Roofer profile: Dino Ruffoni, Gem City Roofing, Inc.

By Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

This Wyoming contractor knows the importance of snow retention. Learn why Rocky Mountain is their team's go to manufacturer.

If ever there was a state that needs snow retention on its commercial and residential properties, it’s Wyoming. And Gem City Roofing, Inc. is there to provide that service. Established in 1969, the company is ready to combat the average 179 inches of yearly snowfall throughout the state by installing snow retention systems with every roof they put in place. Dino Ruffoni, owner of the Laramie, Wyoming company for more than 15 years, offers his ideas on working in this challenging environment.

Tell us about the geography you install roofing in and what kind of snow retention systems are needed for your customers.

Wyoming has a vast mix of geographic zones. We’ve got the Rocky Mountains covering the western half of the state, plus the high-elevation of the Great Plains in the eastern half. The climates range from arid deserts to alpine highlands. Designers request all types of snow retention to complement the roof systems they’re putting in place in our state.

What type of roofing material do you tend to install most, and what’s your favorite “go to” snow retention product that you use repeatedly with that material?

The S-5!® ColorGard has always been our standard recommendation. It’s a quality product that allows us to match up to the roof color of a project.

What’s the most interesting roofing project you’ve ever done where a snow retention system was involved?

There’s one project in Yellowstone National Park that was really challenging. The architect did not specify for snow retention. The roofing system failed due to over 30 feet of snowpack over the winter. A new design was created for the following winter, but again, a 30-foot snowpack destroyed the system. The third and final attempt was a design using the geographic characteristics of Truckee, California. We installed the increased system and have never heard from them again for service or replacement!

Then there’s the project we just won the Runner Up Prize for in the 2025 “Show Us Our Snow Guards” Contest with Rocky Mountain Snow Guards. We retrofitted S-5! ColorGard with S-5!® H90 clamps and S-5!® SnoClip™ IIIs on the Ford Wyoming Center’s MBCI® SuperLok metal roof panels, making the multi-purpose facility safer for event attendees and employees. This was an incredible 112,716-square-feet of space (without the slope factor) on the 10/12 slope roof.

How often do you use the snow retention plan services from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards when you’re working on a roofing project?

We use the free design services from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards on a regular basis. It complements our estimate turn around time and provides a “peace of mind” type of warranty.

What keeps your company coming back to Rocky Mountain Snow Guards for your snow retention needs?

That’s easy. We get fast, friendly service from the Rocky Mountain Snow Guards team.