, damage to the roof, and damage to other building components from sliding snow and hardware.
The manufacturer provides an allen screw adapter that can be driven by a 1/4″ socket stepped to larger sizes to fit your torque wrench if necessary .
At above right is a close-up of the torqued S5! clamp onto the standing roof seam. The seam deforms slightly and the clamp block ma be slightly askew but will straighten out when you bolt the blocks to the snow rail itself. We had to convert the manufacturer’s specifications in inch-pounds to foot pounds to match our torque wrench .
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How Should Snow Guards Be Installed On A Metal Roof
To install snow guards on your metal roof, you should:
- Choose a period of warm, dry weather to install snow guards.
- Practice safe roof work strategies by using a sturdy ladder, enlisting help, and not carrying heavy tools up ladders.
- Measure your metal roof panelsthe number of snow guards per-panel depends on their width.
- Find the pitch of your roof.
- Plan the distance between rows of snow guards based on the pitch of your roof.
- Stagger your roof guards so they act more effectively as snow cleats.
- Clean the roof area where each snow guard will be placed.
- Carefully install each snow guard.
- If your snow guards are the glue-on variety, allow for drying time.
Why Do You Need Snow Guards
The winter months are filled with snow and ice, but after the storm passes, the sun is bound to come out again and heat up your roof. While asphalt shingles and slate roofs can absorb heat relatively well, the roofing material most susceptible to heat is metal. On a metal roof, once the snow and ice start to melt, it can become one large sheet of snow once it refreezes. This is called a snow avalanche.
If the built-up snow slides off your metal roof once its become a relatively large, fixed form, its pretty hazardous to your home. Something as large as a snow avalanche can damage your vehicle, surrounding home area, or even loved ones if youre outside.
Between the different angles of your roof slope and problems with snow avalanches, snow guards are designed to keep your home, loved ones, and roof safe from the harsher side of winter.
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From The Arctic Tundra To The Texas Panhandle
That awe-inspiring snowbank balancing off your roof wont stay there for long. Mitigate the danger zone by installing an engineered snow retention system on your metal roof. Preserve your roof and allow snow drifts and snow melt to exit the roof in a more controlled manner. Learn more about the snow retention systems S-5! offers. Then get that project off the ground with our snow guard calculator.
Professional Installation Of Snow Guards For Metal Roofs In Alberta
A number of factors are important when designing and installing your metal roof snow guard system, to help you ensure the longevity of your metal roof.
- Snow fall: the amount of precipitation and expected snowfall is important in considering what types and how many snow guards you need to install. How much snow does your roof typically see? How heavy is it?
- Slope: A steeper roof surface will require additional installation of snow guards
- Fastening: How your snow guards are fastened to your metal roof will determine how many are needed, and how often they will need to be replaced or repaired.
- Type of snow guard: Once youve identified what type of snow guard you need, youll need to determine what size and brand will work best for your roof.
The installation will depend on your unique roofing needs, but generally snow guards are installed in multiple rows and staggered about six inches apart from each other, and six inches from the bottom and edges of the roof. This will ensure proper coverage of your metal roof to prevent large deposits of ice and snow from forming and falling off.
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Snow Guard For Corrugated Metal Roofs
For the corrugated metal roof, snow guards are designed from a very strong metal-based on Corrugated Metal Panel System. This way, dont get too confused with Through-Fastened Metal Panel or Ag-Panel. They are just the other names.
Snow guard for a corrugated metal roof is typically designed to rust along with the panel. However, you can alternatively order the items in aluminum which can be powder coated to suit your painted panel. This kind of snow guard is usually available in fence-style attached to the top of the corrugation.
So far, installing snow guards for corrugated metal roofs is a kind of prevention from the dangerous movement of the frozen precipitation on a sloping roof by suspending it in a holding field. Thus, the snow can melt completely or drop off in a small amount.
Simple Step-by-Step Guide on How to Remove Snow from Roof with Wire
How Are Snow Guards Installed
Snow guards for metal roofs installation can be pretty efficient, with the right preparation. Before anything, you need to make sure the edge of your roof is properly cleaned, so the guard can be applied in an easy manner. Its also important to remember your roof has to be slightly warm, so the adhesive can stick to the metal or other roofing material on your home.
At RJ Turner, we focus on several factors during the installation of your snow guards, like the slope of your roof, the quality of each snow guard, and making sure you have the optimal number of snow guards for your roof prior to installation. This way, they can handle heavy snow loads, and be evenly dispersed throughout your roof.
Snow guards are installed individually, using a small amount of adhesive that is compatible with a variety of roofing materials. The adhesive can handle exposures to the elements and other external factors that could affect the condition of your roof.
Once the snow guards are attached, your roof will be less susceptible to snow avalanches and other winter weather risks. The primary goal is to ensure that your home, and roof, are never compromised from those heavier snows.
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Expect This With Structure Attachment
With snow guards that attach directly to the structure, holes will need to be drilled to anchor snow guard brackets, to ensure secure placement and the long-term service life of the roof. If this is not done correctly, you run the risk of developing leaks. To accomplish this, prior to installation with other products, you will need to perform additional steps to waterproof these roof penetrations, and you will have to know something about sealant chemistry, part design, sealant selection/sourcing, etc.). With S-5! components, we take the guesswork out and provide an appropriate system with sealants factory-applied. You simply remove the protective release paper and install.
Again, the strength of the structural attachment mounting method is also important and should also be proven and matched to the in-service loads to which the snow guard will be exposed. At S-5!, we take the magic out of all that with web-based tools, enabling you to do all this quickly and easily. And these tested, proven and scientific holding strengths, are engineered to the specifics of your projectnot using someones by guess or by golly assessments.
Snow Guards For Metal Roofs Spacing
- Posted byDenis
Snow retention system is an important element of the entire roof safety, which prevents the avalanche of snow down the slope. Installation of snow guards is a must if there is a lot of snow in your area, the slopes are steep or the roof is covered with metal tiles, corrugated board or other material with a smooth glossy coated metal surface.
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Identify Your Roof Type
Use a sturdy ladder to ascend to your roof. Then, measure the width of your metal roof panels. 16 inches is a standard roof panel width. Alternatively, some metal roof panels are 24 inches wide. The width of your roof panels is essential for planning your snow guard installation.
- Climb to your roof and measure the width of your metal roof panels.
- Most metal roof panels are 16 inches or 24 inches wide.
- If you have 16-inch roof panels, you will put one snow guard in the center of each panel.
- If your roof panels are more than 16 inches wide, you will put 2 snow guards on each panel, about 12 inches apart.
Most standing seam metal roofs have 16-inch wide panels. If this is the case for you, plan to install individual snow guards in the center of each roof panel, between the seams. If your roof panels are wider than 16 inches, plan to install 2 snow guards per-panel. The guards should be about 12 inches apart in this case.
What Is The Best Way To Mount Snow Retention To A Metal Roof
Metal roofs are a smart decision. But with metal roofs, you must consider the risk of roof top avalanches. A quality snow retention system will help you maintain your roof, avoid personal and property damage, and efficiently and safely allow snow to melt off your structure. But there are a number of methods to mount snow guard systems. What is the best way?
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Do Snow Guards Cause Ice Dams
No, snow guards do not cause ice dams. Also known as snow stops and snow cleats, snow guards hold snow and ice in place to prevent a roof avalanche. Ice dams are caused when snow and ice melt during the day when the suns rays warm up the roof but then refreeze before falling off of the roof surface as temperatures drop at night.
This is usually experienced with older homes where insulation is not the best and heat escapes through the roof and melts the snow. Then, at the drip edge, the snow refreezes and causes the water to back up and penetrate the roof. This is not a concern for modern homes as good insulation has eliminated this problem. If you have an older roofing system, you can upgrade it to fit metal snow pans at the eaves to prevent ice dams.
Why You Should Have Snow Guards Installed On Your Roof This Winter
As a homeowner, its important to make sure youve done everything you need to prep for the wintery days ahead. Some of those essentials might include buying a snow shovel or two, and an ice scraper for your car, but theres one thing that is extremely important in winter weather: snow guards. While snow guards might not be at the top of your list, theyre made to keep your roof safe all year long.
Snow guards are an essential form of winter roof protection, especially formetal roofs. Without snow guards for metal roofs, your home is more susceptible to seasonal damage that is perfectly preventable. This winter, take the proper precautions by installing snow guards on your metal roof.
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Stainless Steel Snow Guards
Pros
- Longlasting solution:
This type of snow retention system is exceptionally durable and can work as long as the metal roof underneath, i.e. from fifty years and over.
- Easy installation
Tubular stainless-steel snow catchers can be installed easily and fast on most types of the roofs. Usually they are found on expensive kind of roofs such as slate roof.
- Efficient
The system is very efficient as tubular arrangement of the holders can withstand the heaviest loads and does not let the snow or ice come down in chunks or avalanches.
Cons
This kind of snow stoppers is considerably high-priced. It is explained by the cost of the metal itself: it is produced in several complicated stages of processing. As a result, it comes out very robust and durable.
Steel Snow Guards For Corrugated Metal Roofs
A corrugated roof, as well as any metal roof, requires the installation of snow guards. The lack of high-quality designed snow retention system can turn into an avalanche of snow masses and lead to damage to the façade, as well as to objects located below.
It is normal for corrugated metal rooftop snow to accumulate over the winter and melt in the spring. And it is not acceptable if the snow speeds up from the roof in enormous chunks. This explains why a lot of people choose they roofs to be painted in a dark color. The dark roof quickly heats up from the spring sun and the snow immediately melts, being held by the obligatory snow stoppers. It easily and quickly flows into the drain. This is not at all the same situation when no snow guards holds the snow mass and huge layers of snow simply break off under their own weight.
Consider there are no snow guards mounted on the corrugated roof. In this case the sliding coefficient is especially high. Without snow retention system the snow cannot stay on the pitch roof. Instead, the accumulated mass is heated by the sun through the metal, or by heat from the indoors, and the avalanche streams down the watery surface without any specifically designed snow guard to stop it.
The use of metal snow guards performs the following functions:
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