Sno Gem
Sno Gem is a Crystal Lake, Illinois-based manufacturer of snow guards and snow retention hardware for standing seam, metal, and other steep-slope roofs. It sells clamp-to-seam and bar-style systems, plus accessories, to commercial building owners, architects, and specifiers via project quotes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMchenry, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sno Gem does
Sno Gem is a Crystal Lake, Illinois-based manufacturer of snow guards and snow retention hardware for metal and other steep-slope roofing applications. The company produces a portfolio of clamp-to-seam and deck-mount systems — including the Sno Barricade and Uni-Cube lines built around patent-pending WaveLock™ Technology with three points of attachment, the Gem Series, Sno Blockade, iClad, Individual Seam Mount, Deck Mount, and polycarbonate and metal snow guard models — engineered in aircraft-grade aluminum and finished in 28+ colors including premium Kynar and powder-coat options. Products serve standing seam, membrane, metal, slate, shingle, and tile roof types across commercial, residential, and specialty facilities.
The business operates a sales-led, project-quoted model. Customers submit detailed specifications (roof panel width, linear footage, panel manufacturer) through a website estimate request form and Submittal Generator tool, and pricing is delivered on a per-project basis with standard colors at base pricing and premium finishes at upcharge. Distribution is direct via the website and 888-SNO-GEMS phone line, supplemented by a manufacturer/distributor network that supports private-label volume orders. Marketing is concentrated in AIA continuing-education content delivered through AEC Daily, trade show presence (Jim Carpenter, VP of Operations), and a project gallery featuring high-visibility installations such as Rogers Place arena (home of the NHL Edmonton Oilers).
Sno Gem is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, parent company, or acquisition history. Sister companies Solar Connections and UCPS operate under the same corporate umbrella, providing a complementary ecosystem for solar and roofing-adjacent products. The firm reports 11-50 employees and was founded circa 1998 (firmographics note 1994), with no disclosed revenue, no AI/ML capabilities, no API, and no software integrations.
Sno Gem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sno Gem
- Legal name
- Sno Gem
- Website
- https://snogem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sno Gem is a Crystal Lake, Illinois-based manufacturer of snow guards and snow retention hardware for standing seam, metal, and other steep-slope roofs. It sells clamp-to-seam and bar-style systems, plus accessories, to commercial building owners, architects, and specifiers via project quotes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sno Gem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Snow Retention Hardware
- NAICS
- Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)
- SIC
- Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Roof-Mounted Systems Integration (PV, Green Roofs, Roof Gardens, Snow Guards) (IMAFAMAI)
Keywords
Where Sno Gem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mchenry
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sno Gem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Snow Guard Products: Sale of snow guards and snow retention systems including iClad, Sno Blockade, Gem Series, Individual Seam Mount, Deck Mount, Sno Barricade, Polycarbonate and Metal models
- Accessories and Attachments: Sale of complementary products including sealants (Dow Corning 999, Surebond SB-190), Isopropyl Alcohol Panel Cleaner, Uni-Cube roof accessory attachments, and miscellaneous mounting hardware
- Custom Color Matching: Premium color options including powder coating and Kynar finish to match customer roof systems at additional cost
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard colors available at base pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sno Gem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sno Gem manufactures and sells snow guards, snow retention bar systems, and roof accessory attachments for metal, standing seam, membrane, slate, shingle, and tile roofs. Its products use clamp-to-seam, non-penetrating attachment technology and patent-pending WaveLock™ engineering to hold snow and ice on rooftops, preventing dangerous slides and roof damage. Offerings include bar systems (iClad, Sno Barricade), clamp-to-seam individual and series guards, deck mounts, polycarbonate and metal guard models, the Uni-Cube universal roof-accessory attachment, and supporting sealants/cleaner accessories.
Product overview
Sno Gem is a manufacturer of snow guards and snow retention systems for residential and commercial buildings. Its product portfolio centers on a unified platform of physical snow retention hardware — including bar systems, individual snow guards, and universal attachment clamps — engineered for multiple roof types (standing seam, metal, membrane, slate, shingles, and tile). The core product line consists of the iClad bar system, Sno Barricade clamp-on bar systems (in 1" and 2" widths with patent-pending WaveLock™ Technology), the Gem Series and Sno Blockade clamp-to-seam systems, Individual Seam Mount guards, Deck Mount bar systems, and the Uni-Cube universal standing-seam attachment bracket. These are complemented by polycarbonate and metal (Original Metal, Half Carat Metal) snow guard models. A full accessories line includes sealants (Dow Corning® 999, Surebond SB-190 Everseal) and panel cleaner, and a submittal generator tool supports specification workflows. Products are available in 28+ color finishes and are backed by AIA continuing education resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- iClad: Snow Guard Retention System
- Sno Blockade
- Gem Series
- Sno Barricade
- Uni-Cube
- Polycarbonate
- Metal
- Sno Gem
Products and services
- iClad™ Snow Guard Retention System Bar-style snow guard retention system for standing seam metal roofs that uses clamp-to-seam attachment to hold snow and ice on the roof surface and prevent dangerous snow slides.
- Sno Blockade™ Clamp-to-Seam Snow Retention System Clamp-to-seam snow retention system engineered for standing seam metal roofs, designed to prevent snow and ice from sliding off the roof in dangerous sheets.
- Gem Series Clamp-to-Seam Snow Retention System Clamp-to-seam snow retention system offering strength and design flexibility for standing seam metal roof snow and ice retention applications.
- Individual Seam Mount Snow Guards Individual snow guards that mount directly to standing seams of metal roofs to hold snow and ice in place and prevent dangerous sliding.
- Deck Mount Bar System Continuous bar-style snow retention system designed for deck-mount applications, providing snow and ice control along roof edges on non-standing-seam roof types.
- Sno Barricade® Clamp-on Snow Retention Bar System Clamp-on bar system for standing seam metal roofs, featuring patent-pending WaveLock™ Technology with three points of attachment, available in 1-inch and 2-inch widths and standard or wide body models for high-strength snow and ice retention worldwide.
- Polycarbonate Snow Retention Systems Polycarbonate snow retention systems including original and junior models in 1.5-inch and 2-inch widths, providing discrete snow and ice retention across a range of roof configurations where a less-visible hardware profile is desired.
- Metal Snow Retention Systems (Original Metal and Half Carat) Metal snow guard models including the Original Metal and Half Carat Metal variants, providing durable metal snow retention across multiple roof types.
- Uni-Cube™ Universal Clamp-to-Seam Roof Accessory Attachment Universal clamp-to-seam attachment bracket for standing seam metal roofs, using patent-pending WaveLock™ Technology with three points of attachment; mounts virtually anything to standing seam roofs (HVAC, pipes, conduits, antennas, signage, roof penetrations) without piercing the roof. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum and available in Mini, Wide, Zip and KLOC variants in 1.5-inch and 2-inch widths.
- Snow Retention Accessories (Sealants and Panel Cleaner) Supporting accessories for Sno Gem snow retention systems, including Dow Corning® 999 Sealant, Surebond SB-190 Everseal Adhesive Sealant, and Isopropyl Alcohol Panel Cleaner used during installation and maintenance of snow guard systems.
Companies that use Sno Gem
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sno Gem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sno Gem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Solar ConnectionsminorSister company under the Sno Gem corporate umbrella. Serves as a complementary brand within the product ecosystem. Website link provided on Sno Gem site.
- UCPSminorSister company under the Sno Gem corporate umbrella. Part of the affiliated company network. Website link provided on Sno Gem site.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sno Gem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Snobar / IceBlox: Manufacturer of polycarbonate and metal snow guards including SnoBlox and IceBlox branded products for multiple roof types. Direct overlap in pad-style snow guards for residential and commercial metal roofing.
- TRA Snow and Sun: Specialty manufacturer of snow retention and solar mounting systems for metal roofing. Overlaps directly with Sno Gem on clamp-to-seam snow guards and Uni-Cube-style rooftop attachment brackets.
- Alpine SnowGuards: Direct competitor manufacturing snow guards and snow retention systems for metal, shingle, slate, and membrane roofs. Highly comparable product portfolio, channel strategy (architect/specifier focus), and target customer base of standing seam metal roof owners.
- Berger Snow Products: Specialty maker of polycarbonate and metal snow retention products for shingle, slate, and metal roofs. Directly comparable product category, materials, and target end customers.
- S-5!: Established manufacturer of clamps and attachments for standing seam metal roofs, including snow retention and rooftop equipment mounting. Closest large-scale direct competitor with overlapping clamp-to-seam technology.
- Rocky Mountain Snow Guards: Niche snow guard manufacturer focused on residential and light commercial metal roofing. Comparable product offering (pad-style and bar snow guards) and similar sales-led GTM targeting contractors and homeowners.
Broad incumbents
- Berridge Manufacturing: Established metal roofing and architectural sheet metal manufacturer offering complete roofing systems. Adjacent competitor with broader product scope that occasionally overlaps with Sno Gem on accessories and trim.
- ATAS International: Large established manufacturer of metal roofing, wall, and accessory systems. Competes with Sno Gem broadly in the architectural metal roofing space and offers snow retention as part of a wider product portfolio.
Others
- Solar Connections: Disclosed sister company of Sno Gem operating within the same corporate umbrella, focused on solar/PV rooftop mounting. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; relevant as a cross-selling channel and shared platform technology.
Emerging players
- Roof Edge Systems: Specialty manufacturer of snow guards and roof edge metal products. Smaller niche competitor with overlapping product set and target customer base of contractors and specifiers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sno Gem social profiles
Digital presenceSno Gem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sno Gem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sno Gem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sno Gem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sno Gem
What does Sno Gem do?
Sno Gem manufactures and sells snow guards, snow retention bar systems, and roof accessory attachments for metal, standing seam, membrane, slate, shingle, and tile roofs. Its products use clamp-to-seam, non-penetrating attachment technology and patent-pending WaveLock™ engineering to hold snow and ice on rooftops, preventing dangerous slides and roof damage. Offerings include bar systems (iClad, Sno Barricade), clamp-to-seam individual and series guards, deck mounts, polycarbonate and metal guard models, the Uni-Cube universal roof-accessory attachment, and supporting sealants/cleaner accessories.
Is Sno Gem a public or private company?
Sno Gem is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sno Gem founded?
Sno Gem was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sno Gem based?
Sno Gem is headquartered in Mchenry, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sno Gem make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Snow Guard Products are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Attachments and custom Color Matching.
Who are Sno Gem's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Snobar / IceBlox, TRA Snow and Sun, Alpine SnowGuards, Berger Snow Products, S-5! and Rocky Mountain Snow Guards. Broad incumbents are Berridge Manufacturing and ATAS International. Solar Connections is listed as an others. Roof Edge Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sno Gem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sno Gem.
What industry is Sno Gem in?
Sno Gem's product category is Architectural Snow Retention Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAMAI, Roof-Mounted Systems Integration (PV, Green Roofs, Roof Gardens, Snow Guards). Its NAICS code is 332322 and its SIC code is 2950.