What do snow guards do?

Snow guards are devices used on rooftops to help snow and ice melt completely and drift off your metal roof in small amounts, rather than all at once.

How do I keep my solar panels from sliding off snow?

Clamp-on snow guards can be installed at the edges of your solar panels, or in between panels. These snow guards either slowly release small amounts of accumulated snow or keep the snow on the solar panels to melt naturally.

How far apart should snow guards be placed?

In general, snow guards should be placed 1 every 40 inches over entire roof or in 2 groups of 3 staggered rows on 30 inch centers with 1 group at the eave and 1 group midway on roof slope. On long slopes, multiple groups with 6 ft. space separation maximum.

How many snow guards do I need?

Use: 2 snow guards per valley for every 8 feet of roof. Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load. Starting at 6 inches from the bottom edge, place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area.

Do snow guards protect gutters?

Snow guards are a critical element in protecting gutters from damage, especially when a commercial building or home has a glossy coated metal or slate roof.

Can I use a roof rake on solar panels?

Snow Rake Solar Panels Traditional roof rakes, shovels, and brushes aren’t safe. You could damage the panel or void your warranty with improper care. The best solution is a soft, foam-headed snow broom, which won’t damage the delicate surface of the panels as it removes the snow.

Do solar panels cause ice dams?

Solar panels on your roof won’t cause ice dams or worsen them. But you do need to keep them snow-free, and you’ll need to treat them like little delicate black glass flowers if you do get an ice dam.

What is the minimum roof pitch for snow?

A minimum slope of 1 inch per foot is recommended in snow country.

Do plastic snow guards work?

From both an economic and design perspective, glued on plastic snow guards typically have low holding strength and are unable to handle harsh weather-related elements. The bond weakens over time and when it fails, the guard can rip away paint and protective roof coatings, potentially leading to corrosion.