SUREBOND Sealants & Adhesives for Landscaping, Construction & Industrial/OEM

FAQ - Snowguards

What is the best application method for snowguards?

Cover the complete underside of the base and edge of the snowguard with adhesive. Press the guard and adhesive downward into the roof to ensure that there are no gaps under the snowguard or around the edges. Run an additional bead of adhesive around the edges if necessary to ensure a great seal and prevent leaks. Use a rubber glove or wet tongue depressor to smooth the adhesive around the edge of the guard.

Is there anything a customer wants to make sure they do or make sure they don't do, so that the product works effectively?

Do use SB-190 on glue-down metal or polycarbonate snowguards.
Do not use SB-190 or any adhesive for glue-down snowguards on copper, lead (adhesives do not last on copper or lead) or galvanized roofs (galvanized roofs should use a non-acetic, neutral-cure silicone). We also caution that using glue down snowguards on EPDM roofs may be effective, but may also conflict with the EPDM manufacturer’s warranty.

Do your products adhere to all painted metal roofs?

Surebond products work well with all kinds of paint, including Kynar-500® and other polyester and synthetic baked on paint finished used for metal roofing. However, we do not recommend using adhesives with copper or lead roofs.

How have your products worked in the past? In general, what kind of feedback have you received from customers?

Surebond products have been used in roofing applications for over 27 years and have a long history of success. We frequently hear from customers that they check on 20 year old applications and they are stronger than the year they were applied. We also get lots of questions about how to ensure success and we reply that cleaning the surface properly and applying Surebond adhesives in conjunction with Berger’s installation instructions will ensure a strong, secure bond and a successful project.

SB-190 Everseal

What tips do you have for installing snowguards using SB-190 Everseal?

Clean roof and snowguards with Xylene / Xylol or isopropyl alcohol to ensure they are free of oils or dirt. Some molded snow guards are produced using silicone-based release agents; it is especially important to make sure that these pieces are not oily to the touch, as the silicone will inhibit the adhesion of SB-190 Everseal to the plastic. Any paint should be fully cured.
In certain applications, Tolulene or Xylene aromatic solvents can be used to soften SB-190 Everseal for removal. Consult with the roof manufacturer to ensure that these substanceswill not damage the roof matieral.
If the surfaces are cold and damp a hot air electric blower dryer can be used to dry and warm the surface to be sealed.
It is important, if you have to seal in cold or cooler weather, that you keep the cartridges warm or at 75°F room temperature until just before it is applied and that you use a pencil or l/4" diameter rod to puncture the inner nozzle seal.
SB-l90 Everseal is the toughest and strongest clear sealant-adhesive made. Surebond does recommend applying SB-l90 when temperatures are above 50°F. In temperatures below 50°F SB-l90 is hard to gun, loses its tackiness and takes longer to cure.
For steep angle roofs and on very hot summer days, use tape or string to prevent snow guards from moving while the adhesive sets up. The tape or string can be removed the next day.

How long does it take for the snowguard to adhere to the roof with SB-190 Everseal?

Full cure will take 28 days at 50°F or above. 50% strength is achieved in 5-7 days and 90% at 12-14 days above 50°F.

Can SB-190 be used on copper roofs?

It can get a good initial bond, but over time copper has a way of preventing ALL adhesives from keeping a lasting bond. We do not recommend using adhesives with copper.

SB1800 Everflex Bondaprene

How can I use SB-1800 with snowguards?

SB-1800 is a great sealant for screw down snowguards and can be used to adhere snowguards in winter months when it is too cold to apply SB-190. However, SB-1800 only has ¼ the tensile strength of SB-190, so we recommend using SB-190 as the adhesive for glue-only snowguards.

What is SB-1800 used for?

SB-1800 Everflex Bondaprene is a sealant used to create a tight seal between two pieces of metal and is used in a variety of vehicle and transportation applications. An important characteristic of this product is that it works to a very low application temperature (-40° F), meaning that it can still be extruded from the tube at temperatures where many competing products will not come out.

I see that SB-1800 is spot-weldable. What does this mean?

Spot-weldable means that the product can have a spot weld applied to the metal beneath the seal without damaging the sealant. Many competing products turn brittle and burn when a weld is applied. SB-1800 holds a water-tight seal even when a weld is applied.

How is SB-1800 different than SB-188?

While the products have similar properties, SB-188 is more of a sealant and SB-1800 is more of an adhesive. SB-1800 is an acetic cure product. The level of acetic acid in the SB-1800 is minimal and will have no adverse affects with metal but we always recommend a test before final application.

We recommend all customers conduct their own testing prior to using our products to determine suitability in specific applications. Because we cannot predict or control the environments in which our products will be used, we cannot accept any liability for obtained results.