Snow Guards On The Roof, Including An Overview Of The Varieties, As Well As How To Calculate And Install Correctly

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Snow holders - functional and useful roof decor

Winter is coming - frost, winter sun and snow. Someone will admire and photograph the cozy snow caps on the rooftops. And someone with a shudder pass under the overhang and day after day climb onto the roof with a shovel and clean the snow. In order not to be afraid of snow falls, it is worth installing snow holders on the roof.

Content

• 1 Do you need snow guards on the roof

• 2 Types of snow holders

  • 2.1 Tubular snow holders
  • 2.2 Corner snow guards
  • 2.3 Lattice snow holders

  • 2.4 Snow pins-hooks

    2.4.1 Photo gallery: varieties of snow stoppers-hooks

  • 2.5 Unusual snow guards

• 3 Rules for the installation of snow guards

  • 3.1 How to install snow guards yourself
  • 3.2 Video: installation of a tubular snow guard

• 4 Features of the installation of snow guards on the roof in accordance with the type of coverage

  • 4.1 Feature of installing snow guards on ceramic tiles

    4.1.1 Video: Installation of snow guards on a roof covered with ceramic tiles

  • 4.2 Fastening of snow guards to a roof covered with metal tiles and metal profiles

    4.2.1 Video: attaching snow holders to metal tiles

  • 4.3 Fastening snow guards on a seam roof

    4.3.1 Video: attaching a snow guard to a folded roof

• 5 Calculation of the required number of snow guards

  5.1 Table: maximum slope length with one row of snow guards

Do you need snow guards on the roof

The need to install snow guards on the roof depends on the snow area in which the construction is taking place, the height of the building, the angle of inclination of the roof and the location of the building on the site. If there is a footpath along the roof, there is a parking lot or other use of the territory is provided, in which an unexpected snow fall from the roof can lead to damage to property and harm human health, then the installation of snow protectors is mandatory.

Recently, this detail is gaining more and more popularity. Snow holders prevent large amounts of snow from sliding off the roof and protect property and human health. Now snow holders can be selected for every taste, wallet, type of roof and installed both during the installation of a new roof and on an existing one.

Types of snow holders

Snow retainers are of three main types:

• tubular;
• corner;
• lattice.

The abundant accumulation of snow damages the roof of the building, damages property and endangers the lives of people: to prevent snow from falling off the roof, snow catchers are used

But there are other interesting designs of snow stops. These can be other structures that do a good job of keeping and evenly distributing snow on the roof, for example, point elements - snow pins-hooks.

Snow stops-hooks are chosen for soft structures that are covered with bituminous tiles or any other similar materials

Combinations of these systems can be used for better protection against snow falling and to prevent the formation of snow bags.

Thanks to the use of a combined snow guard system, the snow is evenly distributed on the roof, which prevents deformation of the roof

Tubular snow holders

Tubular snow holders are several round or oval tubes, fixed with special support brackets perpendicular to the roof. The distance between the parallel pipes is 8–10 cm. They help to distribute the load over the mounting areas to prevent damage to the roof covering and the “pulling” of snow guards from the roof. As a rule, tubular snow holders are used on roofs made of corrugated board and tile. But they can also be used on other types of roofs, for example, seam. The maximum roof angle for the tubular system is 60 °.

Recommended support spacing is 100 cm

Tubular snow holders do not involve holding snow, but cutting it into thin layers. Thus, snow does not accumulate in large volumes on the roof, but falls in small pieces that are incapable of causing damage to health or property.

For aesthetics and uniqueness of the appearance of the roof, figured supports in the form of animals and plants are on sale

Corner snow holders

Corner snow holders are a simple, budget option. They are metal sheets, bent with a corner, 4–6 cm high, fixed to the roof covering. They are installed on a roof made of corrugated board and metal tiles due to the same type of material, simplicity and the ability to choose a snow holder to match the coating. Suitable for roofs with a slope of up to 30 °.

The staggered arrangement of the snow guards will evenly distribute the load over the entire roof area

Lattice snow holders

Lattice snow holders are the most "elegant". They are made of galvanized steel and painted in accordance with the architectural design. They come in different sizes: from small 5-7 cm, to high 15-20 cm. Suitable for roofs with long slopes and a large slope. Due to different designs of fasteners are used on roofs with any type of coating. All snow and ice are retained on the roof. Only melt water flows through the grate. In addition to roof brackets, longitudinal tubes can be used additionally.

Thanks to the coloring of the snow guards to match the roof, they are practically invisible on the surface

Snow pins-hooks

Snow stoppers-hooks are a constructively different type of protection from snow landslides from the roof. They look like triangles made of narrow plates, 3-4 cm wide and with a long bracket that is attached to the crate. Thus, this type of protection can only be performed at the stage of roof installation. By themselves, "hooks" do not hold snow. Most often they are used in tandem with lattice or tubular snow holders or on roofs with a soft coating and a slight slope. The hooks prevent large, stubborn layers of snow from slipping.

Point snow stops are quite diverse. They differ in shape, type of attachment, material. There are even transparent snow stops. They are mainly used for roofs made of transparent materials such as polycarbonate. But even in combination with other types of coatings, they look very attractive.

Photo gallery: varieties of snow stoppers-hooks

Point snow stops keep only part of the snow on the roof, while preventing its avalanche

Installation instructions for point-type snow guards provide for their installation in the corrugations of the profiled sheet and fastening not to the crate, but directly to the metal of the roofing

Metal point snow stops can be of any color, due to which they will be practically invisible on the roof

Transparent snow guards will not spoil the aesthetic appearance of your roof

Point snow holders are more appropriate to mount on roofs with a slight angle of inclination

Metal point devices are designed exclusively for roofs made of corrugated board and metal tiles

Point snow stops can be positioned on the roof in any order

Unusual snow holders

Snow guards can be made from natural materials such as wood. For such options, special supports have been created in which a wooden beam is installed. Basically, this type of snow guard is used in combination with natural roofing. The timber is installed at a height of 2-3 cm from the roof and lets the melted snow through. The larger the log, the more snow it retains, but also the more it weighs. Most of all, if such a bar does not exceed 15 cm in diameter.

Do not use a log with a diameter of more than 15 cm as a snow guard

Installation rules for snow guards

Snow holders are not always installed around the entire perimeter of the roof. They can be installed to protect against snow in certain places: above dormers, above balconies, to protect the path along the building, etc.

Snow pads cannot be installed on the roof overhang - they should be mounted at the level of the load-bearing wall. In the case of the location of the snow holders in several rows or above the roof windows at the attachment points, it is necessary to strengthen the crate.

Fasteners for snow holders are:

• punchy;

  

  Nail fasteners are used for metal and soft roofs

• suspended;

  

  Hinged fasteners are used on the roof, which is undesirable to punch

• clamping.

  

  Clamping fasteners specially designed for standing seam roofs

Punching fasteners are used for roofs covered with corrugated board, metal, and in combination with soft roofing.

Suspended fasteners are mainly used in combination with natural and composite tiles, because it is undesirable to punch such a coating. And also this type of fastening is used on bituminous roofs and with metal roofing. But in this case, the lower part of the fastener, lying on top of the coating, is screwed to the crate. Thus, a combined version based on suspension fasteners is obtained.

Clamping fasteners are used only on seam roofs, they were invented specifically for this coating.

How to install snow guards yourself

To install snow guards yourself, you must:

1. Outline the location.
2. Then reinforce the crate.
3. Assemble the set of the product for "fitting" without tightening the fasteners.
4. Mount the cover and prepare holes in it for attaching the snow pads. The holes must be placed in the lower part of the wave adjacent to the crate.
5. Fix the previously assembled kit with the bolts included in the kit to the roof slope. Seal the holes with rubber gaskets for a tight fit and to prevent roof leaks.
6. Fix pipes or lattice elements in the brackets.

It is important to remember that it is necessary to fix the system only above the load-bearing type wall and strictly in the lower part of the profile wave

Video: installation of a tubular snow guard

Features of installing snow guards on the roof in accordance with the type of coverage

Using the installation instructions, the snow guards can be installed on any roof thanks to the different types of fastening. Depending on the coverage, the installation and selection of snow guards may have some differences.

Feature of installation of snow guards on ceramic tiles

The peculiarity of installing snow guards on ceramic tiles is that the elements are attached not through the covering, but to the crate. The brackets have an elongated shelf with which they cling to an additional beam in the crate. And they rely on the lower wave of the already mounted row of coverings at the location of the wall or reinforcement of the sheathing. Such supports are called suspended. They are used for fastening all types of snow guards: lattice, tubular and point. Many people think that snow pads on a ceramic tile roof look unaesthetic, but modern manufacturers of roofing accessories have developed special fasteners and elements for such a roof. Snow guards are produced without visible welds and have a wide range of colors. The most interesting decorative ones are snow pads-hooks,cast together with tiles.

For natural tiles, lattice snow holders are most often used.

Video: installation of snow guards on a roof covered with ceramic tiles

Fastening of snow guards to the roof with metal roofing and metal profile

The fastening of snow guards to the roof with a metal profile covering is carried out using punching supports. They are installed in the place where the lathing is reinforced, at the level of the wall and are fastened with self-tapping screws through the coating in the lower part of the wave.

For a roof made of metal, a combined fastening system can be used: a suspension element with a lower part screwed through the covering to the crate.

The distance to the cut of the roof must be at least 40 cm, which corresponds to the second or third row of tiles

Video: attaching snow holders to metal tiles

Fastening snow holders on a seam roof

An interesting mount for snow holders is used for standing seam roofs. The brackets are clamped directly on the rebate according to the vise principle with the special bolts included in the kit. Such a system maintains the tightness of the roof covering. But only tubular or lattice snow guards can be installed on the seam cover.

Fastening is carried out by clamping the fold with special devices using bolted connections

Video: attaching a snow guard to a folded roof

Calculation of the required number of snow holders

The staggered corner snow stops and hook snow stops by and large presuppose a preventive nature of protection from snow falls.

It is important to choose the right lattice and tubular snow holders in accordance with the snow load on the roof. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the load that such a product can withstand and the fastening step. And it can help you choose the required snow protection system for strength.

You can use the table to install the snow holders in one row.

Table: maximum slope length when installing one row of snow guards

Roof inclination angle, degrees	snow region	I		II		III		IV		V		VI		Vii		VIII
	distance between brackets, mm	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100	800	1100
less than 15		37.7	27.4	25.2	18.3	16.8	12.2	12.6	9.1	9.4	6.9	7.5	5.5	6,3	4.6	5.4	3.9
15-25		23.1	16.8	15.4	11.2	10.3	7.5	7,7	5.6	5.8	4.2	4.6	3.4	3.9	2.8	3.3	2.4
26–37		16.2	11.8	10.8	7.9	7.2	5.2	5.4	3.9	4.1	3.0	3.2	2.4	2.7	2.0	2,3	1.7
38–45		13.8	10.0	9.2	6,7	6.1	4.5	4.6	3.3	3.5	2.5	2.8	2.0	2,3	1.7	2,3	1.4
46-55		11.9	8.7	7.9	5.8	5.3	3.9	4.0	2.9	3.0	2.2	2.4	1.7	2.0	1.4	1.7	1,2

First, you need to define your snow area according to SNiP 2.01.07–85 “Loads and impacts. Appendix 5 ". Then find in the table the required length of the slope at the intersection of the column "roof slope" and "snow area", determine the distance between the brackets.

If the length of the slope is greater than that indicated in the table, it is necessary to install two or more rows of snow holders. In some cases, when the length of the roof slope is slightly larger than that indicated in the table, the distance between the supports can be reduced in accordance with the tables of manufacturers.

You can do the calculations yourself. To do this, you need to know your area of snow load (according to SNiP 2.01.07–85), the coefficient of aerodynamic resistance, the length of the overhang, the length of the cornice, the angle of the roof and the bearing capacity of the snow-retaining element.

Let's calculate the snow load on the roof for Minsk, where So = 1.2 kPa (120 kgf / m ²), the aerodynamic drag coefficient is 0.8:

1. Take a slope 6 m long, overhang length 10 m, roof angle 35 °. Attachment pitch 1.0 m and load bearing 330 kg.
2. The snow load on the snow retainer will be 0.8 * 1.2 kN / m ² * 6 m * sin 35 ° (0.574) = 3.3 kN / m ² = 330 kg / m ².
3. Thus, the snow pressure on the cornice equal to 10 m will be 3300 kg / m ².
4. Considering the load carried by the element, it turns out that 3300/330 = 10 pieces are needed. This means that we need 10 elements with a fixing step of 1.0 m.
5. If the load on the overhang was 660kg / m ², then it would be necessary to take 20 elements and arrange them with an attachment step of 0.5 m or in two rows.

The presence of snow guards on the roof, if properly calculated and operated, will exclude unexpected snow melting. But it is still recommended to periodically clean the roof surface from snow with your own hands.