metal roof avalanche control

I have a client with a 10/12 metal roof. The snow keeps tearing his gutters off. Sno jax are unsightly on this residential roof but we will use them if they are the best thing going.If sno jax how many? Should I defer to the gutter guys? This is a newer problem here as we seem to be getting more snow with this global warming thing.>>>

I will know a lot more about this after Tuesday. I will be installing 1200 additional (Zaleski?) snow guards. The only place they didn't have slides (9/12 with tile) was where they had 6 rows of snowguards, so I will be doubling what's there now. They have several buildings. The main house has gutter helmet things on top of the gutter. There was minimal damage to it. But on two out-buildings, there wasn't the caps and they lost half of them to slides.>>>

We usually start our snow-guard line positioned over the wall (ie, ignore the overhang), since ice dams form below this point. Snow weighs about 40-55 lb. per cubic foot, so you have to be sure that the snow-guards are fastened, whenever possible, into the joists. As well, in any place where we may have to install snow-guards, we prepare the surface with I&W below the roofing material, and figure at least three feet in horizontal and vertical directions for coverage. That way, if an ice-dam does form, we've got some protection underneath. In practice, snow develops an ice crust at the roof, and this anchors the snow mass to the snow-stoppers. When the snow starts to melt, the ice crust will soften and give way in chunks. The snow will slide off in small pieces, rather than one large avalance.>>>

It may be diificult to hang the gutters low on this 10/12. I didnt get you're link Big D but thanks for the pointers. I did not think of the new problem this will cause with ice dams. I was looking at snow rails but I am unsure how well the panels are fastened. I don't want the snow to pull the roof off ( If that could happen?). I can't think of a residence in our area that has this system to refer to. The internet is priceless in these situations. You have the best solution so far HOP.>>>

sorry the diagram didn't show the guards being staggered. >>>

I roof in Tahoe all the time and it is absolutely necessary to keep the outside edge of the gutters lower than the fascia. Berger snow guards work well. Usually laid up in three rows spaced about 2 ft apart vertically and 2 ft apart horizontally. Staggar the rows. x x x x Snow guards are designed to help break up the snow and ice as it slides off the roof, so it doesn't all come off at once.

x x x x

x x x x Snow fences work well too, but you need to be sure that an ice dam protection membrane is in place under the panels. Ice dams will form above the snow fence.>>>

Thanks for the ideas. I am stunned I did not think to hang the gutters low. On this 10/12 they may have to go pretty low indeed but certainly worth a look. I will be careful VAA to keep politics and religon(of which I think "climate change" is a little of both) out of a post like this.>>>

Our usual rule is the the outside edge of the gutter should be at least 1 inch below the slope-line. Sometimes, we have to rebuild the fascia (make it wider) to allow this.

If the roof is a warm roof (ie, insulation/ventilation not sufficient to keep the roof cold), then the gutters will fill up with ice anyways, and usually become the starting point for a growing ice dam. The only way to really combat this, (skipping past the obvious fix) is to put de-icing cables in the gutter to try to keep the ice buildup "manageable".>>>

Try a snow fence on the roof. They attach to the standing seam ribs with set screws so there are no holes in the panels. They have color matched bands that show on the front and you can also get snow arrestors that hang down between the ribs They look good and work. As far as the gutters go, hang them below the line of the snow coming off from the roof. It will go over the top of the gutters and leave them up!>>>

I've doubled over some color matched 24 ga, and bent it into an L, and using SS pop-rivets, attached them at the bootom, through the tops of the standing seams. Looked at one I did 20+ years ago. Still looks nice. 'Snow country job, 10/12>>>

look into the berger catalogue..... mullane line of brackets...>>>