What You Need to Know About Roofing in the Winter

 

Over 150,000 roofers work year-round making sure that roofs are properly installed and maintained. With that said, roofing in the winter can produce some unique challenges.

So what are some things one needs to know about getting a new roof in the winter? What makes roofing in the winter different from other seasons?

That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out more about roof repair and installation in the wintertime.

Challenges To Roofing In The Winter

While you can roof a house in the wintertime, there are a few challenges that roofing companies consider each year. Most of it boils down to three elements: snow, temperature, and time.

Snow

Snow might seem like the biggest challenge to roofing in the winter due to how visible it is. However, most snow-related challenges can be overcome by just removing it ahead of time.

Temperature

Something that’s a little harder to deal with in the wintertime for roofing companies is the temperature. Chillier climates can make tools and materials more brittle and harder to work with.

Time

The process of roofing requires time for certain things to settle or melt. With incredibly low temperatures, this could affect how your winter roofing project.

Safety

With those challenges to consider, you have to take safety as the number 1 priority. For starters, if it’s too cold to work on the roof, it’s best not to risk it. It causes slippery surfaces and poor tool performance, as we mentioned.

We also talked about removing snow ahead of time, which we can’t overstate. Doing this correctly and even getting rid of the ice up there is something roofing companies do to make sure no one slips.

Roofers also wear plenty of protective gear when working on winter roof surfaces. Safety nets are installed underneath the roof, while guardrail systems are put in place for emergencies.

They’ll also wear winter jackets, hard hats, work boots, and thick gloves. While these precautions might take more work and time, it’s a crucial part of roofing in the winter.

If you’re looking for a company that makes sure all safety precautions are taken while providing excellent service, Far West roofers are the way to go.

Roofing Materials

We talked about how certain materials might have a tough time setting in the winter. Materials like asphalt are popular choices for many roofs in the U.S. but might have some issues with installation in the winter.

Asphalt is more suited for installation during warm weather. Roofers need to make sure that nothing cracks or bends underneath each asphalt shingle, and extra care is needed to ensure no moisture builds up underneath.

Some materials like metal or cedar shingles won’t have as much issue in a colder climate. These require fewer adhesives that need to be set, making them easy to install in a cold climate.

Roofing In The Winter: All You Need To Know

Roofing in the winter poses some season-specific challenges, but that doesn’t mean roofers don’t take the right precautions to overcome them. Use this guide to help you understand how you can install a roof in the winter.

For more informative articles on roofing and other topics, check out the rest of our site!