Weather is extremely hard to predict and impossible to avoid, but inclement weather is the leading cause of home damage in many parts of the United States. In cold climates, snow is the most dangerous weather condition homeowners face. The accumulation of snow and ice on the roof can cause serious damage to the structure of the home, but it can also be a life threatening danger for anyone walking near the roof. The best way to limit your liability and protect your home investment is to install snow guards to limit the damage that snow can cause.
Why are snow guards necessary?
As snow collects on the top of the roof it grows in to a larger and heavier pile with each passing minute. Eventually gravity wins out and pulls the snow to the ground very suddenly, bringing hundreds of pounds of snow and ice to the ground all at once. The falling snow can damage landscaping, gutters and plumbing; however, the most frightening thing that can happen is for a person to get caught in the slide. Around walkways and entrances this sliding snow has been known to cause thousands of injuries a year in the United States, and even death in some instances.
How does a snow guard work?
Snow guards are a useful tool to make sure that when the snow and ice comes down it does not all come down in a giant sheet. The snow guards break up the snow and ice that accumulate and so the pieces that fall come in much smaller segments and they fall on a much more predictable basis. Because the snow guards act as retaining walls, the snow and ice are kept in place on the roof and much of their weight is nullified through the slow natural melting process.
What benefits will you see?
The most important and obvious benefit is safety, which is made even more important if you own a commercial or industrial building where you have a lot of liability exposure because of the number of people coming in and out of the building. At the very least, every home and business should have some kind of snow guard around their walkways and entrances? In addition, you will save money by protecting landscaping and gutter systems all along the roof.
As the Fall begins to become Winter, it is more important than ever to get ready for the cold weather. The installation of snow guards will help to save you a lot of money and potential lawsuits.
