Winter can be a tricky time for the roofing industry. Whether homeowners are just making some small repairs or planning on a full roof replacement, the weather can be a major factor in the timeline of your roofing project, especially in Minnesota. With the cold and snow being a lingering presence during those winter months, deciding to have a full roof replacement might not be the best idea, here’s why:
1. Unsafe Working Conditions
During the cold weather, it can be more of a challenge for roofers to ensure their absolute safety. With the heavy snow and ice that lays atop your roof, more hazardous situations can arise and therefore be more likely for roofers to slip and fall, injuring themselves.
Along with the safety of roofers, the amount of work done in a day reduces during the winter. Workers have less daylight to work in. Their heavy layers of winter clothes create more difficulty for them to move around freely and quickly. Carrying around not only thick clothing but heavy equipment across roofs as well causes roofers to exert more time and energy than what they’re used to during the warmer months. Extreme cold will likely lead to more hazards that could lead to liability issues.
2. Ineffective Tools
Without it being hard enough for workers to be out in the cold and snow, having malfunctioning tools during the job is a whole other problem. For example, a nail and gun compressor isn’t ideal to use in such cold temperatures because the low temperatures can freeze the water in the airlines and block the airflow. Batteries also have a hard time in extreme cold. As this tool is used a lot, this can allow for major delays in a full roof repair.
3. Poor Shingle Quality
Cold weather can also be bad news for your shingle roof. Certain shingles, like asphalt or fiberglass, react badly to colder temperatures and become less flexible, and turn brittle. These materials in the winter make it harder to bend and cut and therefore make the installation process that much more difficult.
Shingles usually adapt well to warmer temperatures, specifically anything above 40°F, where anything below this temperature affects the properties of the adhesive sealant used for setting shingles. If not done carefully or correctly, your shingles will have a hard time sticking and staying in place, and you will need to pay to have more repairs done to your roof.
High wind speeds will also make those shingles rip off and therefore need to be replaced. While in warmer temperatures, you wouldn’t be having so many of these problems, the winter time can bring a lot of unexpected delays that will only end up costing you more money.
Winter Doesn’t Stop A Roof Repair
Winter in Minnesota can bring a lot of unexpected messes to your home. To prevent having to deal with any damage to your roof during the winter, make sure to inspect your roof for any repairs it may need in the summer or fall. Or Call a professional if you are noticing something that needs a quick repair before a full replacement in the spring.
All Craftsmen Exteriors offers free estimates on any roofing inquiries you may have and will help save you the hassle of having to deal with a damaged roof during the long winter months. With a team that has extensive knowledge, we can give you the best course of action for a simple repair job or a full roof replacement. Contact us today for any questions or concerns you may have about your Minnesota roof!
