What is on this roof?

millie_17

Hi, please could anyone advise what this may be along the edge of the roof at the back of this house (broken off). Thanks

user1977

Some sort of snow guard perhaps?

bobster2

user1977 said:

Some sort of snow guard perhaps?

In some other countries that's what I'd be thinking. But in the UK? That would be rather odd.

vacheron

looks like a snow arrestor that has previously failed to arrest snow! 

Odd to see them in the UK though. Is this in northern Scotland, or somewhere at a relatively high altitude?

lfc321

Not unheard of in the UK - especially in the north in situations where a car parking space is directly underneath.

Alfrescodave

Why not ask locally (facebook ?) if anyone has a drone and could take some detailed photos. Might help identify.
Or get a ladder

Bookworm225

as others have said, it looks to be a rail to prevent an avalanche of snow 

the principle is the snow is held on the roof until it melts, rather than a great lump falling on someone's head. 
A dubious principle as it means there is a great weight of snow left on the roof rather than it falling to the ground. You will not see such devices in alpine country (they have a steeper angle roof so the snow does not settle on the roof in the first place)

bobster2

Bookworm225 said:

as others have said, it looks to be a rail to prevent an avalanche of snow 

the principle is the snow is held on the roof until it melts, rather than a great lump falling on someone's head. 
A dubious principle as it means there is a great weight of snow left on the roof rather than it falling to the ground. You will not see such devices in alpine country (they have a steeper angle roof so the snow does not settle on the roof in the first place)

Sorry but that is simply not true. Alpine chalets typically have shallow pitches and are covered with devices for retaining snow. Sometimes rods or bars. Of course the structure is designed to hold the weight of the snow unlike a UK roof.

Smalltownhypocrite

bobster2 said:

user1977 said:

Some sort of snow guard perhaps?

In some other countries that's what I'd be thinking. But in the UK? That would be rather odd.

Most houses round here have them, ESPECIALLY if you have a conservatory (otherwise expect that to be shattered to pieces every winter). We don't have one but lose our guttering most years and have to have it put back up.

I live in the mountains and we get a lot of snow. Not everywhere is low lying cities that get no snow, it was crazy when I use to have to travel to the city from a foot of snow at home to barely a puddle and some light sludge in the city.

The ones round here tend to be made of wooden boards though.

Bookworm225

bobster2 said:

Bookworm225 said:

as others have said, it looks to be a rail to prevent an avalanche of snow 

the principle is the snow is held on the roof until it melts, rather than a great lump falling on someone's head. 
A dubious principle as it means there is a great weight of snow left on the roof rather than it falling to the ground. You will not see such devices in alpine country (they have a steeper angle roof so the snow does not settle on the roof in the first place)

Sorry but that is simply not true. Alpine chalets typically have shallow pitches and are covered with devices for retaining snow. Sometimes rods or bars. Of course the structure is designed to hold the weight of the snow unlike a UK roof.

OK, so not Alpine, but is true elsewhere: Scandinavian roof pitches are typically steep, generally ranging from 35 to 45 degrees, or even steeper. This design helps shed snow and rain effectively, crucial for colder climates. Steeper pitches, such as 48 or 55 degrees, are also common for Swedish farmhouses. 

bobster2

Bookworm225 said:

bobster2 said:

Bookworm225 said:

as others have said, it looks to be a rail to prevent an avalanche of snow 

the principle is the snow is held on the roof until it melts, rather than a great lump falling on someone's head. 
A dubious principle as it means there is a great weight of snow left on the roof rather than it falling to the ground. You will not see such devices in alpine country (they have a steeper angle roof so the snow does not settle on the roof in the first place)

Sorry but that is simply not true. Alpine chalets typically have shallow pitches and are covered with devices for retaining snow. Sometimes rods or bars. Of course the structure is designed to hold the weight of the snow unlike a UK roof.

OK, so not Alpine, but is true elsewhere: Scandinavian roof pitches are typically steep, generally ranging from 35 to 45 degrees, or even steeper. This design helps shed snow and rain effectively, crucial for colder climates. Steeper pitches, such as 48 or 55 degrees, are also common for Swedish farmhouses. 

Yes - either approach can work. Either steep enough to shed snow. Or shallow but strong enough to carry the weight. I think the choice of shallow in the alps might be to do with the wind at altitude.