Does IT Cost More For a New Roof in the Winter

Does it cost more for a new roof in the winter?  Having your home re-roofed is expensive enough without additional costs due to winter weather.  However, there are times when winter finally shows the homeowner that a new roof is a necessity.  Melting winter snow or ice dams causing water to back up under the shingles can produce substantial leaking that can only be remedied by a new roof.  So, does it cost more for a new roof in winter?

What Types of Roofing Can Be Installed in Winter?

Well, the first question that needs to be answered is, “Can the job be done in the winter?”  If you live where temperatures dip below freezing, it is not a good idea to install asphalt shingles in the winter months.  Depending on where you live, that could mean January and February or it could cover the period from November through March.  Asphalt shingles are treated with a heat-activated layer of adhesive that binds them to one another and helps to prevent damage during wind storms.  Most roofing contractors will not install asphalt shingles in the winter.  If you have a shingled roof and intend to reroof with shingles, you may have to carefully tarp the roof and wait for spring.

If the weather is cool but not very cold, a roofing contractor might be willing to do the job.  However, it is advisable that roofing cement or tar be applied to EVERY shingle to hold them to one another until warm weather can activate the adhesive strip which needs to be 60 degrees F to work.

Other types of roofing can be installed, such as metal roofing, slate and some tile can be installed in winter.  On flat roofs, only PVC and TPO roofs can be installed in cold months.  Rubber roofs, modified bitumen and any peal and stick product should not be installed in winter.

Does it Cost More for a New Roof in Winter?

The answer to that question is almost certainly yes.  Roofers may need to use extra material such as the roofing cement mentioned, and applying it to every shingle takes extra time.  Roofing estimates are based on time and materials.  Installing asphalt shingles in cold weather will take more of both so roofing estimates will be higher.

For all types of roof installation in winter, extra safety precautions may need to be taken since roofs are slicker when the weather is cold.  If heaters must be used for the roof or to keep workers reasonably warm, that will add to the cost.

How Much More Expensive is Winter Roofing?

If you have a roof installed in the winter, expect to pay 10% to 30% more to have it done.  Always get multiple estimates on a roofing job in order to find the best prices from competent roofers.  Once you have the estimates in hand, you can decide whether to have the roof installed or whether to properly cover it with tarps and wait for spring.

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