17 Feet of Snow is No Joke on a Roof

Blizzard Heavy Duty II with S-5!® S Clamps

Whether it's a region like Truckee, where heavy snowfall is the norm, or the mountains of Colorado, or the hills of Texas, snow guards are an essential safety measure.

There's no joking around when it comes to adding snow retention to roofs in Truckee, California. Recognized by The Weather Channel® as the third snowiest unincorporated city in the U.S., Truckee gets an average of 206 inches of snow annually. That's more than 17 FEET of snow each year...all sitting on a roof.

Slick Metal Roofs

Specializing in roofing for mountain and high-altitude homes, Mills Roofing, Inc. has more than 45 years of experience in the Truckee-Tahoe region. So when called recently by Truckee homeowners to replace an old roof with a 24-gauge standing seam metal roof, they knew a snow retention system was a given.

"In this area, we don't have to 'sell' snow retention," says Tyler Martin, production admin manager at Mills Roofing, Inc., out of Sparks, Nevada. "People around here understand that to protect their decks, patios, and other spaces, they need snow retention. Especially when we're talking about a 'slick roof' like synthetics, slate, or in this case, metal."

Designed for High Snow Load Areas

During the past several years, the team at Mills Roofing has turned to the design experts at Rocky Mountain Snow Guards to determine the layout and products for their snow retention systems. The free service they provide has been a good experience for the installers.

For this 2025 project, a Blizzard Heavy Duty II with S-5!® S Clamps was recommended by the Rocky Mountain Snow Guards team. The aluminum 2-pipe clamp-to-seam bracket with two attached S-5!® S standard size clamps is designed for high snow load areas.

"This is a quick and non-invasive way to keep snow on the roof without causing damage," says Martin. "It helps reduce avalanching. Importantly, we can clamp this system directly to the metal ribs rather than putting holes into a roof.

"We feel confident that this system will not cause any leaks or damage to the brand-new roofing system. There's also an appealing lack of maintenance for the homeowners with both the roof and snow retention system. It's a win for everyone in a town that has an abundance of heavy snowfall."

The Need for Snow Guards

Whether it's a region like Truckee, where heavy snowfall is the norm, or the mountains of Colorado, or the hills of Texas, snow accumulation on rooftops can pose significant risks. Snow guards are an essential safety measure designed to mitigate these dangers. Here are some of the key reasons why snow guards are indispensable for properties:

Preventing Snow Slides: Without snow guards, snow and ice can suddenly slide off sloped roofs, creating an avalanche effect. This can endanger pedestrians, damage property, and even cause severe injuries.
Protecting Gutters and Downspouts: The weight and force of falling snow can tear gutters and downspouts from the edges of roofs, leading to costly repairs.
Reducing Roof Damage: Sudden snow displacement can cause structural damage to roofing materials, jeopardizing the integrity of the entire roof.
Enhancing Property Safety: For homes and businesses in snow climates, snow guards provide peace of mind by safeguarding driveways, walkways, and entrances from dangerous snowfalls.

For more information on snow retention, LISTEN to these podcasts: