Are you having problems with your roof? Do you want to get your roof repaired but are hesitant because of the winter season? It may seem like the wrong decision to undergo a roofing project during the winter, but you may be surprised to hear it is possible. It may not be the ideal conditions, but you can still work on your roof during the winter.
The Weather Conditions Do Matter
Obviously, you cannot work on your roof in harsh weather conditions. It’s just not feasible to work on your roof during a period when snowfall is expected. The snow, ice sheets, ice dams, and melting snow creates an environment that makes working on your roof impossible. You can easily get hurt by falling snow, breaking ice dams, and the slippery conditions.
You want to wait until the snow and moisture clear out. If you want to speed up the process, you can slowly clear the snow and ice dams off your roof. You will also want to wait a little bit so that the moisture on your roof dries off. And don’t forget your gutters. You want to remove the debris and ice buildup if there are any.
Look for Calmer Weather Periods to Patch Up Your Roof
Pay attention to the weather forecast. If you can expect dry conditions, you should call your roofing contracting company to see if they have any time to work on your roof. These calm periods during the winter is when you work on small projects that can be completed very quickly.
For example, you want to work on repairing shingles in a specific portion of your roof that’s having problems. You want to work on repair your gutters if the winter weather conditions managed to damage it. You want to fix up any cracks with sealant. You want to avoid projects that can last many days. The weather can be unpredictable, so you want to avoid dealing with snow and rain while your roof is vulnerable.
Work with Experienced Contractors
When hiring somebody to work on your roof, you want to make sure you hire an experienced roofing contractor. You want to see that the contractor has experience working on roofs during the winter season. The winter season can be very challenging because weather conditions make things more dangerous and also because you need to do things a little differently.
For example, if you are repairing new shingles, it’s important to understand that the shingles should be warmed before they are installed. This will ensure that the shingles closely adhere to the material and sealant without any problem. Cold shingles may attach looser which will lead to faster deterioration and more repair costs later down the road. This isn’t an issue you have to deal with during warmer months.
Work on Your Roof Near the End of Winter
Unless your roof issue is an absolute emergency, you want to avoid getting any roof work done until it starts nearing the end of winter. This is when the weather starts to get warmer and fluctuate a lot less. Fluctuating temperatures can be a big problem for roofs. It can warp parts of your roof and make it harder to make clean repairs.
Things are a lot more stable as the end of winter approaches. It may even be the perfect time to get roof replacement or repairs done since other homeowners may not even be thinking about working on the roof due to the weather. This means you’ll be able to go with a more flexible schedule when working with in-demand roof contractors. You can forget about the wait times that you may have to deal with during the spring and summer.
The bottom line is that you can most definitely work on your roof during the winter. However, you still need to be cautious about how you approach everything. You need to work in the right weather conditions, find an experienced contractor, and set a limit for the work you want. Again, the ideal time to work on your roof is near the end of the winter season, as opposed to the middle. You can also start working on it earlier on in winter when the weather isn’t so harsh.
