The best time for roofing is during the spring, summer, and early fall. In these times, the temperature remains in between 70° to 80° F which is ideal for roofing. But sometimes roofers need to work in extremely cold conditions.
The best temperature for roofing is between 70°F and 80°F. However, when the air temperature is below 40°F, it is too cold for roofing.
I guess you are going to do roofing stuff in cold conditions. But you don’t know what temperature is too cold for roofing?
If so, then nothing to worry about. That’s because in this article, we are going to share detailed information in this regard.
Read the article carefully and get informed.
What Temperature Is Too Cold For Roofing:
Here we have described the effect of cold temperature in roofing. We have also added a few extra steps that can be applied during roofing in cold weather.
Ideal temperature for roofing:
The roofing jobs are mostly done in early fall, spring, and summer. According to the roofing manufacturers, the ideal temperature for roofing is between 70°F and 80°F. But here, it is very difficult to continue roofing in cold weather. If the temperature is less than 40℉, then it is too cold for roofing.
Difficulties of roofing in cold weather:
Roofers face a lot of difficulties when working in cold weather. Let’s explore the difficulties in detail.
Quality of roofing materials:
For most of the roofing materials, cold weather is not ideal. The materials can become brittle and fragile. This will decrease the quality of the roof.
Asphalt shingles is the most common material for roofing. Temperature below 40℉ will make the shingles brittle. These shingles can get cracked while installing.
Cracked shingles is one of the main reasons for water damage. Cold temperature is not ideal for the adhesive to have its best elasticity. That’s why a perfect seal is not possible in the cold conditions.
There are a few materials which are more sensitive to temperature than asphalt shingles. These are clay, EPDM membrane etc.
A large amount of adhesive is required to join the EPDM together. This adhesive needs a high temperature to become applicable. According to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the ideal temperature for installing EPDM is above 45℉ (7℃).
Working conditions:
Roofing in extreme conditions significantly reduces perfection of the task. In such conditions roofers cannot work comfortably. They need to wear extra layers of clothes in cold weather. This makes it very difficult to continue their work with comfort.
Snow and ice increases the level of difficulty. The roofs become very slippery for these. This can even cause unwanted slips or falls when roofing.
Sometimes the sky lights and damaged areas of the roofs get covered by the snow. And the roofers get no idea of the sky light and the damaged area until experiencing a dangerous accident after stepping on those.
Extra steps needed for roofing in cold weather:
If the temperature is less than 40℉, most of the roofing companies postpone their work. However, sometimes they have to continue their work, even if the temperature is too cold to roof. With a few extra steps, you can continue roofing in cold conditions safely.
Remove safety hazards:
You must remove the snow and ice from the surface of the roof before starting roofing. This will help you avoid a lot of accidents such as slipping off the surface and falling from the roof.
This will also help to identify the sky light and damaged areas of the roof.
Setup guardrails:
Guardrails are life saving equipment for the roofers. These secure the roofers from falling.
Use proper fall protection equipment:
For any roofers, wearing quality fall protection equipment is a must. This protection equipment includes a safety harness, lanyards, rope grips and deadweight anchors.
You have to check every fall protection equipment before wearing them. Try to choose a harness with thicker strips. The harness should also allow comfortable movement.
Using proper fall protection equipment will allow you to work without any fear of falling.
Use hot boxes:
These boxes are really useful to keep the roofing materials in their ideal temperature. In cold conditions hot boxes are really helpful to install the roofs properly.
Verdict:
We have already discussed the challenges of roofing in cold conditions. We have even mentioned a few tips for the unavoidable roofing in extreme cold temperatures.
So, I guess after reading this article, you have come to know what temperature is too cold for roofing. Just maintain these safety tips and be safe even in the extreme cold weather.
Best of luck!
