abstract an apparatus for retaining and controlling the size of pieces of snow and or ice accumulating on a roof contains brackets secured to the roof and rails passed between the brackets to form a frame structure the brackets have slots and or pockets for fitting rails and enable the rails to be at or below the level of seams on seamed roofs and at a low profile with non seamed roofs in addition the brackets may be attached to the roof without penetrating the roof structure a method of installing a snow and or ice retaining apparatus includes lowering the rails into pockets on the brackets sliding the rails into slots on the brackets and optionally securing the rails with a clip wedge or adhesive application_number US 5752002 A description the present invention comprises an apparatus for retaining snow and or ice on a roof and a method of installing such an apparatus the apparatus contains clamping brackets that are attached to the roof and rails that are placed between the brackets to form a frame like structure for retaining and or controlling the snow and or ice the brackets contain pockets and or slots in which rails are seated for standing seam roofs the brackets contain a channel that.