Snow breaks (sometimes called snow guards or snow blox) are roof-mounted accessories, usually placed at intervals and in a couple of rows near the edge of a roof. The point of them is to cause snow and ice to back up against them, forming a kind of dam against the snow falling to the ground below. While this product is generally accepted as working well, there is some debate as to which design is the must functionally. Experts advise that you purchase snow break that are approximately 2.25 inches high and 3 inches across. This is thought to give optimum results when teamed with a flat-faced design rather than a pointed one.

Both the height and shape of the face play a huge part in determining how much snow and ice will be caught in your snow breaks, and therefore, will fall off your roof. The lowest area of the roofing panel is generally the best place to attach this kind of guard, as you want to focus on the area with the most snow and ice movement. Ideally, you want to create a connected field of protection against snow, so have the flat surface of the guard sit higher than the seam of the roof. This will result in a natural defrosting that will gradually run off in small increments.

Placement of your snow breaks in a correct formation will provide you with the best results. Whoever you purchase your guards from should take all of the factors (such as roof pitch, how the panel runs from the ridge to the eave, width of panels and the expected snow load) into consideration and should then provide you with a placement template that will optimize the guard’s effectiveness. With this information it should be easy to place them correctly.

Snow guards can be mounted to the roof surface either with mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or tape. The adhesive mounting method is best used on floating-type standing seam metal roofs, as it doesn’t restrict normal thermal expansion and contraction of floating metal roof panels. They are also easy to remove without damaging the panels or seams. Generally, tape fasteners should only be used as a temporary solution.

When deciding on what material or color of snow breaks you want, there are plenty to choose from. Metal ones can be purchased in a color that matches your roof panel color, but metal ones can sometimes cause shadowing and discoloration. This is sometimes called the ‘sundial effect’. Clear plastic guards are popular as they include polycarbonates that are stabilized against ultraviolet rays to stop them from going yellow or cracking. They also won’t cause shadows. You can get plastic ones in the color of your roofing panel, but they made fade at different rates, resulting in a mix of colors.

Snow breaks could be what you need to protect your home from the elements, so why not inquire online or at a local business for more information?

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