Install Roof Shingles In Winter

The asphaltic material in the shingle may lose its flexibility and resistance as the temperature goes down.

Install roof shingles in winter.

To properly install shingles and protect your home against future ice dams it s best to complete roof installation in temperatures above 40 degrees. It may not activate until spring. The short answer is yes but with some precautions. Again 40 degrees is not a magic number nor is it concrete it s a safe temperature for installing shingles.

In addition to this cutting them also becomes difficult. The suns radiant energy is of significant importance in heating the roof surface to a minimum of forty degrees in the winter. 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.

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. The flexibility or malleability of shingles is limited in winter making them brittle. One of the benefits of installing shingles in the winter in colorado springs is the abundant sunshine. Roofing contractors are typically less busy which means you won t have to wait.

Cracking and damage is more probable when temperatures fall. If you re installing roofing shingles in cold weather below these temperatures your shingles may become brittle and more prone to breakage. 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. It will become harder to bend the shingles and to cut them straight.

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. Third there s the question of whether shingles can be installed in cold weather. Shingles installation is best above 40 degrees fahrenheit. If you do need a roof replacement in the winter it s always good to ask.

Every tab should be sealed with one or two dabs roughly 1 inch in diameter of asphalt roofing cement. 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. Construction materials may also be cheaper and more readily available. As a result they tend to break easily.

And as michiganders know temperatures can vary quickly. Having a new roof installed in the winter can be done.