Install Roof Shingles In Winter
If you re installing roofing shingles in cold weather below these temperatures your shingles may become brittle and more prone to breakage.
Install roof shingles in winter. Roofing contractors are typically less busy which means you won t have to wait. Again 40 degrees is not a magic number nor is it concrete it s a safe temperature for installing shingles. The asphaltic material in the shingle may lose its flexibility and resistance as the temperature goes down. As a result they tend to break easily.
Third there s the question of whether shingles can be installed in cold weather. To properly install shingles and protect your home against future ice dams it s best to complete roof installation in temperatures above 40 degrees. Cracking and damage is more probable when temperatures fall. It will become harder to bend the shingles and to cut them straight.
According to roofing construction estimating by daniel benn atcheson the best temperatures to install asphalt shingles is between 40 and 85 degrees f 4 and 26 degrees c. Every tab should be sealed with one or two dabs roughly 1 inch in diameter of asphalt roofing cement. And as michiganders know temperatures can vary quickly. In the winter time a professional roofing contractor may choose to hand seal the shingles with an approved asphalt roofing cement or other adhesive that s provided by the manufacturer.
If you do need a roof replacement in the winter it s always good to ask. The sealant on shingles installed in cold weather may not activate right away. The temperatures and conditions to activate the sealant will vary by manufacturer and it s also possible that while the shingles on the southern exposure may seal those on northern slopes may not. Installing on a windy winter day can easily rip off newly installed shingles especially those with self sealing strips which can be compromised in cold temperatures.
As an extra precaution hand tabbing adding quarter size spots of adhesive to the bottom of shingles is encouraged. Although there isn t a definite answer to this question it is advisable to install asphalt shingles when the temperature is between 4 to 26 celsius. The flexibility or malleability of shingles is limited in winter making them brittle. Shingles installation is best above 40 degrees fahrenheit.
The short answer is yes but with some precautions. Should you install new shingles during winter months it is possible to install new shingles on a roof during cold months and there are many benefits. It may not activate until spring. One of the benefits of installing shingles in the winter in colorado springs is the abundant sunshine.
Construction materials may also be cheaper and more readily available. Having a new roof installed in the winter can be done.