Snow Blocks

[JasonF]

I just finshed builded my 32x48x12 pole building and now I'm taking care of getting all the outside stuff done before winter. I have a metal roof and one of the things I want to do is get some snow blocks up so the snow doesn't slide down causing big piles in front of the overhead doors or tear off my gutters.
My last barn I used a product simliar to these; http://www.snowguards.com/
I had some calcs run and they figured I would need 364 of these plastic snow guards which seems a bit excessive and pricey for a 4/12 pitch. What are some alternatives to snow blocks like these? I am considering just getting some angle aluminum and screwing a bar across the standing seams of the roof with roofing screws and some sealant?
Here in mid Michigan we get some decent size storms throughout the winter but typically the snow melts off the roof in between storms and doesn't need to be removed.
All ideas are appreciated.

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

The pricing on that site isnt sane. Seems you could make something simple to accomplish what you want.

 

[juiced10]

When I first moved up to snow country on Tughill NY I replaced my roof with a metal one after shoveling the shingles the first winter. Being cheap I did the aluminum angle screwed onto ribs of roof. First heavy snow the angle ripped off the roof and of course tore the metal roof with it. Those plastic snowstops are way cheaper than replacing roofing panels and the time saved from doing it twice may as well be priceless.

 

[SteveCh]

Your idea for the al bars should work fine. When I installed our standing-seam roofing, I purchased ready-made matching bars for that exact reason, holding back snow. The snow can still slide off, but not until it melts down to be thin enough to slide beneath the bars.

 

[JasonF]

The pricing on that site isnt sane. Seems you could make something simple to accomplish what you want.

Sadly they are the cheapest retailer out there for this type of item, any of the home stores are at least triple thier prices.

 

[JasonF]

When I first moved up to snow country on Tughill NY I replaced my roof with a metal one after shoveling the shingles the first winter. Being cheap I did the aluminum angle screwed onto ribs of roof. First heavy snow the angle ripped off the roof and of course tore the metal roof with it. Those plastic snowstops are way cheaper than replacing roofing panels and the time saved from doing it twice may as well be priceless.

Just curious if your were screwed into the steel or the wood underneath? Tug Hill gets a ton of snow compared to my area, I am jealous!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Those plastic stops fall off if not mechanically fastened. Glue, silicone or tape just doesn't hold. I had them on a very shallow pitched steel roof over an entrance at one of my schools & <3" of snow popped them right off...

Tommy

 

[nehog]

I used 1" (or 1 1/4", don't remember that well) galvanized angle. Screwed to the roof, about a foot or so from the edge. Has worked perfectly for last two years. Can have two feet of snow up there and it doesn't slide off.

 

[Chris705]

nehog....just screwed the angle thru the standing ridges with neoprene washered screw?

 

[maynard9089]

My builder just installed them for me. He said he charges $4/ea to his customers and that he gets them for under $3/ea. these are the painted metal ones that match the roof color not the less expensive plastic ones.

 

[nehog]

nehog....just screwed the angle thru the standing ridges with neoprene washered screw?

I've a metal roof, and I did basically just that. I also put a dollop of a sealer between the angle and the metal roof, just in case.

 

[JasonF]

I've a metal roof, and I did basically just that. I also put a dollop of a sealer between the angle and the metal roof, just in case.

This is exactly what I was planning on doing, although looking at the price of angle stock last night it appears I'm not saving much over the plastic blocks. I do like the idea of screwing this into to highs points rather than having more leak points screwed into the lows.

LS6 Tommy - what kind of adheasive was used on the blocks that pulled off? My last roof I used a sealant and neoprene screws but if I do blocks again this time I was thinking of doing adheasive only.