The Importance of Snow Retention

Winter is on its way and snow accumulation is imminent across the U.S. The traditional approach to snow accumulation on homes and businesses is to remove it or allow it to slide off as it softens and melts. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to injuries or property damage and is not optimal for home energy efficiency in the winter. Snow retention on the roof can solve both of these problems by acting as an insulating force to retain heat indoors, as well as enabling snow to evenly melt off the roof without abruptly sliding off in a massive block. Here are some ways in which snow retention can benefit your home this winter.

• Snow retention devices are mounted on the roof to prevent snow from dislodging in large masses and causing damage or injury to people or property below. They also prevent roof damage that will occur from prolonged ice dams.
• Snow retention devices can be installed on any sloped roof in any area that receives snow. Snow fences and snow brackets are all versions of these snow retention devices, and are highly practical and cost effective solutions for heavy snow and ice. Here are some images of our new Snow Bracket I – Apex (valley & crest) for corrugated metal roofs.

Snow Bracket I (Valley) – Apex

Snow Bracket I (Crest) – Apex

• Installing snow retention devices in strategic areas can help guard against injury and property damage over walkways, entryways, parking lots, congregation spaces, roof protrusions, and valuable landscaping.
• Heat loss through the roof is a primary contributor to energy inefficiency during the winter. Maintaining a layer of snow on the roof can help to retain heat during the cold weather.

Installing Snow Brackets

Generally, snow brackets should be professionally installed by a licensed roofing or general contractor. This will ensure that the brackets are installed correctly, in the right locations, and that the proper quantity is used. There are a few factors that are considered when installing snow brackets. These include: average amount of snow at the location, snow load, pitch of the roof, type of roof and sheathing thickness, strength of the snow bracket, and type of fasteners. Considering these things will determine the number of brackets required for the roof. Snow brackets are not that difficult to install, but a roofing contractor will have the experience and safety devices to securely work on the roof and complete the installation efficiently.

At TRA Snow and Sun, we engineer and layout each project free of charge using the unique factors specific to your project. TRA Snow and Sun representatives will work with you to design the most efficient snow retention system. We can design your roof to work with a variety of applications. Just give us your project details & we will design your Snow Retention System to fit your project. For more information, call TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980 or email at info@trasnowandsun.com.

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