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TOPIC: Snow guards

snow and rain

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I have two questions. We have a log cabin in northeast Ohio and have a standing seam steel roof installed. It's a 6/12 pitch for the most part. My 1st problem is that the snow rolls off this roof like it were greased. This is really only a problem near where the steps up to our porch are as sometimes 50 pounds of snow or more will drop on your head if you're not watching. Where can I get snowjacks or snowguards to install? The second problem has to do with rain, which comes off the roof faster than the snow. We have two dormers on the front of the house. Where the vallies come together is like having four waterfalls running over the gutters, would snowjacks slow this down a bit also or at least break up the flow a bit so the water has a chance to get to the gutter? Any other solutions?
Guest User

8/20/2004
I'm sorry, we have an 8/12 pitch roof, but the porch area is about 3/12
Guest User

8/20/2004
Regarding snowguards: 1) One option is to go back to the supplier or manufacturer of the roofing. 2) Second option is a Google search for "snowguards" or "snow retention" will yield many manufacturers of different products. You may want to then email them a picture of your roof to find out what type of guard would be best. Regarding rain, make sure your gutters are mounted high. I also suggest a 6" gutter rather than 5". Beyond that, you could have some special little "rainstop" pieces made and mounted to the front edge of the gutters to catch the water and direct it downward.
Guest User

8/20/2004
Todd, the little dams on the gutters are just what I was thinking of. I actually made one and did a test run on it last week. We've gotten severe downpours over the last few days totaling several inches and the one I made seemed to do the trick. I just wonder about whether the snow will destroy it or not and also about trying to clean the gutters with the dams on there.
Guest User

8/20/2004
Unless the metal you're using is pretty heavy, snow will likely "do a number" on it. I wonder if there would be a way to devise it so that it "spring loads" into the front lip of the gutter rather than permanently attach it. That way, you could remove it in the winter or when you are cleaning your gutters.
Guest User

8/20/2004