Yes, they do, and that’s mostly a good thing. Snow slides off a metal roof instead of sitting on it, so there’s less weight on your roof and less chance of ice dams. But when a whole roof’s worth of snow lets go at once, it has to land somewhere. That’s why metal roof snow guards are the most common thing we get called about: somewhere between 200 and 400 calls every year.
What Homeowners Call Us About
Most calls come from homeowners who have already seen what sliding snow can do, or who can see exactly where it’s going to land. The most common worries are:
- Front doors and entrances
- Walkways
- Driveways and parked cars
- The neighbour’s property, especially where houses sit close together
- Hydro and gas meters
- Flowerbeds, shrubs and young trees
- Pets. Some owners want guards all the way around the house so their dogs can run outside safely.
- Eavestroughs
That last one has become a big one. After last winter’s heavy snow, we heard from many homeowners whose eavestroughs had been damaged by sliding snow. Now that they’ve paid to repair them, they want snow guards so it doesn’t happen again.
Roofs we install usually come with some snow guards included in the contract, and our installers place them where experience tells them they’ll matter most. That’s why most of the calls we get are from homeowners who want more coverage, or whose roof was installed without them.
How Snow Guards Work
Snow guards hold snow on the roof so it melts and drips off gradually, instead of sliding off in one heavy sheet. In other words, they don’t stop snow from leaving your roof. They control how it leaves.
Which Snow Guards Your Roof Needs
The right guard depends on your roof:
- Steel and aluminum shingle roofs get individual guards, colour-matched to your roof so they blend in.
- Standing seam roofs get a bar or rail system that attaches to the seams.
- Old plastic guards can be replaced with new ones.
Jobs range from a few guards over a door to guards around the whole house.
Snow Guards on a Roof Another Company Installed
We also install snow guards on metal roofs installed by other companies. Before you call, check your roof’s warranty, since some manufacturers have rules about who can work on the roof. Please note that we only install snow guards on metal roofs.
Book Before the Snow Flies
We don’t install snow guards in winter, so fall is the time to call. We also group snow guard jobs by area, so booking early gives us the best chance of fitting you in before the snow arrives.
Learn more on our Snow Guards page, or call 866-969-7663 to book.
Book your snow guards before winter
Call 866-969-7663 or request a free quote.