The Importance of Snow Retention

metal roof with snow guards in snow storm

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.

                               

                                                                    REQUEST A QUOTE

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Use The Prefect Retrofit Snow Guard Bracket H – Classic or Apex For Snow Retention

One of my older relatives used to say, when confronted with a dilemma, “What to do, what to do….”  It made me chuckle!

But, this phrase describes a dilemma for people confronted with snow and ice avalanching off their already installed roof.  They want to keep the snow up there

snow clips, snow guards, snow bracket

rather than down there

Snow Avalanche Off A RoofFalling Snow in Park City, UT

but what is the best solution?

First of all, retrofit is similar as well as different from new construction.  Basic questions need to be answered for new and retrofit construction.

  • What is the slope?
  • What is the snowload in the area?
  • What type of roofing product is being used?
  • What type of sheathing is under the roofing material?

For retrofit, snow retention installers don’t have the luxury of applying the snow retention devices as the roofing material is installed in a new project.  This is when “What to do, what to do…” might be heard under their breath!

How do you keep snow and ice from falling off while also maintaining a water-tight system when the roofing is already on the roof?  How hard is it to do this?

Contractors need a simple and effective solution.

For asphalt shingles, simulated shake, and other similar roofs, using TRA’s Snow Bracket H – Classic or Apex, there is no need to pull back the headlap to install a device. Butyl or caulking can be applied on the surface of the roofing product, then the bracket is installed directly into the sheathing using screws.  A clip is then placed over the screws.

Snow Bracket H – Apex

Snow-Bracket-H-Short

Snow Bracket H – Classic

Easy. Effective.

The reason this system will work on retrofit is because TRA’s engineering is done using the specific factors as mentioned above.  When installed using the engineered layout, the roof will now hold back the snow and ice that would have fallen off, damaging people or property below.

At TRA Snow and Sun, we help you find an Engineered Solution.  Call us for a free layout, provided within 2 working days.

Snow Bracket H – Classic or Apex

Designed for most roof types

Available with or without fastener cover clip

Can be powder-coated to match roofing material

Available in 16 g steel, 48 oz copper, 26 g Cor-Ten, 16 ga stainless steel, .063″ aluminum

Finishes – Electro-galvanized, hot-dipped galvanized, mill finish aluminum, copper or Cor-Ten

Power-coating available in many colors.

Universal Solar Tile Hook made to Fit Most Rails

What Makes Our Universal Solar Tile Hook Unique?

With TRA Snow and Sun Universal Solar Tile Hook, there’s no cutting required, saving you time on your project. No hassle is bigger for an installer than finding out you have to re-cut tile because it won’t line up. Our unique wide base of the hook makes the mount very easy to adjust. The Universal Solar Tile Hook allows for fast and easy installation and now available for low, medium, and high profile tile roofs, and are adjustable up to six inches for easy layout for secure attachment to the structural member of the roof. With our unlimited FREE engineered layout on all your projects, we guarantee our high-quality extruded aluminum Solar Tile Hooks are made of the highest quality for superior strength.

How Will The Universal Solar Tile Hook Benefit Me As An Installer?

Your solar energy system is only as strong as the mounting structure on which it’s built. We guarantee top-of-the-line products, accessories, and fastening systems. Every component is reliable and built to last. All types of Solar Tile Hooks must be fastened to structural members of the roof, such as rafters, purlins or trusses, and in order for tile pans to line up in the correct locations, are adjustable up to six inches to the left or right. Click here to contact us for an estimate and to begin your Universal Solar Tile Hook plan today!

Universal Solar Tile Hook 

–   Available for flat, mid and high profile

–   Adjustable for secure attachment to the structural member of the roof

–   Corrosion-resistant materials

–   Quick and easy to mount

  Decrease Labor– No cutting of the tile required

–   Increase the longevity of our micro-inverters

Materials/Finishes

–   6005A-T6 Aluminum / 6005A-T5 Aluminum

–   Mill finish

–   Black Anodized (upon request)

Testing

Universal Solar Tile Hook has been tested from the fail point of the system.

WE DO CUSTOM SOLAR MOUNTING

At TRA Snow and Sun, we engineer and layout each project free of charge using many factors specific to your project. We then provide you with; rail spans, max loads on components, wind parameters, solar panel geometry, force per foot on rail and panels, a schematic of the module field, the wind speed, shipping weight, and project details. TRA Snow and Sun representatives will work with you to design the most efficient solar mounting system.

We can design your awning to work with a variety of application. Just give us your project details & we will design your Mounting Solution to fit your project. For more information contact Gary Heslington at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980, gary@trasnowadsun.com, or visit: https://trasnowandsun.com/solar-mounting/

VersaFlash Flashing A Roofing Necessity

TRA Snow and Sun has something that every roofer needs: Flashing. It’s a must-have for all roofers. We call it the “roofer’s duct tape”.

The primary reason any type of roofing exists is to provide a protective layer to maintain a barrier between the interior of a building and the weather. How this is accomplished can take many different forms.  When it comes to flashing, there’s nothing proven to work better than TRA Snow and Sun’s flexible aluminum or copper flashing. It adheres to the wall or other roofing structure or tile, is extremely flexible, and adds a professional finish to all roofing projects while being extremely effective at sealing out water and preventing leaks.

VersaFlash and TileSeal are flexible rolled flashing that attach to the surface of the roof with butyl adhesive. Our flashing works like magic for many roofs especially around hard to flash areas! VersaFlash and TileSeal are extremely easy to use on the work site. You can use it in areas like around roof-to-wall abutments, around chimneys and pretty much everywhere else.  Plus, it’s competitively priced.

Simply put, TRA Snow & Sun flashing is easy to use, flexible and will save you time and money without sacrificing an inch in quality. There are many reasons you’ll love our Aluminum and Copper VersaFlash and TileSeal Flashing — but once you choose it, you’ll never roof without it again.

TRA Snow and Sun is your number one source for solar mounting, snow retention, flexible ventilation, and flashing material. We offer competitive prices and guarantee our products. Try a FREE SAMPLE of our VersaFlash! Give us a call today at 877-290-8669 for more details, and check out all of our flashing products at trasnowandsun.com.

 

Could An Urban Roof Avalanche Affect You?

Ice_dam_slate_roof
 

In the next couple of days, a wintry mix could make things dicey on the mountains and even in your neighborhoods. That’s why avalanche forecasters are urging caution. Nicole Vowell reports from KSL Channel 5 New.

 

 

To help avoid such avalanche conditions there are several factors that one must evaluate when determining if a particular building requires a snow retention system.

The first question you should pose is “What would happen if snow slides off the roof?”

The second question is “Do we care?”

When snow slides off of a roofing surface, it can come crashing down or slide off and then piles up on whatever is below the edge of the roof. Snow retention is frequently used to protect landscaping around the perimeter of the building, to protect guttering systems around the edge of the roof, and to keep snow from piling either on a lower roof level or decks, sidewalks and at garage entrances. If nothing below the roof can be damaged by this avalanche of snow and ice, it may be best to let the snow and ice slide off unhindered.

However, what if what is below the roof could be damaged?

WHY SNOW RETENTION IS NEEDED

During the winter months, as snow accumulates on your home, gravity will begin to pull it down the slope of your roof. There are many reasons this can be harmful to your home or even dangerous. In worst structural cases, this can lead to damage to costly gutter systems, structural damage to lower roof levels, and even destruction of mature landscaping around the perimeter of a home.

Low-slope roofs with parapet walls naturally keep snow and ice on the roof. On a sloped roof, however, large chunks of snow and ice can slide off as the snow melts. Avalanching snow is probable on roofing systems with a steep enough slope and/or a low coefficient of friction. This is especially dangerous for pedestrians walking below.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SNOW RETENTION SYSTEM

There are many types of roofing materials, each has advantages and disadvantages and each should be considered when determining the placement of snow retention on the building.

When considering whether to install a snow retention system on your roof, you may first want to consider what type of roof you have. Will your roof allow snow to slide? Probably.  In places with heavy snows, like areas in Utah, it is common for snow to slide off of all types of roof systems, leading to heavy ice and snow build up in gutters, which causes damage over time. If you have a metal, tile, slate or membrane roof with a pitch of 1/12 or greater, snow will definitely slide off and cause problems.

WE CAN HELP…

TRA snow retention systems are available for all types of roofs and come in a variety of options. The specific snow retention equipment recommended for your roof will depend on the type of roof system installed, the pitch of the roof, snow load, sheathing type, how old the building is and budget.

Our snow fences, brackets, and clamps are all types of snow retention systems that prevent large sheets of snow or ice from falling off a pitched roof. The systems hold the snow on the roof so it can gradually melt off, preventing damage to people and objects below.

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 Ben Anderson at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980, ben@trasnowadsun.com, or visit: https://trasnowandsun.com/                                                                                                          

                                                                    REQUEST A QUOTE

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Why is Metal Snow Retention Better Than Plastic?

Every once in a while a customer will ask us why they should purchase our metal snow retention rather than the plastic ones they see. We typically don’t like plastic snow guards for many reasons.

The first reason is because of the type of adhesive used to attach plastic snow guards. Through our testing, we have found that failure exists when freeze-thaw temperature is introduced to the adhesive.
The second reason, they crack and deteriorate when continuously exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV). See the images below.
 
The third reason, manufacturers don’t warranty failure when the plastic snow guards pull apart from the adhesive.
From all of these reasons this why metal snow retention is a much wiser choice!

 

plastic vs TRA

TRA Metal Clamp-on vs Plastic Guards

 

Most plastics eventually become brittle when exposed to the sun.

Because of its tough nature, metal can withstand the sun’s destructive UV rays. Over time plastic will crack and deteriorate when continuously exposed to the sun.

                        plastic-snow-guards-park-valley-school-9plastic-snow-guards-park-valley-school-8

Cracked, Brittle and Broken “Plastic Snow Guards”

 

TRA’s metal snow retention systems are attached securely using a variety of durable and strong mechanical methods.

Unlike metal, plastic snow guards are usually attached to a roof using caulking, which is likely to fail for the following reasons:

  • If the roof is dirty or wet when installing this makes the adhesive not adhere properly. When have you ever seen a truly clean roof?
  • More common than not snow guards are installed at temperatures below 40 degrees.
  • Caulking cure time can be more than 30 days above 40 degrees.
  •  Over time plastic will crack & deteriorate when continuously exposed to the sun UV.

 

1 rail snow guard for metal roof

TRA C21Z Clamp-on with Ice Flags 

 

Unlike plastic, metal lasts.

Plastic snow retention manufacturers generally do not warranty the attachment just plastic snow guard. If a plastic snow guard fails, the architect or contractor becomes liable for the damage to property /or human life.

Next time you are near a roof with plastic snow guards, see if any are missing and let us know!

We recommend only metal snow retention because we know it can properly protect those in and around your home. For extra protection, we engineer from the sheathing up with the fastener and provide a warranty on the entire snow retention system. Before installation, we engineer a specific layout to see that the system is exactly what you need for your specific location and weather. Contact us with any of your project details and we’ll provide you with the best snow defense system that’ll get you ready for winter.

 

Retro-fit Snow Retention. What to do?

One of my older relatives used to say, when confronted with a dilemma, “What to do, what to do….”  It made me chuckle!

But, this phrase describes a dilemma for people confronted with snow and ice avalanching off their already installed roof.  They want to keep the snow up there

snow clips, snow guards, snow bracket

rather than down there

Snow Avalanche Off A RoofFalling Snow in Park City, UT

but what is the best solution?

First of all, retrofit is similar as well as different from new construction.  Basic questions need to be answered for new and retrofit construction.

  • What is the slope?
  • What is the snowload in the area?
  • What type of roofing product is being used?
  • What type of sheathing is under the roofing material?

For retrofit, snow retention installers don’t have the luxury of applying the snow retention devices as the roofing material is installed in a new project.  This is when “What to do, what to do…” might be heard under their breath!

How do you keep snow and ice from falling off while also maintaining a water-tight system when the roofing is already on the roof?  How hard is it to do this?

Contractors need a simple and effective solution.

For asphalt shingles, simulated shake, and other similar roofs, using TRA’s H Snow Bracket, there is no need to pull back the headlap to install a device. Butyl or caulking can be applied on the surface of the roofing product, then the bracket is installed directly into the sheathing using screws.  A clip is then placed over the screws.

Snow-Bracket-H-Short

Snow Bracket H

Easy.  Effective.

The reason this system will work on retrofit is because TRA’s engineering is done using the specific factors as mentioned above.  When installed using the engineered layout, the roof will now hold back the snow and ice that would have fallen off, damaging people or property below.

At TRA Snow and Sun, we help you find an Engineered Solution.  Call us for a free layout, provided within 2 working days.

Snow Bracket H

Designed for most roof types

Available with or without fastener cover clip

Can be powder-coated to match roofing material

Available in 16 g steel, 48 oz copper, 26 g Cor-Ten, 16 ga stainless steel, .063″ aluminum

Finishes – Electro-galvanized, hot-dipped galvanized, mill finish aluminum, copper or Cor-Ten

Power-coating available in many colors.

A Must-Have For All Roofers

MAGE-Flex am Dach

 

TRA Snow and Sun has something that every roofer needs: Flashing. It’s a must-have for all roofers. We call it the “roofer’s duct tape”.

The primary reason any type of roofing exists is to provide a protective layer to maintain a barrier between the interior of a building and the weather. How this is accomplished can take many different forms, when it comes to flashing, there’s nothing proven to work better than TRA Snow and Sun’s flexible aluminum or copper flashings. It adheres to the wall or other roofing structure or tile, is extremely flexible, and adds a professional finish to all roofing projects, while being extremely effective at sealing out water and preventing leaks.

VersaFlash and TileSeal are flexible rolled flashing that attach to the surface of the roof with butyl adhesive. Our flashing works like magic for many roofs especially around hard to flash areas! VersaFlash and TileSeal are extremely easy to use on the work site. You can use it in areas like around roof-to-wall abutments, around chimneys and pretty much everywhere else. It’s super easy to work with and competitively priced.

Simply put, TRA Snow & Sun flashing is easy to use, flexible, and will save you time and money without sacrificing an inch in quality. There are many reasons you’ll love our Aluminum and Copper VersaFlash and TileSeal Flashing — here’s why once you choose it, you’ll never roof without it again.

Why Choose VersaFlash and TileSeal Flashing?

Versatility
We don’t call it the “roofer’s duct tape” for nothing. VersaFlash and TileSeal are extremely flexible, stretchy material that can be used to seal roof-to-wall abutments, chimneys, and basically anything you can think of. It’s very easy to work with so you can get the job done right the first time.

Conforms to Many Roof Types
A roofer looking for a go-to roofing adhesive needs to look no further than our VersaFlash or TileSeal. Our flashing will conform to most types of roofs including, but not limited to:
• Tile (clay or concrete)
• Asphalt Shingles (primer needed)
• Wood Shingles and Shakes (primer needed)
• Slate
• Metal (copper, steel, aluminum, tile)
• Fiber Cement

Durability
Leave all of your flashing repair worries behind. Our flashing is highly durable, flexible, and weather resistant. It stretches up to 33 percent, conforms easily to roof surfaces, and installation is easy. If you want a durable roofing flashing that won’t give you problems down the road, our flashing is the gold standard. To top it all, TRA Snow and Sun offers a 25-year limited warranty.

TRA Snow and Sun is your number one source for solar mounting, snow retention, flexible ventilation, and flashing material. We offer competitive prices and guarantee our products. Give us a call today at 877-290-8669 for more details, and check out all of our flashing products at trasnowandsun.com.

OSHA, Silica Dust and the Roofing Contractor

 

 

tile cutting

 

TRA Snow and Sun makes products specifically designed to help with solar mounting and flashing needs on tile roofs and we are always concerned about safety for building owners and the roofing contractors who install our products.

Recently a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a “final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica.” This new ruling will impact all contractors who cut tile roofing products.

Silica is a natural mineral present in large amounts in many construction materials like concrete roof tiles manufactured in the US by companies. It is broken into very fine dust (also known as Respirable Crystalline Silica or RCS) during common tasks such as cutting for valleys, hips, and when installing solar mounting.

Regularly breathing in this dust can cause serious lung disease like silicosis and lung cancer. Hundreds of deaths have been associated with silica dust absorbed into the body in this way.

OSHA’s new standards, taking effect June 23, 2016 (with a one year implantation requirement for construction work), will require roofers to either use water or ventilation to manage dust or provide respirators in high exposure areas: The Key Provisions of the ruling:

“Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift.

Requires employers to: use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) to limit worker exposure to the PEL; provide respirators when engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan, offer medical exams to highly exposed workers, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures.”

TRA Snow and Sun supports efforts to protect the health of roofers, however, using a wet saw on a roof means other risks including danger from hoses on the work surface and slip and fall hazards caused by water. For this reason, we support testing and respirators instead and a further review by OSHA.

For more information on this issue visit the National Roofing Contractors’ Association press release on this ruling.

Remember, also, that we make solar tile mounts that are installed WITHOUT CUTTING tiles. (See more about that here.)

TIME FOR A SOLAR MOUNTING CHANGE

Solar-tile-mount-fastening-on-flat-tile-300x300

ARE YOU TIRED OF CUTTING TILE WHEN INSTALLING SOLAR MOUNTING?

Solar on tile roofs is become increasing popular in many parts of the US as the insulative and life cycle cost of tile combined with the benefits of converting sunshine into electricity is recognized. There are markets in Arizona and parts of California where tile makes up 90% of the systems installed. As the population continues to grow throughout, so does the diversity of preferences of roofing applications. As we start to see more and more clay and concrete tile roofing solutions, in some cases installing solar on  tile presents some challenges that are not inherent with the standard shingle roofs. As demand for tile solar mounting increases so does the time spent on cutting tile.

YOUR SOLAR MOUNTING SOLUTION …

Our Solar Tile Mounts Require NO CUTTING Of The Tile & They Are Adjustable Both Horizontally & Vertically With A Height Up To 6”. They Can Be Attached To The Truss Or Rafter With No Tile Cutting Needed! 

NO TILE CUTTING INVOLVED IN THE INSTALLATION PROCESS

Tile Mount Hook

Our high-quality material extruded aluminum and divert the mount around the tile instead of going directly through the tile, which decreases install time, and doesn’t compromise the strength or coverage of the customer’s tile. The wide base of the hook makes the mount very easy to adjust. The new tile hook allowed for fast and easy installation. It also helps increase the longevity of our micro-inverters. *Also available in black anodized.

Tile Mount Hook2Tile Mount Hook3

The Perfect Foundation for Solar Systems when it comes right down to it, a solar system is only as good as its mounting structure. That’s why when you need the highest quality roof mounting accessories and fastening systems, you turn to TRA Snow and Sun. Built to last. Built to be reliable. Each and every component in our solar tile mount creates a perfect foundation for your solar systems.

Solar Tile Mount

  • Available for flat, mid and high profile
  • Adjustable for secure attachment to the structural member of the roof.Corrosion-resistant materials
  • Corrosion-resistant materials
  • Quick and easy to mount
  • Decrease Labor– No cutting of the tile required
  • Requires no special flashing

Materials/Finishes

  • 6005A-T6 Aluminum / 6005A-T5 Aluminum
  • Mill finish
  • Black Anodized (upon request)

Testing

Solar Tile Mount has been tested from the fail point of the system.

WE DO CUSTOM SOLAR MOUNTING

In making the preferred distance needed to provide the necessary spacing of the micro-inverters and modules so that they are kept at a relatively low temperature, increasing their longevity, while bringing down the costs due to equipment failure. Installation was fast, meaning less cost passed on to the customer.

Tile Mount Hook4 Sol-Up-St-George-7-Solar-Awning

At TRA Snow and Sun, we engineer and layout each project free of charge using many factors specific to your project. We then provide you with; rail spans, max loads on components, wind parameters, solar panel geometry, force per foot on rail and panels, a schematic of the module field, the wind speed, shipping weight, and project details. TRA Snow and Sun representatives will work with you to design the most efficient solar mounting system.

We can design your awning to work with a variety of application. Just give us your project details & we will design your Mounting Solution to fit your project. For more information call Ben Anderson at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980, ben@trasnowadsun.com, or visit: https://trasnowandsun.com/solar-mounting/