As the weather gets colder, the roofing industry enters the slow season. But that doesn’t mean your roof problems will wait.
While there’s no hesitation for repairs, homeowners are hesitant or question whether their roof can be replaced or installed during the winter months. While I can give you an easy answer (which I will), there’s more to it than just a yes or no.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners replace their roof at the right time. Now we’ll help you figure out if winter is the right time for your roof replacement.
To start this article, we’ll give you the answer if you can install your roof in the winter. After that, we’ll quickly cover the temperature requirements for installing asphalt shingles.
To finish off this article, I’m going to break down what I recommend for installing a roof in the winter. And at the very end, we give you a checklist that helps you find a great roofing contractor for your upcoming roof replacement.
Can your new roof be installed in the winter?
Yes, your new roof can be installed in the winter. But the truth is, it depends on the area and weather conditions where you live.
For example, in Tennessee and the rest of the south, we can replace roofs year-round. We might have a week or two where it’s too cold, or we have snow, rain, or a winter mix to install a roof.
But usually, we have a chance to install roofs 52 weeks out of the year, including during the winter months. Now, if you live above the snow line, it’ll be different because of the colder temperatures and the likelihood of more snow.
(No roofing in the snow!)
But as long as it’s dry out, you should have no problems with your new roof being installed in the winter. However, it’s important to hire a reputable roofing contractor who can recognize if the cold weather will affect the quality of your roof replacement.
The temperature required to install asphalt shingles in the winter
Forever, shingle manufacturers said that it had to be 40 degrees or warmer to install shingles. This is because shingles would crack or break when bent in colder temperatures.
But technology has improved the shingle mats (the surface that holds all the shingle components together) to stand up to colder temperatures better. These improvements have allowed the manufacturers to drop that 40-degree minimum.
Now the mats are a little more pliable when it's cold, allowing asphalt shingles to be installed during the winter. Be aware, even though the minimum temperature requirements were dropped, shingles can still be brittle in cold temperatures.
That’s why it’s important to warm up or thaw out the shingles before installation. If they’re not, the slightest bend in frozen shingles will cause them to break and crack, which makes them completely ineffective.
What I recommend when getting your new roof installed in the winter
All the information we already covered in this article tells you if you can install your roof in the winter. However, it doesn’t mention what should be done during a winter asphalt shingle roof replacement.
That’s why I’m going to break down what I recommend for your winter roof installation. After over 30 years in the roofing industry, I'm still old school.
This means we won’t install shingles unless it's at least 40 degrees. But, let's say we get to your home and it's 30 degrees on a sunny day.
As soon as we get the old roof torn off and install underlayment, we get the shingle bundles and spread them out on the roof. This allows the shingles to start absorbing the heat from the sun.
(Warming shingle bundles)
By doing this, we can trick the shingles into thinking that it's 50 or 60 degrees outside just by letting the direct sunlight hit them. Once it's 40 degrees, we can start the installation process because the shingles think it's 60 degrees out.
This allows the shingles to lay down a lot smoother and make the transition much easier just because they're warmer and more pliable. However, if it doesn't reach 40 degrees and/or isn’t sunny that day, we won’t install any shingles.
You can take this information or leave it. This is just my recommendation for a proper asphalt roof installation during the winter.
So, should you install your new roof in the winter?
After getting this far in the article, you’ve absorbed a lot of information. So, you’re probably wondering if you should actually install your new roof in the winter. Let’s sum it all up real quick.
As long as your roof is dry and there’s snow/rain in the forecast, it can be installed properly in the winter. But if installers are working when it’s raining or snowing, I can guarantee you’re going to have problems no matter how cold it is outside.
Like I said in the last section, I also recommend installing shingles if the temperature is below 40 degrees. At the end of the day, you should have no problem installing your new roof in the winter as long as you hire a great roofing contractor.
But how do you find a great one in your area? That comes down to asking the right questions and getting the right answers back.
To do this, you need this checklist of 16 questions every homeowner needs to ask a roofing contractor. On top of giving you the questions, the checklist also has the right answers a reputable roofer will give back.
Keep going to get your free checklist so you’re able to find a great roofing contractor no matter what time of year it is.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has installed high-quality roof systems for homeowners in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas. No matter if it’s during the winter, summer, spring, or fall, we’re confident we can take care of all your roofing needs.
If you’re local to Nashville, Tennessee, don’t hesitate to contact us for your upcoming roofing project.
Here’s your Checklist of 16 Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor to find a great one in your area for your winter or any time of year roof installation.
