Are you interested to learn when is the slow season for roofing?
Installing or repairing a roof are not easy tasks and likely take a long while, so you need ample time to finish it.
Although it is essential to have the know-how concerning roofing matters, it is also crucial to be aware of the passing seasons. This way, you can gauge for yourself when is the best time for repairing or installing your roof.
However, various locations have different climates. An effective roofing season in one area might be deemed a risky season for another.
If you intend to hire a professional roofer or contractor, they tend to be busy when there is clear weather outdoors, thus ineffective for roofing.
Also, when the busy season begins for contractors and roofers, their rates will increase, so it is better to hire them off-season to save money.
Either way, you need to perfectly time the roofing activities, with the weather and availability of the roofer in mind. This way, you would not make drastic mistakes and waste time and money.
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How the different seasons affect roofing
When is the best time to repair or install your roof? If you live in a place with four seasons, here is how each will play a significant factor in your decision to engage in roofing or not.
During winter-time
During wintertime, construction practices (including roofing) will slow down and is the best time to hire a roofer or contractor.
However, the cold weather outside is a crucial factor for the roofer or contractor to decide on going forward with the roofing tasks.
And if it is freezing and unmanageable, minimal work can only be done.
During this time, construction workers are hungry for work and tend to lower their commissions. This way, you can save money on complicated roofing tasks.
Yet there are still limitations in roofing during winter; for instance, you could not install asphalt shingles because they would not bond properly.
If you have other roofing materials like metal panels that can be installed during wintertime, you can save a significant amount of money by hiring a roofer or contractor to do the task.
Also, it is crucial to have a home and roof that can withstand the falling snow outside, so have it inspected immediately to make sure you can get through the cold months ahead.
During spring-time
Once winter is over, springtime arrives, and you might want to have your roof repaired or replaced after the ravages of snow. It is the best time to engage in roofing: the sun is out, the weather is fantastic.
However, spring is one of the busiest times since the construction business will open up and start picking up roofing jobs.
Homeowners will also be flush with money and want to make their homes look better after winter, so roofers and contractors will be busy all the time.
If you want your roof serviced during spring, schedule one week or months before, and more than likely will be more expensive.
During summer-time
During summer, roofers and contractors are still busy, but the spring rush has passed, and roofing is not hectic anymore.
Summer is also the vacation time for many homeowners, so they will be out of their houses and an opportune time to have their roofs fixed or replaced.
During fall-time
Fall may be the worst time for roofing tasks. During this time, some homeowners will realize that their roofs are not ready for the harsh winter ahead. They will begin panicking and want to have them fixed or replaced immediately.
As a result, roofers and contractors will likely be unavailable due to prior engagements, and no roofing is done.
Also, most professional roofers have longer lead times, and since some roofing tasks are done during warmer climates, your work on your roof will be pushed back into early spring or fall.
How can you fix or replace your roof during winter?
Winter is about to arrive in your area, and you made sure your roof is prepared for the cold and harsh climate ahead.
A few days into winter, and to your horror, you notice a cold draft is coming from your ceiling. You need to fix it immediately or suffer the consequence.
But what will you do? You have tried looking for professional roofers and contractors, but they are unavailable due to the weather, so you need to do something fast.
Take extra caution when doing winter roofing tasks
If worst comes to worst and you cannot find a professional roofer to fix or replace your roof, you have to do it yourself.
However, do not rush in doing the task. You need to make plans concerning your safety, even though you will only inspect the condition of your roof before deciding what to do.
Since you will be climbing on top of the roof to look over the damage, you will need a strong ladder, so make sure it is in good condition and be aware of ladder safety.
Do not do the task alone and find another person or two to help you. You will need one person to hold the ladder while climbing and watch that you would not slip.
Make sure the ground is clear of snow before you set up the ladder, and also clean the rungs to avoid slippage. Extend the ladder a few feet above the roof edge for safer access.
Watch out for ice dams
Ice dams on the roof are a common problem and can be disastrous if not taken seriously. If you see ice on the roof, so clean it immediately.
There are other ways to remove ice dams on your roof:
- Apply electric tape on the roof before winter begins
- Putting salt on the roof
- Pounding the ice with a pickaxe, but might be risky
- Fill up a pantyhose with ice melt, which is of rock salt and calcium chloride, and lay it on the roof, forming a right angle on the ice dam
Special materials for repairing or replacing your roof
If you plan to fix or replace shingles during wintertime, you can do it, but you have to include something to adhere the shingles together.
Before nailing, each shingle needs a tar strip or roofing cement applied that enables it to bind with the shingle overlapping it. The reason is to keep it down during strong winds.
If the shingles are not bonded together might be damaged during the winds of winter.
There are also liquid rubberized products that you can use as a binding agent for the shingles. These are more effective because they are elastic and can seal in any gaps if the shingles will separate from each other.
Hot tar is also effective that can do the same job as the previous materials. The only difference is to handle it more carefully since it can scald the skin.
Special tools for repairing or replacing your roof
Since you will be doing the roof repairs or replacement during winter, you would need tools that can withstand the cold weather.
If you are using tar as a binding agent, you will need a heating tool to make the tar hot. A handheld torch is the best tool you can bring on top of the roof.
If you use a tar strip instead, the torch can activate it on the asphalt shingles. However, make sure you do not overdo it, or else it mind end up destroying the shingles.
You can practice using the torch before doing the actual task atop the roof. If you find it difficult, you can only use roofing cement instead.
Is it important to know when is the slow season for roofing?
It is, and roofing is a delicate task and not to be taken lightly, and the weather plays a significant role in the success or failure of the roofing job.
Even though wintertime is the slowest season for roofing and ends up saving money, nothing beats roofing during a clear summer or spring day, so it will depend on your preference.
