Some Facts about Winter Roofing

Many people are unsure about roofing in the winter, and you often hear conflicting opinions.  Some believe that shingles cannot properly seal in the cold weather, and some will say that the shingles will become brittle in the cold weather so installation risks breakage.

Of course, there are times that these concerns are valid.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to make a blanket statement that says if it is over a certain temperature, you are good to install, and if not, you should not install.  Roofing jobs in the winter, just like roofing jobs any other time of year, will require that a contractor inspect the roof and make their decision based off of many other factors.

While we cannot give a concrete guideline, we can offer some insight on winter roofing.  One of the chief concerns, as we mentioned above, is whether or not asphalt shingles will seal in very cold weather.  If the shingles do not seal, snow and ice may blow up under the shingles causing damage to the roof and the home.  While it is true that extreme cold can prevent asphalt shingles from sealing, roofs tend to not be nearly as cold as the air temperature.

Because of the home heating system and attic airflow, many times the roof of a home can be 10-15 degrees warmer than the outside air.  Also, if the roof remains in direct sunlight all day, the dark shingles will absorb significant amounts of heat (anyone who has ever done any roofing in the summer will certainly know that those shingles can get hot!) which will make it warm enough for the seal to work perfectly.

Still, many roofers choose to stay away from winter jobs altogether to remain safe.  As we suggested above, a full inspection will always be required to determine whether or not a full repair is in order, or if it is safe to wait until the warmer months.

If you have further questions about winter roofing, contact your local Arrowhead Building Supply team.