Although most homeowners try to get their leaky roofs repaired during the summertime, if you need it, winter roof repair is available. Apart from certain material limitation, getting a roof installed in the winter is as easy as it is during the summer.
And it is definitely worth it to replace or repair a roof if it is snowing or raining outside. Even with a small leak, consistent moisture and rainfall can cause significant damage to the roof’s structural integrity. For example, if there is a leak in your roof, the contraction and expansion of roofing materials that happens due to thawing and freezing can make it even worse, and more leaks might appear.
Do Roofers Work During The Winter?
The short answer to that question is Yes! Although you might be thinking it is dangerous for roofers to be working on top of your house in icy condition, you can rest assured. Roofing Long Valley NJ contractors must work during the winter just like everyone else does. Actually, some roofers prefer cold conditions over the summer. When it is 90 degrees outdoor, then it will be 120 degrees on the roof. That can be quite miserable. If the roof is loaded with snow, it only should take around 30 minutes to one hour to get it shoveled off, depending on no how large your roof is.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Winter Roof Replacement Or Repair
Let’s get to the very heart of this issue. All roofing materials behave in a different way when they are in conditions under 40 degrees. Some kinds of materials shouldn’t be installed in those conditions and some can be installed at any time of the year, no matter what the weather is.
Here is what you should do, depending on the roofing material on your house:
Flat Roofs
There are basically just two types of flat roofing systems that may be installed properly during the winter – TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). Flat roofing products made out of thermoplastic single ply are installed mechanically and seams get hot air welded rather than adhesives being used.
Rubbers roofs, which are the alternative to those systems, is a type of material that shouldn’t be installed when the temperature is lower than 40 degrees since the adhesives that seal them will freeze and won’t bond. Roofing contractors who state they can perform a rubber roof project in those conditions are ignoring manufacturer recommendations and going forward with the project could result in voided warranties and roof leaks. So you should hold off on having a winter roof replacement done if you are going to be having a rubber roof done until the weather gets warmer. The same is true with peel-and-stick materials because adhesives will not bond, which creates leaks. The material can blow off your roof potentially.
Sloped Roofs
The most commonly used material on sloped roofs is asphalt shingles and may be installed during the winter, but the roofers who are installing it do need to be cautious. They need to be careful to not crack and bend the shingles. Also, since asphalt shingles depend on the right seal in between overlapping shingles, which need the sun’s heat to bond. Those materials will often not seal correctly until the weather gets warmer. The can cause them to leak or blow off.
Asphalt shingles are quite susceptible as well to ice dams – which are large ice formation across the eaves of the roof that are caused by inadequate insulation or poor ventilation in the attic. Water and ice shield membrane is an excellent method in order to prevent ice dam leaks. However, it does require heat from the sun to adhere to a roof deck properly, so many of the same shortcomings are applicable.
Metal Roofs
It is possible to install a metal roof during the winter without quality being compromised. Metal roofs are not affected by cold condition since they don’t crack based on being handled improperly. They have designed to allow for contraction and expansion so that the outside temperature will not make a difference. Just make sure that a breathable premium synthetic underlayment is used to combat moisture that poor ventilation causes and also make sure to upgrade output and intake ventilation if possible. So whether you need to have winter roof replacement or repair, it is safe to have metal roof work done no matter what the season is.
Winter Roofing Services
Roofing projects for all seasons should be discussed with a professional roofing Long valley NJ contractor in order to prevent any problems from occurring. Contact Proven Contracting for roof replacement or repairs in the winter for whatever type of roofing work you need.
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Mistakes That Can Make Your New Roof Cost More
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