Halting a dangerous and damaging snow slide with cast bronze roof snow guards on a large English Tudor style home near Cleveland, Ohio.

This home was experiencing heavy snow slides that were damaging the ornamental bushes and plantings below the roof. There was also an intermittant problem with ice and water backing up in the gutter and leaking behind the fascia board. As the roof slate had to be removed to install the snow guards, we felt it was a good time to re do the lower eave flashings and underlayment. New copper gutter apron flashing was installed along with a layer of ice and water membrane as underlayment at the eave edge.

The roofing material is an excellant quality Vermont fading green slate, approximately three quarters to one inch thick at the bottom of the roof, to about three eighth's of an inch at the top. Random thickness and random width and length make it necessary to carefully remove and replace the individual slates in the same position so the roof will retain it's original look.

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Snow Guard Installation

The original Vermont weathering green roof slates at the botttom of the roof were approximately three quarters to one inch thick and ten to sixteen inches wide by about twenty four inches long. Each piece was numbered and carefully removed, carried down a ladder one to two pieces at a time and carefully stacked on the ground. The original felt/tarpaper [ over 80 yrs old ] is in fairly decent condition. Mainly because it was twice as heavy as modern heavy duty underlayment and also was partially protected from the sun by a large oak tree. Beneath the slate is about eighty years of tar paper and slate dust, that if the wind is blowing, will quickly clog your nose and eyes.

Installing tar paper under slate.

The new heavy tar paper underlayment is tucked under the existing tarpaper. Another layer of tar paper is placed under the upper slates in case it rains before the roof is done.
The extra time spent getting the underlayment right may prevent leaks originating from higher on the roofin the future. If a slate cracks or breaks above this area, the water will run down between the slate and the original underlayment, over the new underlayment, and out the lower edge of the roof into the gutter.

Ice shield underlayment.

After the bottom course of old tarpaper is removed from the roof deck, the dust and debris is swept clean and a layer of self adhering underlayment is installed directly to the wood decking. Because the greater Cleveland area, particularly Shaker Heights, Cleveland Hts. and the east side are susceptible to heavy snow fall,  ice and water shield underlayment is placed behind the gutter to protect the wood fascia, and helps to prevent any possible ice backup that might occur under the gutter apron. Although it is not absolutely necessary, (heavy tar paper will accomplish the same thing),  the ice shield is cheap insurance against unforseen problems such as ventilation problems in the attic that may cause ice problems in the future.

Copper Gutter Apron

A 16 oz. cold rolled copper gutter apron flashing is shop fabricated to fit the pitch of the roof and size of the gutter, and installed over the back of the gutter and self adhering underlayment. Copper roofing nails are used to fasten the underlayments and apron flashing. The gutter apron will provide a smooth support surface for the slate and will protect the fascia and underlayments from water splashing out of the gutter. The starter course, or underneath course, of slate is installed upside down to provide a smooth surface for the first slate course and a finished edge for the roof.

Installing the snow guard.

Heavy cast bronze snow guards (maufactured by Seiger Snow Guard Co.) are installed at the top edge of the exposure line just below the next course of slate. Using two, three inch #12 stainless steel screws, the snow guards are fastened below the next course of slate and through the joint between slates. The copper bar shanks have pre drilled holes to for fastening. The copper shanks of the snow guard should be long enough that the screws are installed above the top of the slate below. There are extra holes in the shanks in case one of the holes lines up with a crack in the roof boards.

Bronze and copper snow guards.

A view from the lower edge of the roof. All the slates are re installed, new copper gutter flashing and new protective underlayments have been installed. The new bronze snow guards are shining in the afternoon sun. The shiny look will not last long. As soon as the copper and bronze are subjected to a few days of weathering they will turn a darker brown color and eventually oxidize and take on a green tint.

New copper apron, underlayment and bronze snow guards.