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TOPIC: Snow guards

Snow shreds gutters

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We recently bought a house with a metal roof and noticed that all the gutters had been removed. The previous owners explained that the snow sliding off the roof (12/12 pitch) pulled most of them down. I'm considering putting gutters back on, and am looking for input on how to avoid this problem. So far, I've thought of snow dams, gutter helmet, and mounting the gutters lower than normal (though I'm wary that they won't catch the rain if I do). Thanks for any input, Jim
Guest User

10/2/2002
My house is similar to yours and I also live in snow country, though we might not get as much snow as you do. Anyway, my home also has a 12:12 pitch with a metal roof. I have never had problems with the gutters. I have 6" gutters (seamless "K" style)produced form .032" aluminum and mounted into the rafter tails using gutter brackets which fasten into the fascia. I mounted the gutters as high as possible. You are correct in that, if you mount them too low, water will overshoot them. If there are areas of particular concern, snowguards could be installed on the roof. Snowguards basically slow down the snow as it slides and break it up into smaller chunks.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

10/3/2002
Hello. I also live in snow country though perhaps not in as snowy of an area as where you live. Anyway, I also have a metal roof and a 12:12 roof pitch. I have never had gutter problems. I have 6" seamless (K style) gutters produced from .032" aluminum. They have been mounted using gutter brackets which attach through the fascia and into the rafter ends. I have them mounted fairly high so that water will not overshoot them.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

10/3/2002
Seems like the gutters should be mounted just below a line extending in the same direction of the roof slope. Heavy ice or hard snow should shoot over the top of the gutters, but rain should fall into the gutters. We are having metal roofing installed on our house now, and I've observed how the water runs off during a rain. The rain water does not shoot out far before it curves downward. We are getting new gutter installed, since the old ones were damage from removing them. A gutter installer is coming to bid on the job next week. I'll let you know what he says works best. He was recommended by two builders I know and trust. Make sure your gutter installer uses screws instead of ring shank nails. Three reasons: 1) You can re-tighten screws. 2) They hold somewhat better than ring shanks. 3) You can remove and re-place the gutter to a different position, without damage to your gutters. Best of luck, Mark
Guest User

10/10/2002
is there a snow gaurd heavy enough to detour the snow from the gutters
Guest User

2/25/2008
If you have a standing seam roof, you may wish to consider a Snow Fence rather than individual snow guards.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

3/1/2008
Todd, I live in Michigan, have standing seam metal roof and just put on gutters due to 500yr rain storm. I am concerned about them being ripped off by the weight of ice and snow this winter. The roof pitch is only 4:12. Should I put on adheasive attatched snowjax snow/ice stops. You state that you have a 12:12 pitch and have had no problems with your gutters and I am shocked with that steep of a pitch! Anyway let me know the best route to take, only have about 30 days or so for adhesive to cure before temperatures really drop. Thanks, MJ
Guest User

9/28/2008
Snowguards could be beneficial to help break up the snowload as it slides. Certainly would be a good safeguard.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

9/30/2008
Todd, Would you recommend the snow guards, rails or the snow stops that individually attach to each standing seam. Would you definitely recommend that they be used, as in your response you don't sound like my gutters would get ripped off without them? Thanks, Mike
Guest User

10/3/2008
This is unpredictable unfortunately and also has to do with attic insulation, etc. My preference would probably be for either snow guards attached to the pans or, as you say, snow stops attached to the ribs. A snow fence is good but can almost work too well. Also, it gets rather costly especially if you have to add the diverters between each rib.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

10/7/2008