My garage is abt 50' long oriented east-west on a high spot of land. The doors are on the south side.The prevailing snow storm winds come from the NW and leaves a drift of snow against the doors. Can anyone point to a website or discussion or have experience with roof mounted spoilers( DIY) that might help keep the snow somewhere else? The ridge is also east west and the pitch is 5/12, asphalt shingles, easy to get onto with ladder. Leo
- Thread starter IA Leo
- Start date
Is a snow fence to the west of the building a possibility, about 75 feet away?
While wind comes over the top, most of the snow seems to blow in along the ground 'here', and piles it up in the eddie current against such a building side.
It's easier to do a snow fence than attach a wing on a roof.....
--->Paul
While wind comes over the top, most of the snow seems to blow in along the ground 'here', and piles it up in the eddie current against such a building side.
It's easier to do a snow fence than attach a wing on a roof.....
--->Paul
Ken Macfarlane
Well-known Member
Your building is like a snow fence, it drops snow where the wind slows down, downstream. You can trip it further away to drop the snow before it gets to your building or you can try to build a wall so the eddies are farther from your doors.
I don't think a 'fence' will fix the problem... What he needs is a 'spoiler' or a wind 'deflector' that will make the wind blow down the south side of his building (where the doors are) and carry the snow farther away... Basically, the south side of his building is an 'eddy' where the wind hits a 'slow' spot and that allows the snow to reach the ground (and stay)...
My recommendation would be to put a vertical vane (like you used to see at the top, rear of some cars) at the S corner of where the wind comes from that directs the wind down the south side of the building... Might need two or three (or more) of them to get enough wind channeled down the south side...
8)
My recommendation would be to put a vertical vane (like you used to see at the top, rear of some cars) at the S corner of where the wind comes from that directs the wind down the south side of the building... Might need two or three (or more) of them to get enough wind channeled down the south side...
8)
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
I agree. A snow fence would be the easiest and quickest cure. If you're young enough to benefit from it, plant a double row of cedar trees to create a permanent windbreak.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Snow fence is a spoiler. It slows the wind down, snow passes through and drops on the lee side of the fence. At least that is what happens along miles of road here in NH. Like others have said a snow fence about 75-100 feet up wind would stop a high proportion of the snow.
Well... my experience is with sand, not snow...(I probably should have kept quiet and left it to the experts... LOL!) It doesn't really snow down here and when it does, it only lasts a couple of hours...
8)
P.S. Just out of curiosity, how high would the snow fence have to be? Seems like the snow would blow OVER the top... eventually ....
8)
P.S. Just out of curiosity, how high would the snow fence have to be? Seems like the snow would blow OVER the top... eventually ....
About 4 feet is typical.
You want to create the eddy about 100 feet away from the problem area, it will drop the snow downwind of the fence so you need to leave room. As the wind moves on, it picks up speed but doesn't have any snow left in it so the building area will be better.
The fence is not solid, it is about 50-50 open, lets the wind through but slows it down, makes the snow bits fall out before the wind picks up again.
I leave 4 rows of corn stand 150 feet back from my driveway, makes a very good snowfence. Without it there can be a 8 foot snowbank where the road and grove meet any time the wind blows. With it, takes half the winter before a 2 foot bank builds up, makes a world of difference. The bank first builds up _just_ downwind of the fence.
--->Paul
You want to create the eddy about 100 feet away from the problem area, it will drop the snow downwind of the fence so you need to leave room. As the wind moves on, it picks up speed but doesn't have any snow left in it so the building area will be better.
The fence is not solid, it is about 50-50 open, lets the wind through but slows it down, makes the snow bits fall out before the wind picks up again.
I leave 4 rows of corn stand 150 feet back from my driveway, makes a very good snowfence. Without it there can be a 8 foot snowbank where the road and grove meet any time the wind blows. With it, takes half the winter before a 2 foot bank builds up, makes a world of difference. The bank first builds up _just_ downwind of the fence.
--->Paul
I have tried upwind snow fence, no luck and I think a "car port" roof over the concrete approach to the south doors probably is the answer, but it has its drawbacks, too.
1. to maintain clearance that I built the garage doors for (ie 10 feet high) would result in a very flat roof.
2. some hefty 20 foot long rafters would be needed and a very heavy sill needed to handle snow load and large clear span to not have posts in the way.
3. and lots of open rafters would attract the nice barn swallows I like. Want to keep them in my windowless barn.
So I am back to planting trees that I will not live to see much use of, or making some kind of roof top air foil. Leo
1. to maintain clearance that I built the garage doors for (ie 10 feet high) would result in a very flat roof.
2. some hefty 20 foot long rafters would be needed and a very heavy sill needed to handle snow load and large clear span to not have posts in the way.
3. and lots of open rafters would attract the nice barn swallows I like. Want to keep them in my windowless barn.
So I am back to planting trees that I will not live to see much use of, or making some kind of roof top air foil. Leo
fixerupper
Well-known Member
Put a vertical spoiler on the west end of the garage so it wraps around the SW corner of the garage and directs the wind around the SW corner and across the south side. It might keep the snow from piling against the door closest to the spoiler and maybe a little farther? Jim
armand tatro
Well-known Member
What about building a round steel grain bin off one cornor of your building? Those "coffe cans" can sure build some strange wind currents and eddies. If you have any need for grain storage you would be getting two uses out of your wind break. Not sure how to figure the wind currents. Might have to talk with your local college. Armand
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