However little effort does not always mean a high payoff. The problem with polycarbonate snow guards is that they creep down because the rooftop was hot, cold, dirty or wet during installation process. In addition one should bear in mind that typically the adhesive sealant requires 4 weeks to cure completely or sometimes longer if temperatures are lower than 10 °C (50 °F). So this is a good idea to install such snow retainers ahead of the cold season. Otherwise the snow will simply break down the mechanism and slide down in avalanche.
Also remember that some adhesive products contain toxic VOCs and other chemicals including Heptane and Toluene. Make sure you have read the manufacturer’s use layout.
Another downside is that because of their small size the polycarbonate stoppers are unable to hold even minimal amount of snow. Customers have complained on previously installed plastic mechanisms and asked us to install regular tubular holders. The latter do not require any specific weather conditions or drilling holes in your roof. Our stoppers are secured to the roof with the brackets that allow the insertion of a hot zinc coated steel tubular element with 25 mm diameter. The system is completed with the central ice-breaking element fixed in the center of each tubular element.
Below you can see pictures where tubular snow guard were installed OVER the polycarbonate and plastic snow stoppers. It is a regular case, because customers become disappointed with the plastic snow stoppers failing to hold snow load and thus putting the property and pedestrians at peril.
