Snow guards evenly distribute the weight of snow and ice and help protect against damage. Snow guards are most effective when they are installed evenly over the surface of the roof material. The protuberances grab the heavy sheet of snow, stabilizing the sheet, keeping it in place.

Do snow guards increase snow load?

The approximate doubling of load on the end snow guard or snow guard fastener for a guard system that does not extend to the end of a roof should also be considered in design. By holding snow on a roof, snow guards may increase icing problems at eaves.

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.