You might think that the winter months are off-limits as it relates to working on the outside of your home. While there are challenges to working outdoors during this time of year, it’s not impossible. This is especially true in an emergency situation when you can’t wait weeks or months to replace a roof that has a hole in it or is leaking.
Temperatures Can Be an Issue
The most important thing to consider is that shingles are not designed to do well in cold environments. Furthermore, it may be harder for glue or other adhesives to stick properly when it is below freezing outside. Therefore, even if the temperatures are fairly warm during daylight hours, it may be difficult to perform a roof replacement as temperatures can plummet quickly after dark.
The folks at Doug Brue Construction in Hastings, MN will inspect your roof prior to doing any work and take the time necessary to answer any of your questions. We can also give you a better idea as to how long it might take to complete the job and whether it is safe to do so. In addition to repairing your roof, we can also install gutters or take other steps to keep moisture away from your property.
Don’t Forget the Shorter Days
In addition to cold temperatures, the limited daylight hours may make it more challenging to complete a roof replacement project. This may be especially true if we can’t start work as soon as the sun comes up or there are other constraints that we must contend with.
The Weather Can Be Unpredictable
The cold temperatures and lack of sunlight are nothing compared to being outside during a freak weather event. A sudden onslaught of snow, sleet or ice can make it incredibly dangerous to work at several feet above ground. This is because a worker could slip while walking on the roof or while trying to walk up or down a ladder. There is also the potential for workers slipping on an icy driveway, sidewalk or other structures on your property.
It’s also possible that a series of weather events could combine to make replacing your roof challenging. For instance, it could snow on Monday, be sunny on Tuesday before Wednesday features an ice storm. It’s also important to note that working on a sunny day could still be dangerous if ice or snow hasn’t had a chance to melt and run away from your house.
Possible Benefits of a Winter Roof Replacement
Although there are many challenges to working on your roof in the winter, it may actually be easier to find an available contractor. As many homeowners tend to wait until spring to have home improvement work done, there won’t be a lot of lead time if you decide to act now.
Furthermore, the relative lack of demand could mean that you’ll pay less for any work that you have done to your home during the winter. If you are on a tight budget or simply want to get the lowest price, waiting until the winter season could be in your best interest.
Of course, this assumes that you schedule work during a period of relatively calm weather. If a major storm hits, it’s possible that your preferred contractor will be too busy with emergency projects to add you to the schedule right away.
Does Your Roof Need to Be Replaced Now?
If your roof isn’t in need of service right now, you may want to hold off on having work done until the spring. You can then spend the winter months getting estimates and getting a better idea of what you want your house to look like when the new roof is put on. Furthermore, if you talk to our team now, we can put you at the top of the list for the spring season, which means that you don’t have to worry about excessive lead times.
No matter when you need your roof replaced, don’t hesitate to call Doug Brue Construction today! In addition to maintaining and replacing asphalt shingle roofs, we can also help with metal roofs, and our team can also provide input into any custom design ideas that you might have.
