Common Questions

No. Our snow guards are specifically designed to prevent entire roof loads of snow from dumping or avalanching all at once. Small amounts of snow and ice will still melt off.

Inadequate insulation, air leaks and improper ventilation can cause a build-up of water between snow and the roof surface, resulting in the formation of icicles. Snow guards will not prevent icicles from forming.

Ice flags are optional safety devices that help prevent ice from avalanching off rooftops. They are used in conjunction with our bar and pipe-style snow guards. Alpine recommends one ice flag per panel or pair of brackets when spacing is less than 24" and two per panel when spacing is greater than 24" (up to and including 48" on center). We'll provide the correct amount you need on your quote and a layout recommendation upon request.

When the amount of snow on your roof exceeds it's typical structural load, it should be removed safely and without risk of injury. Heavy snowfalls, drifting snow, and the gradual accumulation of snow and ice on a roof can cause an excessive amount of weight for your roof. Under these circumstances, snow should be removed safely and without risk of injury to avoid damage to the roof, structure or anything below.

When clearing snow, special attention should be paid to the height of your roof and the possibility of injury in a fall. Those who are not able to safely clear their roofs should call an experienced contractor.

During your home’s design phase, the architect or structural engineer considered the weight of snow and ice in the roof design. For permitting and approval, community building code officials also reviewed the roof’s structural design.

Alpine SnowGuards factors the architect or structural engineer's allowable ice and snow weight for the roof design into its product development and layout recommendations. Our snow guards help keep snow and ice from avalanching off the roof and from causing damage to structures, landscaping, vehicles and people below.

Wire Loops are one of the oldest pad-style snow guard designs in the industry. We have 5 Wire Loop designs mainly in copper and one available in Galvanized Steel that provided 450 lbs ultimate snow load per snow guard.

When properly installed over an entire roof surface, this device creates a wire mesh effect. Also, when correctly installed in the proper geographic region, Wire Loops are probably among the best snow management systems available.

We make a snow guard for all roof types—metal, shingle, tile, slate, membrane, solar panels and everything in between. Check out our Roof Type Guide or download Alpine's Application Chart to find what best suits your needs.

Yes, we offer Pre-painted Kynar® Stock Colors. We also provide in-house powder-coating options using RAL TIGER Drylac® Exterior Colors.

The two-pipe ASG4025 is one of Alpine’s best sellers and can be powder coated in 92+ colors. We have 9 snow guards for metal standing seam to choose from that may be a good fit for your aesthetic. For instance, SnowMax, a fence-style snow management system comes with an option to add fixed position ice flags and a color insert to match your roof. We also have some striking designs in brass.

This depends on several factors including roof slope, rafter length, building orientation and snow load. You can register for our Snow Guard Calculator, which provides access to an all-product price list, free recommended snow guard layouts, project pricing, the ability to order online and more.

Alpine's Snow Guard Calculator was designed for use by architects, engineers, roofing contractors, distributors, developers and construction companies. In order for us to provide you with a recommended layout for your home, please complete and return our Quote Request Form.

Snow guards should be placed on all roof surfaces to protect against snow damage below. It is especially important to install them above entryways, walkways, gathering areas, landscaping, parking areas, ground-mounted mechanicals, lower roofs, valleys, crickets, gutters, and vents.

The simple answer to this question is "no." Installing snow guards in isolated areas like doorways or only portions of an eave is not recommended. Alpine’s engineering calculations inform our recommended layouts and include important design features of your roof, including your roof’s valleys, vents, and its tendencies toward drifting snow or accumulating ice.

Simply installing a row of snow guards in isolated areas doesn't take into account important design features of your roof or allowable snow loads of our safety devices, which could be overloaded if not laid out properly.

Our lay out recommendations are based upon structural load and performance testing and following them will safely distribute our snow guards' snow holding power. For optimal snow guard performance, seek a free recommended layout (which will not void your roofing manufacturer’s warranty) through our calculator.

Please let us know if you have any questions, or consult an architect or engineer if you still wish to only install snow guards above doorways or in isolated areas.

We recommend installation by trained professionals, such as roofing contractors or gutter installation companies.

Yes, we have a wide variety of snow guard options that will work on existing roofs or new roof construction.

Standard shipping for non-custom pad-style snow guards is 2-3 business days plus transit time.

At this time the calculator and online pad-style ordering are separate and do not share login details.

Our snow guards are available directly from Alpine SnowGuards, as well as through many building supply companies and distributors throughout the U.S. and Canada. If you are looking for a distributor near you, please give us a call 1-888-766-4273 or email us at info@alpinesnowguards.com.

Yes, Alpine SnowGuards' products have been sent to the UK, Iceland and South Korea. They are also shipped internationally to Canada. Typically, our customers contract with third party companies to correctly palletize for international shipping, while others provide specific packaging specifications for us to follow.

Yes. After extensive and continuous testing, Alpine brought to market the first solar snow management system in 2012. We recommend a three-component system for all roof mounted or carport solar arrays in snowy regions with a pitch of 2/12 or greater.

Yes, two recommended components of our three-part system can
be customized to match your roof; the third is anodized black and blends with
the panels. You can view the available finishes on the product pages