Why Keep Snow on the Roof?

When snow is falling, it forms a temperature-sensitive bond to the surface of the roof. As the roof surface is warmed from either building heat loss or the sun’s radiant energy, this bond is broken and a thin film of melt water lubricates the surface of the roof. The result can be rather dramatic, as the entire blanket of snow vacates the roof suddenly – in avalanche fashion, dumping tons of snow onto anything in its path.

It can damage landscape, gutters, adjacent roofs, vehicles and can even pose a threat to personal safety. The snowbank which is then piled up below the eave of the roof can cause other problems, like damage to the building walls, or directing melt water into rather than away from the wall. Some architectural designs provide for the anticipated evacuation of snow from the roof surface, but often this is not possible or practical. In such cases, snow retention devices are often used to allow the snow to slowly evacuate (in small bits, or as meltwater), rather than suddenly (via avalanche).

ColorGard™ Snow Retention Systems

S-5! ColorGard™ is an excellent choice for snow retention where an exact color match is required. By using the same material and factory applied finish as the roof itself, ColorGard assures a perfect match. S-5! clamps are the way to attach anything to a standing seam roof. Other clamps and brackets are available to attach ColorGard to almost
any roof.