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Snow Guards

Pad Style Snow Guards	Pipe Style Snow Guards	Snow Guards for Standing Seam Roofs	ColorGard™ Snow Retention System

Snow Guards - Stowe Hardware parking lot

What is a Snow Guard?

Snow Guard Defined - Snow Guards are rooftop devices that allow snow and ice to drop off in small amounts or melt completely before falling to the ground. Alpine SnowGuards prevent damage caused by avalanching snow and ice while enhancing the beauty of any roofing system. Historically used with slate roofs, snow guards are a practical, cost-effective addition to any sloped roof in cold-weather areas.

Alpine SnowGuards are installed on/in all roof surfaces to protect against snow and ice damage below. It especially important to install them above: entryways, walkways, and gathering spots; parking lots and drive-through areas; expensive landscaping; ground mounted mechanicals; lower roofs, valleys and crickets; and gutters and roof protrusions, such as plumbing vents.

Alpine SnowGuards are backed by the exceptional reliability and customer service of Vermont Slate & Copper Services.

Benefits of Using Alpine SnowGuards

Simplified snow guard installation, whether new construction or retrofit.
Pad and pipe style snow guards available for every type of roof ( In general, pad styles are typically used in residential applications, while pipe styles are more common in commercial/institutional applications and when especially steep roofs are involved.)
Innovative, flexible designs allow for custom pieces as necessary.
Snow guards available in painted steel, copper, lead coated copper, plain or painted aluminum, galvalum, or zinc.
Extensively tested in the field.
Recommended snow guard layouts and other technical support provided free of charge by roofing experts.

Placement & Layout

Layouts are available for free; use our online form or download and print our PDF layout request form to mail or fax to us.

Placement at the Eave

Alpine SnowGuards recommends installing the first row of snow guards above the outer wall or outer-most roof support. We do not generally recommend installing snow guards above the overhand for two reasons.

The construction of the overhang may not be designed to support a snow load.
Snow guards need to be installed above roof areas on buildings that have an ice-damming problem. [more info]

Pad Style Snow Guard Placement

Snow guards are generally placed first three rows 24 inches on center with the middle row staggered 12 inches starting at the outer wall or outer-most roof support. The remaining snow guards are evenly spaced to the top 10 feet of the rafter. The top 10 feet of rafter does not require snow guards except in extreme snow load areas. Use our online layout form to request a layout specifying how many snow guards are required. [more info]

Installing Snow Guards Just Above Doors

Alpine SnowGuards does not recommend installing snow guards over just door ways or on just portions of an eave. Snow builds up behind an obstruction at approximately a 45-degree angle out from the obstruction. This additional weight on the snow guard (or other obstructions such as vent pipes or light posts) will often overload the system unless the additional accumulation of snow is taken into account during the layout.

We recommend that you consult with an architect or engineer if you wish to install snow guards over just a doorway or portions of an eave. [more info]