Like many other trades, the roofing industry has to be conscious of ever-changing weather conditions. In the summer we have to monitor everything from pop up thunderstorms to excessive heat which can lead to shingle scarring. The winter months also present challenges. While it may be obvious that ice and snowstorms can bring roofing work to a screeching halt, another factor that can’t be overlooked is the often frigid temperatures. Depending on the type of work being performed and the material being used, there are different thresholds for determining “how cold is too cold”.
The most common type of roofing material is the asphalt shingle. Some manufacturers have a temperature minimum for asphalt shingle application. For example, Atlas states that the temperature must be 40 degrees for their shingles to be fully warrantied. On the other hand, CertainTeed has no minimum temperature.
As professional roofers, there are a couple factors that help us determine whether we should bundle up or wait for a warmer day. How much sunlight is hitting the roof can make a big difference in roof temperature. We also monitor how brittle the shingles are becoming. Brittle shingles can be damaged when they are nailed or folded through a valley.
Flat roofs are another common roof style. Flat roofs are often installed by attaching insulation to the roof deck and then using an adhesive to bond either TPO or EPDM to the insulation. Many of these adhesives have a “minimum application temperature” of 40°.
So how cold is too cold? Well, it depends! All of our professionals at A Plus Roofing are knowledgeable on temperature guidelines and would be happy to answer any questions you might have!