Winter safety equals snow retention on roofing systems

By Adam Cabrera. 

As winter approaches, homeowners and contractors are reminded of the latent hazards that snow and ice pose to both people and property.  

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Nick Mentzer from The Roofing Co. and Mindy Dahlquist from TRA Snow and Sun. Their conversation touched on the crucial topic of snow retention on roofs, an often-overlooked aspect of building maintenance with severe safety implications. 

They emphasized the dangers of unmanaged snow accumulation on rooftops. "Snow retention is really just a phrase or a group of words that basically says that we are holding the snow on the roof. We're retaining that snow on the roof, allowing it to freeze into place," said Mindy. “If it's done incorrectly, it can lead to damage. So, make sure that you're working with a snow retention manufacturer that knows their products.” 

According to Nick, the priority is clear: "First and foremost, we want to protect life safety. And that's the reason why a lot of local building codes will implement the need for snow retention, especially on metal roofs." Snow retention systems not only allow snow to stay on roofs but most importantly prevent the perilous movement of snow masses on roofs, akin to mini avalanches.  

While the initial cost of installing engineered snow retention systems might be a consideration, it is a necessary investment in safety. Mindy put it succinctly, "It's pay now or pay later. And unfortunately, that's the reality of the situation. Lawyers aren't cheap, accidents aren't cheap, and we care about the general public and our friends and family." 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about what the experts at TRA Snow and Sun have to say about the important topic of snow retention.