How Inclement Weather Can Affect Your New Roof Installation
At any point of the year, bad weather can wreak havoc when you are having your new roof installed. Depending on where you live, spring and summer can bring rain while fall and winter increase the risk of snow and freezing. Since roofers are able to work all year long, you may be concerned about whether inclement weather will affect your new roof. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.
Wrinkled Underlayment
Before your roofers place your new shingles, an underlayment will be laid down. In many cases, the underlayment is laid one day, and shingles are placed on another day. What happens if the underlayment gets wet? Sometimes, nothing at all. The underlayment dries and it's not wrinkled (or not wrinkled badly enough to affect the shingle placement), and the roof is laid as planned.
If there are heavy rains, however, or the underlayment is left through several rain showers, the material may warp and wrinkle as it dries. When this happens, it can affect the way the shingles lay, so the underlayment needs to be replaced. This can, understandably, slow things down, but most roofers will plan for this possibility.
Frozen Shingles
One of the hazards of having your roof placed in the winter is that the asphalt or ceramic shingles will become more brittle and more likely to break. Because you've chosen an experienced roofer, however, the company should know that the shingles should be kept warm until they're ready to be used. This will help reduce the chances of damage and will keep things running smoothly as your new roof is installed.
The other danger here is that cold weather will prevent the shingles from bonding well to one another due to the sealing strips freezing. Extra adhesive can and should be applied; this is particularly important in places where there is often a lot of wind.
Hot Weather Roofing
If you are having your roof placed in the summer and it's a particularly hot season, your roofers will know not to leave the underlayment exposed, as it will likely become wrinkled. This is particularly true if it's humid outside.
Another issue that can occur during hot weather is that asphalt shingles can stick together. This can lead to the loss of shingles on the part of the roofing company, but aside from slowing them down, it should not affect you as a homeowner. The shingles should be kept indoors if possible until they're ready to be used so they are as protected from the elements as they can be.
Damage Inside of the House
In rare instances, a roofer may leave a section of roof unprotected before the shingles are in place. Sometimes if there are heavy rains, the rain might leak into your home, causing damage. This is something that should not normally happen with an experienced roofer, but if a mistake is made or if severe weather removes any covering that has been placed, you will need to consult with your contract to see who is responsible for the damage.
Before you sign a contract with a roofing company, this is something to ask about; while it's not a likely occurrence, interior damage is always possible when having your roof repaired, and it's important to understand what you will be responsible for and what the roofing company will cover.
Whenever you have any work done on your house, including having a new roof placed, it's wise to hire a reputable company. Be sure that they are licensed, bonded and insured. Also, feel free to ask any questions that you may have regarding how the weather may impact your new roof installation, and make sure that you feel comfortable that your contractors are experienced enough to handle whatever Mother Nature throws their way.
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