How to Select the Best Snow Retention for Any Project

By TRA Snow & Sun.  

Why you may need snow retention  

While experiencing snowfall during the winter months, some believe that shedding the snow off of their roof is the best option. BUT shedding snow can result in severe damages to the structure, roofing product, surrounding investments, and also risk lives.  On March 15th 2023, there were 2 roof avalanches in 2 different states (Idaho & Utah) each hitting a 9 year old child, luckily these children both survived. Many other children & adults, have not been so fortunate with this type of avalanche. Snow retention makes rooftop avalanches a preventable disaster.  Snow retention prevents snow from avalanching off of the roof by allowing it to freeze to retention devices creating an insulating blanket. If you’re not sure where to begin on deciding what kind of snow retention you need? TRA Snow & Sun is happy to help provide the correct solution, color, and placement of your snow retention system.  

What roof types are best for snow guards? 

Snow brackets & fences are made for all roofing types. There are some roofing types and slopes that may need additional retention due to the pitch or lack of friction to the roofing material. The type of system and quantity needed for your project will depend on factors including slope, ground snow load, roofing material, fastener type, sheathing type/thickness, and more!  All these factors create massive changes in determining what the type of system, layout, and cost for your project. TRA offers free design at no cost to you.  

Selecting snow retention systems 

There are 2 main types of snow retention, brackets and fences. They have different characteristics beyond aesthetics.  

• Snow brackets are laced in with the roofing product, staggered along the entirety of the roof. These are not designed to stop snow once it’s moving and should not be treated as a barrier in a row along the eave.  Brackets are designed to penetrate 3” into the snow pack creating a large blanket of snow frozen into place.   

• Snow Fences act a little different, they allow the snow to slide into the fence then the fence acts as a barrier, where the snow will then freeze in place.  Clamp on Snow Fences clamp onto standing seams for metal panels.  Whereas, Deck Mount Fences go directly into trusses/rafters/purlins. Can My roof hold this weight? All buildings constructed since the mid- 1970s are built with snow loads in mind. (Anything built before the ‘70s should have a structural engineer's approval prior to installing snow retention.) Once installed, snow retention offers long-lasting protection to your structure, roofing product and allows safe access to all visitors of the home or business.  

Committing to a snow guard solution? 

Contact TRA Snow & Sun directly to be provided with a custom layout for your project needs. Instead of guessing or using an online calculator to find out how many brackets or rows of fence you’ll need you can receive a quantity, quote, spacing, and a drawing all from the same place that will manufacture and powder coat your product. FREE OF CHARGE AND NO STRINGS ATTACHED!! 

Learn more about TRA Snow & Sun in their Coffee Shop Directory or visit trasnowandsun.com. 

Original Article: TRA Snow & Sun