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If you drive by the TRA Snow and Sun manufacturing and office facility at 1657 S. 580 E. in American Fork, Utah, the first thing you will probably notice is the blue metal panel roof. We like the all-American colors we chose for our company – RED, WHITE and BLUE and we like our building!
Like many manufacturing facilities, we have a metal roof on the production portion and concrete tile over the office section, and at 4500 feet altitude and snow/ice blessing Utah in the winter, we also needed to install snow retention. We installed snow fences on the metal panels and Snow Bracket B’s on the concrete tile roof over the office, but a little roof decoration was needed!
We chose to enhance the look of the snow retention on our roof and, luckily, TRA Snow and Sun has a way to do that. Note the MAPLE LEAVES on the snow guards. These decorations do not impede the function of the snow retention in any way and add that enhanced look that some customers desire.
We really like them and think they add a nice feature to our roof. Maybe we should have chosen the BEAR or the MOOSE, but we started making those later.
What do you think? Should we have used the TREE instead?
Take the survey and let us know which of our decorative enhancements you like best. Should we make others?
What? Roof Systems and chimneys the SAME? You’re thinking, “No way, Jose!” Okay, before leaving this post, give me just a second to explain.
We at TRA Snow and Sun sell ventilated roof flashings and ridge risers which help with roof system ventilation. No, we don’t want you to set them on fire thereby showing that roofs and chimneys are the same because of fire.
Chimneys are ventilation systems for the hot air and smoke produced in a fireplace. Roof systems can also be ventilation systems. We’re not talking here about venting an attic, but venting UNDER the roofing product from eave to ridge.
In a chimney, hot air rises because it is less dense than the colder air outside the building. This causes a draft from low to high and out the top of the chimney.
For more information on why venting roof system is an excellent idea, see our previous posts – Why Roof Ventilation is So Important, Vent a Metal Roof? Absolutely, Why You Should Vent a Roof.
For both chimneys and roof ventilation, there are factors which affect the amount of draft produced.
Venting a roof system in a cold climate will help stop ice damming and in a warm climate will cool the house by helping prevent radiant heat from the sun getting trapped by the roofing product.
Talk to the experts at TRA Snow and Sun about venting your roof!
The winter is slowly fading into Spring, but as the snow and ice melts off your roof, there might be some signs that you need snow retention:
Are you noticing large pieces coming off in big chunks?
Do you hear it slipping? (This can be pretty loud and frightening when it happens unexpectedly!)
Are pieces of your gutter coming off due to ice tearing it off as it slipped off your roof?
Are there high spots of snow and ice piled at the eave line on the ground? This might mean that snow or ice has come off that place during the winter.
People die due to snow and ice sliding off roofs. This is extremely tragic and often avoidable. Use roof snow retention for these reasons:
It is especially important to install snow retention above:
You might wonder if your roof can support the weight of snow and ice staying on the roof. If your home is less than 40 years old, the answer is probably yes.
During the 1970-80’s, most states adopted building codes that required structures to support the weight of the building materials (dead load) and the weight of the snow, ice, water, people, etc. (live load). By the year 2000, international building codes were universally adopted with similar standards. So, if the structure was built post 1975, you are unlikely to have any structural problems when keeping snow on the roof (it also helps insulate your roof, saving heating costs!).
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The snow sitting on your roof during winter is dangerous and can even be deadly. Often compared to an avalanche, snow and ice can come crashing down at any time, wiping out everything in its path. Annual property and personal damages from these incidents is in the millions, but can you place a price on human life? As a home or business owner it is your duty to prevent falling snow from causing damage to your home and business by taking action. If your roof accumulates snow you have two options:
1. Manually remove the snow from your roof after each heavy snowfall.
2. Use snow retention devices.
Shoveling the snow off requires you to climb up on the slippery roof and put yourself at risk while you try to balance and work to get the ice and snow off. This is dangerous to the person on the roof, as well as any people potentially walking around underneath the eaves. And it’s very hard work! There is a safer, more effective way that you should implement now.
Snow Retention devices are installed directly on your roof to help keep the snow in place. TRA’s engineered roof snow retention systems allows the snow to melt while on the roof. This is the best approach to take in preventing any dangerous accidents from happening.
The best time to install these devices is during summer and fall when the roof is fully dried out and safe to work on, but TRA’s snow retention devices are not attached with glue, so they can be put on even when it’s cold.
After installing this system you will never have to climb on the roof again to shovel snow off. Winter is approaching and now is the time to get your system installed!
There are a number of different kinds of snow retention devices you can put on your roof. They come as snow guards and snow fences. Each helps out in a different way and should be chosen according to your individual project circumstances. For a full list of what we offer, or to get a FREE layout based on your house or business’ unique design, contact us: (877) 290-8669 or reach us online.
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Oh NO! Look up, Ma! The Ceiling is Leaking!
When a leak occurs in your house, it’s a crisis! Buckets are set out, and sometimes Good Ole Uncle Jim is called for advice because, everyone in the family knows that Uncle Jim built a couple houses a while back. He’s the family expert. He’s the guy who knows how to use a hammer (and he’s also the guy whose other favorite other tool is duct tape!)
If Uncle Jim is really “good,” the first thing he will check is the flashings around walls, pipes sticking through the roof (penetrations), and around the chimney. check all penetrations into the roof including snow guards and the solar mounting used on your solar panels. If your roof has lots of valleys, dormers, or “cut-up” sections (which designers love because it adds interest to the overall look of the building), there is a good chance that is where the leak is coming from. Even with a straight gable roof (roof with just two sides and a ridgeline), you can have leaks that are NOT caused by a worn out or faulty roofing product.
The flashings in these areas might have worn out or might not have been installed properly. Let’s face it, when you bought the house did you even look up? Roofing isn’t the most interesting issue when buying a house, right? And sometimes flashings are installed unprofessionally, or corners are cut to save money. Oftentimes no one realizes this until there is a leak.
Good Ole Uncle Jim
So, if you’ve got this issue, and there’s no Good Ole Uncle Jim around to help, think like a raindrop and see where you would flow. (Hint – This is always down!) Sometimes you’ll head for an obstruction rather than flowing right off the edge. So check around penetrations, in the valleys, the walls that abut to the roof and locations where flashings are supposed to divert water from going under the roofing material. If these are cracked, loose, or just plain absent, it’s time to install new flashing. Or do what smart Uncle Jims do. Use duct tape – roofer’s duct tape!
TRA Snow and Sun has something we like to call the “roofer’s duct tape” and it works like magic!
VersaFlash and TileSeal are flexible aluminum rolled flashing that attaches down with a butyl adhesive and is flexible. You can use it in areas like around roof-to-wall abutments, around chimneys and pretty much everywhere else. They work like magic as flashing for tile roofs! It’s super easy to work with and competitively priced.
Summer always goes by quickly. Soon enough the kids will be back in school, the fall months will pass and we’ll be faced with winter weather. Anticipating a change in seasons, we should think about how to equip our homes and buildings for upcoming snowstorms. However, these structures shouldn’t be equipped with just any snow defenses. They should be equipped with the proper snow defenses. One of those necessary defenses is a snow retention system.
A snow retention system is a combination of devices installed on your roof that prevents snow and ice from sliding off of rooftops onto people and property below. Some buildings have plastic snow retention systems but imagine snow avalanching off of a rooftop, and the only thing holding the snow and ice back is plastic. Plastic isn’t a durable and dependable so that’s why we recommend having metal snow retention. We highly recommend metal snow retention systems and here’s why.
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.
Unlike metal, plastic snow guards are attached to a roof using caulking, which is likely to fail for the following reasons:
Plastic snow retention manufacturers generally do not warrant a failure to the entire snow retention systems, only the attachment. If a plastic snow guard fails, the architect or contractor becomes liable for the damage.
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.
GZO Sheet Metal & Roofing specializes in Architectural Metals and Custom Metal and Copper Fabrications in Aspen, Colorado and the Roaring Fork Valley for over 12 years. But they came upon a problem they weren’t quite sure they had the expertise, time or desire to tackle.
Their customer had a PV solar system mounted on his metal panel roof, but the solar panels were creating a dangerous snow and ice problem. Every time the garage door opened to let a car in or out, a huge avalanche of snow spilled off the first row of panels and slid over the eave, right onto the incoming or outgoing car. This was a real nuisance and concern to the owner, who also happened to be an architect! His family learned to open or close the garage door, wait for the avalanche, and then move in or out. There had to be a better and less dangerous way to enter and exit the garage.
Naturally, the solar arrays were installed to capture as much of the sun’s rays as possible, but the desire for optimal sun capture on the first course of panel arrays became a secondary issue in light of the danger of falling snow and ice. The decision to protect people and property became paramount. Rows of panels further up the roof could continue to shed snow so that sunlight could be captured on them, but the first row needed some type of snow retention.
Tom Hegerty, owner of GZO, was called in. GZO did not want to create a make-shift snow fence in their shop sothey turned to TRA, who had helped with custom designed systems in the past. This was a very unusual issue Hegerty and TRA had not run into before.
Hegerty provided TRA’s technical experts with a simple, hand-drawn sketch of what he envisioned- a taller than normal clamp which would raise the snow fence a few inches higher than the downhill edge of the panel, stopping the snow and ice from moving over the edge. Using that simple drawing, the engineers at TRA Snow & Sun then computer designed a custom 2 rail fence, and provided an exact detail to scale so Hegerty could approve it. An appropriate power-coated color was matched to the existing metal panel, the homeowner approved the design and production began on the unusual snow fence. The process of designing the new, customized snow fence began in March, with manufacture and shipping following soon after. Installation of the fence was completed in April, just in time for unexpected and unusually heavy snowfalls in May.
The end result was a manufactured, custom C22Z Standing Seam Snow Fence, that clamps onto the standing seam metal panel, and wraps around the front edge of the solar panel to prevent snow from falling off the panel. The snow fence extends high enough at the bottom edge of the panels to keep snow and ice from damaging property or people on the ground below. The new design was tested earlier than expected when heavier than normal snowstorms hit the area during May. TRA’s customized snow fence performed perfectly. Vehicles and people now enter and exit the garage with no further waste of time or fear of being bombarded by snow and ice.
GZO Sheet Metal & Roofing Inc. specializes in architectural metals and custom metal and copper fabrications for all types of roofing – wood shingles, standing seam, slate, asphalt shingles, membrane roofing and tapered deck systems They are focused on superior craftsmanship, attention to detail, clear communication, honesty and integrity.
TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., located in American Fork, Utah, offers Roof Snow Retention Devices, Solar Mounting Systems and Roof Flashing Solutions. They supply to all types of customers, from the individual homeowner to the big developer and free engineered designs of all their systems. For more information call Devin Hancock at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980, devin@trasnowandsun.com, or visit https://trasnowandsun.com
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Let”s be real honest. What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to a copper roof?
The truth is that copper makes a statement about the owner of the home. It says, “We value quality and we are willing to spend the money to get it.” Copper looks awesome on a roof. It adds a unique Wow! factor to the building. Curb appeal is greatly increased when copper is added. If you want to send a message, use copper on your roof.
We at TRA Snow and Sun frankly love good looking roofs and value our high-end customers! Since copper roofs shed snow quickly and easily and definitely need snow retention, we manufacture snow guards and snow fences that will age and attain that beautiful green patina right along with your copper roof while also providing superior snow retention.
So, if you’re considering a copper roof on all or part of your building, here is a simple list of the benefits and drawbacks of copper on a roof.
Benefits
• Copper is exquisite looking!
• Copper will increase the value of your home
• Destruction due to fire is rare with a copper roof
• With regular maintenance, copper will outlast most roofing materials
• Copper is lightweight
• Copper reflects the sun’s light and heat. This is a definite benefit as we strive to be energy efficient.
• Copper is recyclable
Drawbacks
• Expensive. The copper roof will cost more than most other roofing materials, so be sure to get a qualified roofing contractor with experience installing copper to do the work. As a softer metal, be sure you find experienced hands to work the installation.
• Expansion and contraction of metal due to temperature change can make maintenance more important. Fasteners can become loose. You’ll need regular inspection to be sure everything is water and wind tight.
• Noise from rainfall. This is a contested drawback, one that we’d like your opinion about. Do you have a copper roof? We are told that since most metal roofs are installed over underlayments that deaden sounds, and copper doesn’t resonate like other metals (being much softer), noise from weather isn’t really a factor. What do you think?
TRA Snow and Sun’s products add the same Wow! factor as the beautiful copper panels on your roof. Our designers have gathered the best of engineering and architectural excellence from around the world, including Austria, Norway and Germany, combined that with American ingenuity and created superior and dependable All-American products for roof snow retention.
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TRA Snow & Sun provides architectural specifications for snow guards as a guide for all architects in the planning process. The specifications can be edited to meet the individual project needs, and can be included on your project’s master plan.
Planning is key when creating quality projects. We offer a range of services for planning and designing a snow retention system for your individual project. These include:
TRA Snow & Sun has been the snow retention expert for over 20 years. This expertise is based on trips around the world looking for solutions for snow and ice dam problems. The owner, Terry Anderson, was enthusiastic and dedicated to finding answers to snow problems, especially related to tile roofs, and it has evolved from there. Architects and engineers continually come to us for our knowledge and advice.
TRA Snow & Sun has tested and engineered all of their snow retention systems. Once the project has been designed by us, we will stand behind the design 100%. All liability concerns will be covered by TRA Snow & Sun.
In addition to our knowledgeable sales and technical teams, we also provide:
Once the design is complete, the sales or engineering team will be available for any concerns, questions, comments, or redesigns that may arise. We understand that jobsite conditions may vary from plan design.
Our wide range of literature will help you learn more about our products. These documents and specifications can be easily downloaded from our on-line media center:
https://trasnowandsun.com/architect/
You will be able to download and view Product Data Sheets, Customizable Specifications for Snow Guards, Product Drawings, and Installation Details.
Imagine (or maybe you don’t have to imagine!) that you are an able-bodied adult male. If you were asked to keep a hold back a parked car from rolling down a gently sloped hill, you could probably do it, right?
Now imagine that you are in the direct path of a car coming down the same hill at 40 m.p.h. Would you be able to survive such an impact? Of course not.
Why should you expect a tiny snow guard to stop a heavy, moving ice and snow avalanche anymore than you could expect yourself to stop a fast moving car?
This scenario might seem a little comical, but in reality, it isn’t funny. Lives are lost each year due snow and ice avalanching off a roof and landing on someone below. Keeping the snow and ice on a roof isn’t accomplished by placing one or two rows of snow guards at the edge of the roof.
Roof snow melts into water which then runs underneath the build up of snow on the surface of the roofing product. If there is enough water flow, the snow and ice release from the friction of the roofing product and an avalanche begins. If snow guards are placed throughout the roof area, protruding up three or more inches from the roofing product, then when the snow melts into ice, the field of snow and ice will freeze in place around the projections and prevent the ice from sliding off in a sheet. If the snow guards aren’t spaced close enough and spread throughout the roof, you will get an avalanche of heavy snow and ice.
Snow guards should be designed for the roof type (asphalt, metal, shake, tile) and should be attached securely and effectively for the sheathing type. The effectiveness of a snow retention system relies on each of these unique factors. Factoring in each item results in snow guards arranged throughout the roof area in an exact layout which, when working together as a system, prevent uneven loads and eventual avalanches.
In conclusion, the right layout and installation of snow guards work against the force of heavy snow. Too few snow guards will fail unless you have an engineered layout with the correct calculated number of snow guards than you can stop avalanching.
If you can’t remember all the details, just think about how hard it would be for one man to hold back a car and how it’s just as impossible for a couple of snow guards attached randomly to hold back an avalanche of snow. Then call us and we’ll do the calculating and engineering for you!
Main Office
1657 South 580 East
American Fork, UT 84003
Contact Us
Local: 801-756-8666
Toll Free: 877-290-8669
FAX
801-756-7891
HOURS:
Phone Hours:
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (MT) M-F
Office Hours:
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MT) M-F
Will Call Hours:
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (MT) M-F