Avalanche preventers: good or bad?

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

There's some disagreement about this subject here in Colorado.
Three years ago we had a storm that dumped 8 feet (that's measured feet, we had about 5 feet on the ground). Snow sliding off metal roofs ripped signs off of commercial buildings and deck handrails off homes with roof designs that didn't route slides above the rail.

I had a disussion yesterday with a broker who is dead set against them. His argument was that the big advantage to expensive metal roofs is that they shed snow easily. Preventers defeats the whole purpose. He went on to point out that snow will slide eventually anyway and preventers just force roof accumulation to build up to unsafe levels before it finally slides. These seem like a valid points, at least under some circumstances.

Seems to me it might depend on site-specific conditions. The roof pitch, temperature of the roof and temperature and nature (stickiness) of the snow all should effect the level of accumulation that will build up before the snow slides.


A shallow pitch with no preventers might be very dangerous if wet snow fell on a frozen metal roof. It could build up to unsafe levels before the roof warmed up and it broke loose. A shallow pitch with preventers might not shed snow at all and then why pay all that money for a metal roof?
A steep roof usually sheds snow at fairly low (safe) levels of accumulation, so no preventers seems better in that situation.

[ldapkus]

I see them mostly on commercial buildings here but, some upscale homes have them.This one also had a $135,000 audio/visual setup. The $45,000 driveway was nice too.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

.... The $45,000 driveway was nice too.

What does a $45,000 driveway look like?

[ldapkus]

Originally Posted by mlarson

What does a $45,000 driveway look like?

Like this. The roof was $130,000. (slate roof)

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

$45,000.00 and it doesn't even have avalanche preventers! I guess they're against them in Lockport.

[ldapkus]

They tore down a perfectly good home to build this one.

[rnewman1]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

The $45,000 driveway was nice too.

Must be the expensive fence material and the integrated "bathroom"

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Did the house they tore down have avalanche preventers?

[ldapkus]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Did the house they tore down have avalanche preventers?

I didn't see it. The builder is building this one for himself.

[Andrew Cox]

I like the idea - where can I get them around here?

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

the issue over snow deflectors is a complex one as they are there to serve 2 purposes dependent on roof type.

• Slate/Tile roofs: they were originally installed on these roofs to prevent tiles or thier fasteners being dislodge by large snow loads sliding down the roof.
• Steel roofs: the only real application for them on steel roofs is to protect pedestrian access areas from people being injured by avalaches from the roof.

the isuue really becomes one of roofing type, and liabilities.

Regards

Gerry

[Michael Larson]

I didn't inspect this property but noticed it recently where Ilive.

Does anyone recognize the roofing material?

[Jae Williams]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

Like this. The roof was $130,000. (slate roof)

Don't they have indoor toilets?












Well..the picture showed a Port-A-Potty in the driveway.....

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by acox

I like the idea - where can I get them around here?

Andrew, in Florida you need them to keep the mold from sliding off the roof.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I didn't inspect this property but noticed it recently where Ilive.

Does anyone recognize the roofing material?

Attachment 6088

I thought the sprinkler heads were supposed to be on the ceiling and point down.