Winter Roofing 101: A Guide To Your Roof In Winter – Part II: The Roofer In Winter: Coping With Winter Emergencies

It is a common, though mistaken, belief that roofers do not work on roofs during the winter. While not all roofing companies will necessarily be available to do work during the cold season, should a situation develop, chances are that you’ll still be able to find someone to work on your roof.

Emergency patching: shingles and the cold
Short of a bad storm, the most you’ll need to have done on your roof during the winter will be some sort of band-aid solution.

While roofing work can be done during the winter, most roofers will avoid doing so, especially if they’re dealing with asphalt shingles. This is because asphalt shingles tend to become brittle when it’s cold out, requiring a certain amount of foresight, such as keeping them warm and doing the work in batches before the shingles get too cold. Also, the adhesive strips on the back of the shingles will not adhere in the cold, requiring certain workarounds until the weather heats up enough for the adhesive to work properly.

Should worse come to worst, the most likely outcome will be a temporary fix to tide you over during the winter, with a more permanent solution to follow once the weather starts to warm up.

Scheduling work in the winter
If your roof is made up of anything but asphalt shingles, then not only is it possible to work normally on your roof, but it just might be the easiest and most practical time for you to do so. Metal roofs in particular tend to shine in this regard. This is because winter is typically the slowest time of the year for roofing companies; after the busy hurly-burly of roofing work in the fall, where full schedules might delay the work on your roof for weeks or even months after you call in, most roofers will likely have little or no work scheduled during the winter. Because of the lack of business opportunities, not only will scheduling work be easier and faster, but you just might be able to get better prices, too.

You made it through the winter, but what kind of shape is your roof in? Pointers for a post-winter check in Part III.