I can verify that many roofing contractors are called out to replace a roof during the winter. However, the summer is often considered the best time for roof work by many homeowners. Working on a roof during the depths of winter is really not that much different to working on a roof during the summer months, although of course, the roofer will tell you it’s a lot colder. That aside, many roofing contractors will also tell you they prefer to carry out roofing work when it starts to get colder. If you are one of those homeowners who insist that replacing or repairing a roof in the winter doesn’t make sense, maybe its time to go over some of the arguments for it:
It’s Too Cold Right Now To Have My Roof Replaced!
If the roofing crew working on your house putting in a new roof doesn’t seem to care that it’s cold outside, then why should you? They probably wouldn’t be on your roof doing that kind of outside work if the cold bothered them. And many roofers will tell you that replacing a roof during the hottest part of the summer just isn’t much fun; it can feel like it’s 110 degrees up on top of your house when the temperature hits 90 degrees. With that in mind, it’s perhaps easy to see why many roofing experts prefer to replace a black roof during winter rather than during the heat of summer.
There’s Too Much Snow On the Roof To Replace It Now
It takes no more than about 30 minutes to shovel the snow off the typical roof, and most roofing contractors consider this task to be part of the job, and they won’t charge you for that 30 minutes of work. Yes, the roofing crew obviously needs to be cautious when shoveling snow from a sloping roof, but of course, they are quite used to scrambling about on rooftops and are careful anyway. In fact, the shoveling of the snow is no more or less dangerous than all the other tasks that need to be carried out to replace your roof. Most roofers are experienced professionals who wouldn’t dream of taking an unnecessary risk at 15 feet or more above the ground. And there are several more reasons why it actually makes sense to have the roof on your Boston home replaced during the winter, rather than waiting until it starts to get warmer.
1) Leaks In Your Roof Caused by Ice Dams
Your entire home, including the roof is subject to extremes of temperature and weather that really test it, during the winter months. One hazard is what is known as an ice dam; snow accumulating on your roof can melt and then freeze again at the edge of your roof line, having run down the sloping roof. More leaking roofs in winter are caused by this scenario than by anything else. Leaks and other damage to your home can be prevented in cold places such as Massachusetts and other northeast states, by using drip edge flashing techniques and what is known as an ice and water barrier. If you have an older roof you may find that you don’t have an ice and water barrier on the roof, although if you do it can potentially protect your roof for at least three feet up from the edges. You can ensure that you don’t have to endure damage from ice dams again by having your roof replaced properly, along with an ice and water barrier.
2) A Bad Roof Gets Worse During the Winter
A roof can be adversely affected by many things once the weather turns colder, and in all probability, if your roof was bad before winter arrived, once spring is here it’s just going to be even worse. The shingles on your roof can expand and contract during the fluctuating temperatures of winter, which can lead to older shingles cracking and curling. The weight of heavy and wet snow can also cause curled shingles to crack. And the inevitable and unwanted result of cracked shingles is often a leaking roof. Your shingles can then be damaged further by the heavy snow melting and refreezing, and if you have an older roof this continual freezing and melting of snow just isn’t good for it.
3) Get Your New Roof Installed Faster
Instead of having to wait weeks or perhaps months to have your new roofing installed, you may find that the contractor is able to complete the job in a matter of days, if you have the work done in the winter. This is because many roofing contractors simply aren’t as busy during the winter as they are during the summer. Most homeowners decide to get their roof replaced when the weather is warmer, which often means a longer wait for the work to commence. It’s well worth getting your roof replaced in the winter and avoiding a lengthy and frustrating wait.
4) It’s a Slow Time – Save Money
In addition to speedier service and installation of your new roof during the winter, you may also find that you save money too during this slower time of the year. These lower rates for labor are typically offered during slow times of year as an incentive to customers and as a way for contractors to avoid having to temporarily lay off their staff. But while the service may be faster and the overall bill lower than it would have been during the summer, everything else remains the same. In other words, you still get to take advantage of the same warranty for the materials and work carried out, and you’ll still receive the same expert service from your chosen roofing contractor. And of course, the quality of your new roof is the same, regardless of whether it was installed during the freezing cold or during a heatwave.
So it may be winter but just because you don’t feel like venturing outside, it doesn’t mean that you should put off replacing that old and leaking roof until the warmer weather arrives. Replacing your roof in winter can often save you money and you’ll enjoy much faster service and have the new roof in place sooner than you would have done during spring or summer. There are dozens of reliable locally based Massachusetts roofers ready to help you to replace your roof, and if yours really needs replacing, there’s no time like the present.