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Are you hearing loud noises coming from your roof?
This can be a sign that snow is sliding. Beware the next time you open the door to go outside especially if your door opens where snow falls. Deaths have occurred when snow slippage is imminent and someone slams a door. Just the vibration creates an avalanche.
Are you noticing large pieces of ice and/or snow coming off in big chunks?
Are pieces of your gutter coming off with ice at the eave? Ice is a heavy and powerful factor in gutters becoming disconnected from the structure.
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!).
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?
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.
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.
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/
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.
TRA Metal Clamp-on vs Plastic Guards
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 usually attached to a roof using caulking, which is likely to fail for the following reasons:
TRA C21Z Clamp-on with Ice Flags
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.
A question once asked – On the roofs of many houses, along the eave, there are…best as I can describe it… shaped thingies. I’ve seen others that look octagonal and yet others that are round. I’ve seen them on steep roofs and not-so-steep roofs. My bank even has them. They look great, but do they do anything?
The answer is yes. What you’re talking about are called snow guards for retaining snow on the roof. When snow and ice accumulate on the roof, they are pulled by gravity and want to slide down the slope of the roof. A well-designed snow retention system is intended to hold the snow on the roof so that it can melt in place.
At TRA Snow and Sun, we engineer and manufacture over 54+ variations of snow guards, and always welcome custom pieces made just for your roofing project. Yes, 54 may seem a lot, right? And your right it is, and here’s why – every roof design can be complex and is different from material, slope, shape, size, pitch, valleys, etc.., and ground snow loads vary significantly from one area to another. This is why we make several different engineered (from the fail point of the system) snow guards tailored to each unique roof designs for every roof type, new or existing, and in many styles that differ in form and function.
Secure Attachment
Superior Strength
Variety of Material Types
Our first featured spotlight for this month is our unique Snow Guard Bracket D. The Snow Bracket™ D, a permanent snow retention system that is aesthetically pleasing on asphalt shingle roofs. Choose between a vast array of painted powdered colors, available in standard mill finish of steel, copper or aluminum. The Snow Guard Bracket D fastens to roof sheathing to any new construction of an asphalt shingled roof.
Asphalt shingle roofs very common in the United States and it is important you have a Snow Bracket™ that fits the roof type you are installing the product one.
Length: 10″
Width: 1 3/16″
Height: 3″
• Paintlok Steel: 16 ga
• Copper: 48 oz (ASTM B152)
• Stainless Steel: 16 ga (ASTM A240)
• Zinc Plated
• Powder coating available in many Colors
*We can provide Paintlock brackets unpainted BUT they must be painted before installing or rusting will occur. Also, available with attachments see images to the left with Maple & Sunburst.
At TRA Snow and Sun, we engineer and lay out each project free of charge using many factors specific to your roof. We then provide you with the snow retention plan, layout and product detail. TRA Snow and Sun representatives will work with you to design the most efficient snow retention system. Fill out our Snow Retention Checklist to get started.
All Snow Brackets have been tested from the fail point of the system.
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
rather than down there
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.
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
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.
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.
Keeping snow and ice from avalanching off a roof requires a system of superior strength. When strength really does matter to save lives and prevent damage to property, how does a home or business owner know what snow retention product is strong enough?
How does someone decide what product measures up?
How does one decide the best method of installing a safe and reliable roof snow retention system?
If your answer to these questions is, “I can find that out. I’ll just look it up online under building codes or ask my roofing contractor.”
Well, good luck.
There are NO codes for roof snow retention! None. Nil. Nada. (Our owner, Terry Anderson, is serving on a committee right now to finally establish standards. Watch for updates on this in the future!) If a contractor starts sitting codes or standards, be wary. The contractor might have his own standards, and we sure hope they all do, but there are no national or international standards for snow retention.
This makes it very important for owners, architects, engineers, and contractors to take extra care when designing a snow retention system. At TRA Snow & Sun, we seek to offer high-quality snow retention devices ENGINEERED for the unique snow & ice and building conditions relative to each specific project.
Snow retention as a science has emerged as a technological know-how for human safety. The laws of physics have to be used when holding back lots of destructive snow and ice. Annual assets and personal damage from destructive sliding snow and ice is in the millions, however, the price of a human life is incalculable. If someone dies as a result of no snow retention or faulty snow retention, the liability threat to household owners and business proprietors is astronomical.
By retaining snow on the roof of a building and allowing even snow melt-off, injuries to residents/guests and property below the roof of a building can be avoided, saving money and limiting the possibility of personal loss. By installing snow retention you can:
How does one avoid the potential pitfalls to a bad snow retention product?
It can get perplexing with several hundreds of different snow guard types and designs to consider from. With a TRA snow retention system, you know you’re safe because we have gone through extensive product testing. Our products are built to last to the fail point of the snow retention system, not just the product. Unlike other plastic type snow guards that turn yellow and fail over time, TRA’s snow retention systems are superior in strength. Our superior snow retention is designed to manage snow migration on any type of roofing is made of stainless steel or brass.
TRA CLAMP-ON SNOW FENCE vs PLASTIC GLUE-ON SNOW GUARDS
In simple terms, a first-rate snow retention product coupled with a reliable and safe FREE engineered spacing layout will help lessen the legal responsibility related to the unexpected slid of snow and ice from roofs. All requesting clients can receive free engineered layouts within 2 working days for each project’s specific requirements. For a free layout, data sheets, specs & quote contact us at 855-542-1861.
Snow Retention Case Study – Providing Engineered Snow Retention Solutions for HALF THE COST!
TRA Snow and Sun solves problems! It’s not just our motto to provide Engineered Solutions. We really DO IT!
On an addition to a home in Northwest Montana with a high snow load (100 psf); how do you retain snow on a cedar shake roof with a 12/12 pitch, whilst keeping it economical, aesthetically pleasing, and in line with the existing design?
After reviewing their options, Vandelay Construction was ready to order from a competitor, but was concerned about the high cost of the snow retention system, so they did one last internet search of roof snow retention. They found a project with TRA Snow and Sun snow retention in Bozeman, Montana, liked our product and designs, and contacted us.
Using the information the contractor provided to us, we increased the thickness of the copper from the standard ¼” to 3/8” and designed a 3 rail snow retention system (D3H Deck Mount Snow Fence) specific to the project – cedar shake, 12/12 slope, copper, attaching to 16” OC rafters. Copper was used to match the decorative end caps on the heavy timbers in the construction of the building.
Not only did the homeowners get a beautiful, warrantied system, but OUR SYSTEM WAS HALF THE COST OF OUR COMPETITORS.
We love the result. See for yourself.
At TRA, we provide Engineered Solutions to all kinds of problems. Let us help you with your snow retention needs!
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!).
Insulation is a general term that has to do with putting material between two substances that prevents the loss of heat. Insulating a building is standard practice and keeps the heat inside. Various materials such as fiberglass and cellulose are commonly used in walls and attics.
But what about insulating your roof?
“Insulate a roof?’ you ask,
“You mean insulate an attic, right?”
No, how about insulating your roof?
I learned firsthand about insulating using snow as a young Scoutmaster in Utah. If you’ve ever been a boy scout living in a cold, snowy region, you might have attended an event called the Klondike Derby. Scout groups make lightweight sleds and have a race to see who can get to the finish line the quickest. They also spend the night outside in the cold, winter air.
During the two years I served as a Scoutmaster, I learned a lesson about spending cold nights in the snow with 12 year old boys. The first year we packed down sleeping bags, extra blankets, put on layers of clothes and warm coats, assuming we would stay warm. We all slept close together in tents. The temperature dropped below 20 degrees. We froze and no one slept!
The next year, dreading this annual event, I took the advice of a man who had weathered many Klondike Derbies. His suggestionwas to build snow caves and sleep inside, leaving the tents packed away in our garages. My first thought was, “Who wants to sleep in snow?” Then I remembered learning about Eskimos’ igloos and some animals digging snow caves and decided maybe he was on to something.
You have probably guessed the end of this story about our experiences 
sleeping outside in the snow. We dug out some snow caves and slept great! Why? Because snow is an amazing insulator. New snow has a high percentage of trapped air in the snow crystals and this prevents air from moving. Therefore, heat transfer is reduced. In fact, it is estimated that uncompacted snow is up to 95% air. The air temperature drops outside, but inside the snow cave this does not happen.
My experiences with the insulative properties of snow go way back to my young days as a scoutmaster and hopefully help you to understand that the answer to the question about snow insulating your roof is yes.
It’s a good idea to change your perspective about that snow on your roof each winter. Instead of bemoaning that annoying white stuff, embrace it’s properties!
Terry Anderson, President of TRA Snow and Sun, Inc. and inventor of the original Snow Bracket snow guard for tile roofs and other roofing accessories. He wants all readers to know that his troop won the Klondike Derby the second year!
(For more information about how much snow on a roof is too much, check our previous blog entitled The Roof is Falling! Collapsing roofs in Buffalo, NY.
Common roof architecture of homes in snow regions typically something look like the traditional A-frame or at the least has very steep angles and sides. This is due to the mistaken belief that steep roofs are best because you want to shed snow off the roof, thereby making the entire home safer and less at risk to snow or water damage.
But the truth is far different! At TRA Snow and Sun, we have a fundamentally different belief from the traditional view in that we KNOW that keeping the snow on the roof is far safer for both the home and those who live in the home.
The process of keeping snow on the roof of a home is called snow retention. Snow retention can offer a wide range of advantages to a home owner, including the following:
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