Systems to protect homes in snowy climates

By Jonny Suchor. 

The increasing awareness of snow retention systems plays a pivotal role in keeping roofs, surrounding landscapes and people safe. 

Winter is here and with that brings shifts in weather patterns across various regions. These seasonal changes can bring intense weather conditions, much like the snow and ice that has recently impacted numerous states, that can pose risks to the safety and integrity of our homes, particularly our roofs.  

In an episode of Roofing Roadtrips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth, spoke with Mindy Dahlquist, business development manager at TRA Snow & Sun, to dive into the best practices for protecting homes during the winter months by utilizing snow retention systems. 

“At TRA, we manufacture snow retention, and we do some roofing flashes, ridge risers, and all kinds of different roofing accessories,” Mindy says. “So, we are just in the roofing business to do whatever our customers need us to do to make sure the roof is safe.” 

Snow retention is frequently underestimated when it comes to safeguarding a home because many people don’t understand why they would want to hold snow on the roof. Mindy explains, “When that snow is held on the roof, it's done so unintentionally. Without snow retention, that snow holds on the roof in heavy snow load areas until then it just randomly slides off. If you have dogs or children or you're out trying to fix your gutters or any reason for you to be outside, then it can become very, very dangerous.”  

But with the use of brackets and fences, like those from TRA Snow & Sun, the snow stays on the roof until it can safely melt. “Oftentimes people will think that snow retention is made just to slice up that snow as it falls down or allow just little amounts to come down at the time, and that's not really the goal,” Mindy explains. “The goal is just to hold it up there, create that insulating mass that's just going to be held safely in place until it can melt off when it's time.” 

In snowy regions, snow retention systems are a must. TRA Snow & Sun takes the lead by manufacturing and engineering these systems in-house, ensuring safety for contractors and homeowners. Their innovative snow retention systems, like staggered brackets and fences, enhance safety by helping prevent dangerous situations of snow sliding off roofs uncontrolled. As awareness about the importance of snow retention grows, companies like TRA Snow & Sun play a pivotal role in winter home safety. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about TRA Sun & Snow and the snow retention systems that can keep homes safe this winter.