“National Snow Guards Safety Month” focuses on homeowner safety and education

Installing snow guards or snow cleats is one of the top ways to upgrade a home and make it “winter ready.”

If your area had snowfall during the past few winters, you need to understand the value of snow guards for your roof. National Snow Guards Safety Month in March highlights the importance of snow guards for property owners living in areas with accumulating snowfall. Created by Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc., a leader in the snow retention industry, the monthlong awareness campaign will be held every March, starting in 2025.

“Having a properly installed snow guard system can help save lives and prevent property damage,” says Lars Walberg, president of Rocky Mountain Snow Guards out of Englewood, Colorado. “They help prevent snow from sliding off a roof in one large sheet and avalanching down on people, landscaping and property below.”

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, five people have lost their lives in roof avalanches in Colorado in the last 30 years. There have also been many more injuries and close calls. The last roof avalanche fatality in Colorado occurred on March 16, 2023, when two children and a father were buried in a slide. Tragically one child died.

In a joint statement from the National Avalanche Center and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center in support of National Snow Guards Safety Month, leadership relates, “Roof avalanches pose a serious risk every year in mountain communities. It’s critical to stay aware of snow-loaded roofs, minimize time spent beneath them and keep a shovel nearby in case of an emergency."

Expert safety support

Snow guards are sturdy pieces designed to be attached to a roof, usually in specific patterns, to help prevent snow from sliding down in a “snow blanket” as the snow melts. The snow guards can be made of plastic, metal, copper, aluminum or even rubber. They can be attached at the time a roof is installed or retrofitted years after the roof is in place.

The experts at Rocky Mountain Snow Guards create plans for placement of where snow guards should be installed on a roof. They take into consideration the areas with the most potential exposure where people least wish to see snow drop off in large masses, such as door entryways, driveways, walkways and decks. And they use scientific configurations related to the roof slope, roof snow load and other factors. Even the type of materials on the roof (such as asphalt, composite, metal or slate roofing) factor into the calculations.

“We work directly with roofing contractors, builders and homeowners to create a specific layout resulting in safe snow retention,” says Lars. “The free layout and quote service we provide takes individual roof specifications and returns the ideal layout for a snow retention system. The result is a configuration of specific products that allow the snow to melt slowly off the roof rather than being released in large, dangerous chunks.”

Help for your home

According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety®, installing snow guards or snow cleats is one of the top ways to upgrade a home and make it “winter ready.” Some manufacturers, like DaVinci® Roofscapes, offer specific advice about adding snow guards to their slick composite slate and shake shingles to create a safer home environment. (See “Tips for Getting Your Roof Ready for Winter Weather.”) Drexel Metals addresses the same issue of their slippery metal roofing surfaces needing snow guard support in their story, “Is Your Metal Roof Ready for Winter: 5 Tips to Prep for the Cold.”

Homeowners can also benefit from a recent post on AskARoofer.com. The story “Soldier Rows of Snow Guards Help with Snow Retention” cites that when placed 12 inches apart horizontally in rows on a roof, snow guards act like a barrier to snow, keeping it safely on the roof.

A Snow Retention FAQ and full product offering summary are available from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards to provide homeowners with more detailed information about snow retention systems. For specific questions on snow guards, consumers may call 877-414-7606.

Rocky Mountain Snow Guards

Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc. manufactures snow guards and fence-style snow retention systems designed to protect people and property. The company provides free shipping of products to the 48 contiguous United States and offers free layouts and quotes for product placement. Metal products are warrantied for 50 years. Proud Corporate Partner of Freedom Service Dogs and founder of National Snow Guards Safety Month. For details visit www.rockymountainsnowguards.com or call 1-877-414-7606.