Winter Season Roof Replacement: Is It Possible?

Is your home in need of a new roof? If you are like many property owners, you will delay the project until spring or summer. However, if you prefer to have your roof installed in the winter, there may be no reason to delay the project. Take a closer look at a few things to know about roof replacement in the winter below. 

Can you replace a roof on your home in the winter?

Contrary to popular misconceptions, several types of roof replacement can be carried out in the winter. Many homeowners delay contacting a roofer until warmer temperatures settle in, but this is not always necessary. 

How are roofing materials affected by cold temperatures?

Some roofing materials are detrimentally affected by cold temperatures, while others are not. Roofing materials that are not affected by the cold include tin metal panels, wooden shakes, clay tiles, and PVC roofing tiles. Pretty much any type of asphalt shingle cannot be installed below certain temperatures. The roofer has to rely on a sealant strip or a hand-applied sealant to make sure the shingles seal properly and stay in place. If the temperature is below a certain point, the sealer won't be effective. 

What would inhibit a roof replacement in the winter?

Naturally, there are certain situations when roof replacement in the winter season is not logical. You may not be able to have your roof replaced when:

  • There is a significant chance of winter precipitation like snow or ice 
  • You need an asphalt shingle roof and the materials are too brittle in the cold 
  • The temperatures are too far below freezing for it to be safe for the workers 

Are there benefits to replacing your roof in the winter?

In some situations, roof replacement in the winter can indeed bring about a few benefits. For example, most property owners seek to have roofing work done in the spring and summer. Therefore, looking for a contractor during those seasons can mean you have to wait longer to get the work completed. By contrast, there can be fewer work requests in the winter, which means you may be able to find a roofer easier or get the work done faster.

Another often-overlooked benefit of roof work in the winter is the landscape is less likely to be affected. For instance, your lawn will likely be in its dormant phase, which means things like bringing in a dumpster to collect removed materials won't cause harm. 

For more information, contact a local company, like Allcon Roofing.


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