Resourceful Roofer Creates Award-Winning Project

Drift Solar with Ice Screen retaining snow - On Point Contracting

Snow & Solar

Roofing contractor Nick Piontek thinks outside-the-box. His innovative approach and resourcefulness have helped him win many project bids. Most recently he aided homeowner, Stephen Perlmutter when other roofers scratched their heads and walked away.

Perlmutter's story starts after having solar panels installed on his home in Louisville, Colorado. The following winter there were two massive snow slides off the slick panels. "They made such a roar that our neighbors came out to see what happened," related Perlmutter. "If someone had been on that path where the four-foot mound of snow fell, there would have been a trip to the hospital or worse."

Perlmutter contacted several roofers. Each one told him there wasn't enough space between the lower part of the solar panels and the edge of the roof to add a snow retention system. Then he contacted Nick Piontek at On Point Contracting out of Littleton, Colorado.

"Piontek suggested we move the panels higher on the roof, which required moving two air vent exhausts, and then adding Drift Solar Snow Fences," said Perlmutter.

Here's where the story gets even more interesting. Piontek advised Perlmutter his asphalt roof had hail damage. A State Farm® insurance adjuster visited and agreed. However, because it was reported just two weeks before the two-year cut-off mark for filing a claim, the insurance company wanted to deny it. That wasn't flying with Piontek. He fought hard for Mr. Perlmutter and won.

"State Farm® paid to have the entire roof replaced," explained Perlmutter. "That meant removing the solar panels, so Piontek moved them up the roof during reinstallation. Due to Piontek's innovative approach to the problem and his can-do attitude, all we paid for was the moving of the air vent exhausts, the snow fence and its installation!"

Drift Solar with Ice Screen below solar panels - On Point Contracting

Since the Rocky Mountain Snow Guards snow fence has been installed, Perlmutter reports no snow has gotten past it. He says, "all the snow is held back and melts naturally."

Designed specifically for snow retention below solar panel installations, the 4-pipe aluminum Drift Solar Snow Fence creates a catch basin for snow coming off the solar panels. The 12" tall brackets are bolted directly to the roof support structure. Type of fasteners is determined by support structure material. Ice screen is usually installed with the Drift Solar Fence system to impede the movement of snow between the tubing.

For their work on the Perlmutter residence, On Point Contracting has been named the Grand Prize Winner in the Most Impressive Fence-Style System category in the 2024 "Show Us Our Snow Guards" Contest.