Every year, accumulated snow unexpectedly slides off metal roofs, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, personal injury and even death. But the truth is these calamities can be prevented by a tested, proven and engineered snow retention system.


Why Do Exposed-Fastened Metal Roofs Need Continuous Snow Bars?
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, metal roof brackets, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, sealants, weather-proofing


How to Get Your Roof Ready for Santa and His Reindeer
Christmas is just around the corner, and Santa will be making his rounds in mere days. People often think about baking cookies to set out for the Jolly Old Elf or cleaning soot out the chimney’s hearth to give him a clear pathway to the tree. But your rooftop is really the most important spot because this is where Santa’s sleigh will touch down. The big question is: Is your roof ready?
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, solar mounting, standing seam metal roof, PV


How to Prevent Snow From Falling Off a Metal Roof Over the Snow Guards
When most people think of snow releasing from a metal rooftop, a cascade of falling snow generally comes to mind. But there are other ways snow can slide off your roof – even when you have a snow guard system in place. Under certain conditions, a thin blanket of snow can “buckle,” pushing a “loop” upwards and causing snow to fold over the top of a snow guard and shed from your metal roof.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof


Why Should I Install Snow Stops on My Exposed-Fastened Metal Roof?
In September, we asked for your questions on exposed-fastened (EF) roofing. Thank you for your responses! We collected them and thought we’d answer one of your questions today. A reader asked us why it made sense to install snow stops on an EF metal roof. If your building is in a snowy climate, installing a continuous snow fence, or discontinuous snow stops or snow guards is essential. For your system to be effective, however, the installation must be well-designed and by calculation – not by “guess and by golly.” There are common misconceptions around snow and metal roofing. So, today we’ll cover why a qualified snow retention system properly engineered for your specific installation is important to EF roofing in heavy-snow regions.
Tags: snow guards, plastic snow guards, metal roof brackets, exposed fastened, cost, installation, weather-proofing


How to Protect Your Solar Panels and Your Roof in Snowy Weather
Metal roofing and solar (photovoltaic) PV panels are a winning combination: metal’s strength and durability make it the only type of roofing material able to outlast the 30+ year lifespan of solar PV arrays. Solar modules can produce energy all year long – even in regions with heavy snowfall. But when you’re attaching PV panels to a roof in snow country, be aware snow loads will have an impact on your solar array’s design. Today, we’ll look at important considerations to help your finished PV installation withstand the forces of nature.
Tags: snow guards, solar mounting, PV, installation


How Do You Design a Reliable Snow Guard System for Your Metal Roof?
If you’ve wondered about the best way to install snow guards, you’re in good company. Last week at the 2021 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas, many people dropped by our exhibition booth to see our products firsthand, meet the S-5! team and get the answers they needed. We thought we’d take a moment to cover how best to design a reliable snow guard system – especially since there are no established codes to guide you.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, rooftop equipment


Whether you are an installer, contractor, architect, engineer, consultant or distributor, the diversity of our educational webinars offers multiple opportunities to expand your knowledge base. These FREE online courses offer practical application of all things mounted to metal roofs from solar and snow guards to utilities like HVAC, satellite communications, roof service walkways and, wind reinforcements. (To see the complete list of courses offered, click here).
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, solar mounting, metal roof brackets, webinar
Massive snow accumulation on a roof creates the potential for an unpredictable avalanche-like effect. Metal is a great choice for your rooftop. It has a long life expectancy and can stand up to the harshest conditions. It does have a low coefficient of friction though–meaning things (including snow) don’t stick to it very well. But the notion that snow is intended to slide off a metal roof is misguided and can be dangerous.
Tags: snow guards, plastic snow guards, standing seam metal roof, exposed fastened


Northern Ontario Winters are No Match for S-5! Snow Guards
The best test of our products is real-life application. This S-5! success story came from Guido Morandin of Work Monster, Inc. in Canada. The Work Monster project features two S-5! products: VersaBracket™ and ColorGard snow retention.
Massive sheet metal snow guard failure is a common occurrence in Northern Ontario. After tiring of “supplying customers with improper ice guard systems,” he needed a real solution that would help mitigate this dangerous phenomenon. He discovered S-5!
Tags: snow guards, exposed fastened


The Legacy of Innovation of Rob Haddock in the Metal Roof Industry
An Interview with Construction in Focus and Manufacturing in Focus Magazines - Rob Haddock recently sat down for an engaging interview to discuss the lasting impact S-5! Metal Roof Innovations has had on the industry. He walks the reader through the history of his company from wooden prototypes to the collection of over 50 U.S. and foreign patents the company holds.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof brackets, standing seam metal roof, rooftop equipment