While snow guards have never been introduced to the UK, more and more homeowners are turning to snow guards to prevent debris from falling from their roof onto the driveway, which could cause serious damage. In northern Europe, for example, it is not uncommon to have 12 inches of snow overnight and this presents a lot of weight, which will eventually shear off from the sloping roof and crash onto the driveway.
Steel Brackets
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The optimum design is one that has space for the guttering, while the bracket is fixed to the sidewall under the guttering; there are powder coated colors to blend with the surroundings. Search online for online snow roof guards by Gold Bros Ltd, a leading UK supplier with very affordable prices and a range of designs.
Regular Snow Guards
Six inches is the standard depth of snow guards and snow that is deeper would naturally fall, which secures the snow to the roof, allowing it to naturally melt. Most UK homeowners opt for the 6-inch guard, as this is ample for the British weather and the guards also prevent roof tiles from falling to the ground, a likely occurrence during gale force winds.
Deep Snow Guards
The deeper version is 9 inches and that extra 3 inch makes a difference with heavy snowfalls, and the brackets need to be professionally fitted in order to take the strain and spaced at short intervals to add strength. If you are uncertain about installing snow guards on your roof, talk to a local roofing contractor, who would be happy to quote for the project. Order the brackets and guard in 2m sections, which can easily be cut down to size, while the brackets come with fixings and full instructions.
Falling Roof Tiles
We all know what kind of damage gale-force winds can cause and we seem to be seeing more storms in the UK, which is another good reason to install snow guards all around the bottom of your roof. Imagine what a heavy tile would do to the car’s bonnet! When you have snow guards fitted, you no longer have to worry about debris falling onto the driveway, and once fitted, you can forget about maintenance.
Order at Trade Prices
This is the smart way to install snow guards; buy the materials online and ask a contractor to quote for labor. If you approach the roofer, he will offer to supply and install the snow guards, but if you already have the materials, he can only charge for labor. All it takes is a Google search to find the website of an online snow guard supplier and with a little calculation, you will know the length you require and can place an accurate order.
Image Source: Pexels
Scientists believe that the UK and northern Europe will become colder, a product of global warming and this will mean heavier snowfalls than we are used to seeing, and if you have yet to install snow guards, now is as good a time as any.
