Snow Management Solutions For Standing Seam Roofs

By Brian Stearns, Alpine SnowGuards

Brian Stearns

Of all the metal roofing options available for residential roofing, metal standing seam is the best-selling. It’s no wonder, seeing that it can improve the resale value of your home up to 6% when compared with a roof covered in asphalt shingles. Not only that, but you’ll recoup, on average, 90% of the costs you put into a new standing seam roof should you ever decide to sell your home. With almost zero maintenance, and warranties that can stretch to five decades, it’s easy to see why homeowners are choosing metal standing seam as their roofing options more now than ever before (not to mention, metal roofing is recyclable).

Standing seams are not only unique in appearance, they’re also unique in the fact that attaching anything to them can be tricky in that you don’t want to penetrate the roofing material.

When you’re looking for a snow management system that’s ideal for standing seam roofs, we offer a variety of solutions. Alpine SnowGuards’ systems employ clamp-to-seam technology. What does that mean? It means we’ve done the research and development to ensure that your snow management system works properly without compromising the integrity of your roof.

Some key points that we recommend when choosing and installing clamps:

• Choose clamps that utilize oval-point set screws that won’t penetrate the roofing material.

• Choose clamps that won’t void the roofing manufacturer’s warranty.

• Choose clamps that don’t utilize adhesive, to avoid possible effects from changes in temperature.

• Before you install your clamps, be sure to check that the panels are securely fastened to the roof, in order to absorb the load that will be transferred by adding clamps.

• Once the seam material compresses, make sure to tighten and then re-tighten the set screws.

• When installing clamps designed specifically for pipe-style snow management systems, be sure to leave a break every 100 feet to allow for thermal expansion.

Now you’re ready to choose the system that’s best for you!

Clamp-to-seam style snow guards are designed specifically for use with metal standing seam roofs, and are available in options for both vertical and horizontal seam configurations. Alpine SnowGuards offers standing seam style snow guards in pad, pipe and fence style options, and in a wide variety of powder coating choices to match your roofing material.

	Image on left from Valor Systems, Norman, OK

Fence-Style Snow Management

Our SnowMax system is among the strongest on the market, designed for those areas with the greater snow loads.

The install animation below shows how easy it is to install, and exactly how it does the job it was designed to do.

Fabricated from aircraft grade aluminum, SnowMax is not only strong, it also saves installation time and cost, by allowing increased bracket spacing of up to 48” on center. We offer optional color insert strips that can be placed into the groove along the front of the system, so your snow management system will be functional while matching your roofing material. Configurations are also available for corrugated metal and membrane roofing. We’ve even developed solar snow management systems specifically for use on solar PV arrays.

	Image on left from Paul Unger, a Vermont homeowner who installed the system entirely himself.

Pipe-Style Snow Management

When you’re looking for a pipe-style system, Alpine SnowGuards' ASG4025 is a rugged solution.

Forged from a single block of aluminum, and measuring 5.25”, the ASG4025 utilizes 2 set oval-point screws, and can be powder coated to match your roofing material to a tee.

Image on top left from Charles F. Evans Company, Inc. in Elmira, NY – Cornell University, Goldwin Smith Hall historic reroof project.

Pad-Style Snow Management

When it comes to pad-style solutions for metal standing seam roofs, the ASG33 snow guard is decorative and beautiful, with a “winged” design that can also be powder-coated to match the roofing.

This versatile snow guard has been used on such iconic places as Cornell University, as well as remote cabins, and multi-million dollar mansions.

Alpine SnowGuards has many options to choose from – including a snow management system for EVERY roof type!

About Alpine SnowGuards®

Established in 1993 and employee owned, Alpine SnowGuards designs, engineers and manufactures 50+ snow and solar snow management systems for all roof types, new or retrofit, from its facilities in Morrisville, VT. Alpine’s 11 snow guard designs for “clamp-to-seam” systems utilize round-point set screws to avoid damaging roof panels, allowing for a firm hold all winter long while keeping snow in its place. Alpine’s 8 products for corrugated metal utilize a compression fit seal to prevent water from leaking into the roof decking and causing issues. All of Alpine’s snow guards are rigorously performance tested at its in-house testing facility, by 3rd party testing facilities, and in the field by roofing experts. When installed properly, they will not void manufacturer warranties.

Sign up for a free snow guard calculator at AlpineSnowGuards.com for access to an all-products price list, free recommended layouts specific to your project, instant quotes, the ability to place orders online and more. Be sure to check out the “Products by Roof Manufacturer” page which helps installers select the best and most appropriate device during the bidding phase of a project. For more information, visit www.alpinesnowguards.com.