What You Need to Know About Winter Roof Replacements

by southshore | Feb 21, 2020 | Roof Replacement, Roof Replacement Service

Roof issues can catch us off-guard no matter the season and time of the year. But what happens when your roof completely breaks down during winter?

Can you even replace your roof when it’s cold, snowy, windy or raining outside?

In short – of course you can. Professional and experienced roofers are familiar with all types of roof replacements in all types of weather.

It is true, however, that different seasons will require different considerations and preparations, so let’s take a look at winter roof replacements.

What are some of the main factors to consider and are there any benefits to a winter roof replacement? Read on and find out!

How Does Winter Impact Different Aspects of a Roof Replacement?

Every season, climate, and type of weather comes with its own set of considerations when it comes to the roof replacement process. There are, however, some very specific challenges that need to be taken into consideration and overcome during the colder winter weather.

Winter roof replacements will require a bit more caution, but with an experienced and expert roofer on the job, your replacement should go off without a hitch.

Roofers

When it comes to roofers themselves, health and safety should always be top priorities.

Working on heights always comes with a set of certain risks that roofers are usually familiar with. That is why they should be adequately trained and use proper safety equipment.

When it comes to winter, however, the risks are inevitably enhanced and some of the most common hazards are slippery surfaces due to ice, snow or rainwater, as well as adverse weather and extreme cold.

In order to minimize all risks and ensure that all parties are protected, you as a homeowner should make sure you are working with a trained and certified professional.

You can do this by asking the roofer about their training, experience, as well as their health and safety programs.

In addition to that, your roofing contractor should have workers’ compensation and general liability insurance so that you are not held liable for any on-site injuries and medical costs.

Therefore, don’t hesitate to talk with your roofer about the entire process, inquire about all the details, and make sure they’ll stay protected and do a quality job.

Roofing Materials

When it comes to the installation of roofing materials, such as shingles, the ideal temperature for their installation is between 40 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

This means that if the winter is mild and the temperatures are not below freezing, there is basically nothing stopping you from doing a roof replacement. There should be no outstanding issues with your shingles and the process should go smoothly.

If the temperatures are lower than 40 degrees, this still doesn’t mean that the replacement is impossible or not recommended. This only means that some extra caution will be required when handling the shingles.

At temperatures below 40, shingles are known to become more brittle and prone to breaking, but an experienced and meticulous roofer should be able to install them successfully.

In addition to shingles, lower temperatures will also affect the sealant. Sealant or adhesive is used to tab the shingles firmly together, preventing them from being blown off or lifted by wind.

The sealant is activated by heat, i.e. warm temperatures, which we usually get during spring and summer. However, this doesn’t mean that it won’t activate at lower temperatures but only that the activation process will take longer.

Roofing Tools

Some of the most important tools in a roof replacement process are nail guns and compressors.

During winter, especially below-freezing temperatures, they may be adversely affected as well.

Compressors are used to push nails into the shingles as deep as it is required so that they are firmly attached to the roof’s structure.

However, these compressors use air and once this air is released into their lines, it can condensate and transform into liquid. This occurrence is usually not a big issue unless temperatures are below freezing.

At below-freezing the liquid may freeze, ice may accumulate inside, and cause the tool to malfunction.

It is very important to drive nails as deep as they should go into the shingles, which is why it is also important to have a fully-functioning compressor to do the job.

And in order to have one, roofers should simply take some extra precautions, monitor their tools, and watch out for ice accumulation.

Experienced roofers will undoubtedly know how to handle the tools and the entire roof replacement process during winter.

They will also be familiar with all potential risks and will know how to minimize them and make sure the entire project goes smoothly.

And if you have any doubts or concerns, you can always ask the roofer about the specifics of the replacement and any other details to appease your mind.

Are There Any Benefits to a Winter Roof Replacement?

Of course there are! Even though a winter roof replacement should be done with some extra caution, don’t let this discourage you from having your roof replaced. Your local roofer will undoubtedly do a professional job and apart from that, there are some benefits for you as well.

As not many homeowners opt for a roof replacement during the winter months, you will have the option to schedule the job whenever it suits you. It will probably be easier to schedule the replacement and have the roofer come to your home sooner than they would during spring, for example.

You may just have a new roof within a week even!

In addition to that, you may save yourself a few bucks on the energy bill and weather the rest of the winter in a more energy-efficient, warm, and safe household.

Final Verdict

Winter roof replacements are far from impossible and should not be a problem for experienced and trained roofers. With careful planning, some additional safety measures, and attention to detail, winter should be as viable season as any for a roof replacement.

If your roof has broken down in the middle of winter, don’t hesitate to call your best roof replacement company. We do our job at the highest standards of quality no matter the weather and we will give you a roof that will stand the test of time.

What our HAPPY CUSTOMERS are saying

Terri Giannattasio

SSR (South Shore Roofing) has a very “Classy” business model. First touch call was with Erica and she demonstrated grand skills, collect data on our needs, received our emailed pics and set up the appointment. SSR sent and email confirming the on-site visit. Luke with SSR sent a text day before visit with his arrival time, picture and informative Bio! Luke texted us to share he was in route. Evaluation and next steps were COMPLETED! CLASSY! Thank you. The G’s

Lee Haight

Professional organization from the top down . Class act to hire for any roofing project

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore replaced our roof this past fall and made the entire process painless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster (as this was for a rental property we own) to keeping us updated with photos, they did an outstanding job throughout. The job supervisor even personally made sure the shingles were tucked under the siding to prevent leaks. All correspondence was courteous and professional. Would definitely recommend.

Steven Bicette

Kile and his team made me very proud,after building my roof,perfect job,i will recommend them to any home owner way to go.

Lisabeth Degnan Silady

My husband spent a lengthy period of time researching potential roofing contractors and brand of material to be utilized. It is a critical investmnt both in terms of structure and cost. We narrowed the search down to three companies. It was a difficult decision, but now that the project is complete, we know we made the best choice. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, communication, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship. One note for constructive improvement would be the final nail pick-up (at least on our project). A thorough job is so important for all the obvious reasons. Again – we made the right choice with South Shore Roofing – Kyle Patrick and his entire team are the best. We recommend South Shore wholeheartedly.

Chad Laster

I needed my old roof replaced and was looking for a reputable roofer that I could count on. Ran across South Shore on the internet and saw their trucks around town. They looked very professional so I gave them a call. I was lucky to have the pleasure of talking with the office manger, Casey, who was very helpful and answered all the questions I had. She got the the ball rolling for me. Soon Kyle, the owner, and his crew had me scheduled and were on site shortly after. The roof looks great! I’m always nervous dealing with contractors but this is one that gets the job done right the first time.

Hema Kaviratna

South Shore Roofing just finished, getting our new roof done. It was such a pleasure to work with them, especially our contact person Tyler McGowan. He is very quick to answer our phone calls, emails and text messages. Tyler was very patient with answering all our questions and took care of all our concerns during the project. He and others, Kyle Patrick and Luke Patrick, were very punctual and explained the process well. Working crew was commendable, hardworking, efficient workers and they did a wonderful job! South Shore Roofing worked very efficiently with our insurance company to get the claim going through very smoothly. South Shore finished the roofing job in a timely manner as promised. My house looks very beautiful now!

John Cheatham

I had a roof replaced after a free inspection that revealed hail damage. The workers were quick, efficient, and effective. The edge lines across the roof could not have been straighter had they been laid out with a laser. My vents that went through the roof were painted, from white to black, and visually disappeared. Just an example of the thoughtful attention to detail in their work. The sealant around the mounting points for my satellite dish guarantee it will never leak. I give them my highest possible recommendation. OUTSTANDING!

Hannah Joy-Dinello

We had been looking for a company to come fix our roof after the hurricane last October. After several failed attempts with other companies we finally asked a friend and were referred to South Shore. We met Luke and Tyler and were immediately impressed! They were professional, easy to talk to, and we ended up getting the pristine shingles from all the money we were able to save. The work was done almost immediately and only took a couple of days. Tyler came after it was done to check the work and make sure there were no nails left in our yard. Now we have a beautiful new roof and peace of mind the next time a major storm comes through! We will definitely be reccommending South Shore to anyone that asks!

Alexander Oliver

Thank you South Shore for doing such a great job on my granddads roof! The staff at South Shore were very professional and put him at ease enough to finally get the new roof he needed. We are SO happy that he didn’t try to keep patching it with duct tape and tar. We can rest easy that that roof will last a good long time and its all because of you! Thanks again SOUTH SHORE!!!You are AWESOME!!!!

Amanda Hedrick

South Shore really did make my roofing experience easy. Tyler was prompt with the estimate and very responsive by text and phone. Kyle kept me updated once the project began and the working crew was efficient and cleaned as they went. I had a roof removal with some decking replacement and a new architectural roof installed. It looks great and I highly recommend South Shore to friends and family now. Definitely the team to work with!

Paul Tilson

You won’t find a better roofing company anywhere than South Shore Roofing, definitely a 5 star roofing company. Top quality work delivered very professionally. Superior customer service. Luke and Kyle are the best! Luke was especially awesome with working up the estimate, explaining the options and the entire procedure, and helping with the insurance claims. The installation crew was top notch, hard working, very professional including great clean up afterwards. They even made a return visit a few days later for some finishing details. I recommend South Shore Roofing without reservation to any home owner.

Tom Lawrence

South Shore Roofing was a pleasure to work with and met all our needs in a prompt and efficent manner! If you’re looking for great customer service and a job well done, you won’t be disappointed!!! My wife and I are tremendously impressed with this company and the way they conduct business!!!

Jennifer Estelle

They did a great job. They we’re on time, efficient, did a great job from beginning to end. My yard is heavily landscaped, and I have a pool. They were very careful around my plants, flowers, and pool. They did an excellent job cleaning up during and after. My roof looks wonderful! Staff was very polite, and easy to work with. They even helped me with my insurance claim. Overall wonferful to work with. Would definitely reccomend them for roof work.

Lisabeth Silady

We made the best choice of roofing contractors selecting South Shore Roofing. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, knowledge, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship.

Amanda Mendiola

I want to take the time to say how pleased I am with Kyle Patrick on his service with my new home recently we just got into a bad storm and I was looking everywhere up-and-down trying to find a great deal I happened to see A sign posted on Facebook and I called Kyle he was very nice and very professional of what he does and at a reasonable price !!!!thanks to him and his guys I am able to relax a little keep up the good work Kyle ! And I recommend everyone in Savannah area and pool area to give him a call he’s the best in town and he won’t lie or cheat you out of your money !!!!!!!

Lois Maher

The team at South Shore Roofing was fantastic, they were supporting, understanding and helpful.
They worked with my insurance company to get me the best outcome.
The team that replaced my roof were terrific, excellent job. The contractor Shore Shore Roofing sent to replace the interior damage was also terrific. In the repair of interior they found more damage than previously thought which was very discouraging, however they went right to work repairing the damage and billed my insurance carrier.

I am very pleased with total repair of the roof & interior. I would recommend South Shore Roofing.

Samantha

South Shore Roofing provided me with all of my roofing needs. My representative, Tyler McGowan was charming, professional, and extremely helpful in assisting me work with my insurance company in order to get me what I needed – it was almost like I didn’t have to do anything at all! My roof was completed in a timely manner and is everything I imagined. I would hate to imagine where i’d be without it. My old roof was outdated and the siding was busted. Now I have confidence it can weather any storm. My neighbors are already asking about it. Thank you, Tyler! You really know your stuff.

Amanda Hedrick

Jessica Smith

Casey and the team at South Shore are above and beyond professional, timely to reply to inquiries, priced very reasonably, and most importantly do amazing work.
I feel confident recommending this company to anyone who will listen. Tyler did amazing work and left the workspace immaculate upon completion.
We know that Hurricanes are frequent in south GA- and while I hope my roof never needs their services again, *if* it does, they’re the ONLY ones we will call.

Thanks so much for everything.

Lindsay Roberts

South Shore Roofing was amazing to work with! Tyler was very professional and friendly and explained the whole process to me thoroughly. He was always great at responding to my calls and messages without making me feel like a bother. I was so happy with the finished product and will definitely be recommending them to family and friends!!

Jorge Valdes

Incredible service! I had a tight deadline from my home insurance to fix my roof or else they’d cancel my policy. South Shore Roofing was the only company who got back to me on a timely manner and were able to finish the job before the deadline. I’m incredibly happy with them and I definitely recommend them! They had all the professionalism of a big company but with a sense of being 1-on-1 with me. Very happy and saved me from being forced into an insurance policy 3x more expensive from my bank. Thanks a bunch!

Marcena Brinson

I had a very good experience with their rep. He helped me pick out the color, the style, etc. He called me often and returned all calls that I made to him. We had problems with the painters and he got right on it to see that new better ones were hired. My roof looks wonderful and interior work meets my satisfaction! Very good people skills!

Chris Sommers

I’m very happy with this company. I took estimates from three contractors for a brand new roof. South Shore was the most expensive, but I felt better about going with a business that was well established and had already demonstrated good customer service. I made the right choice as the new roof was put up within seven days of signing the contract. The workers were great, and everything was cleaned up very well after the job was completed.

Neal Hamilton

After we encountered storm damage for the first time ever, I had no idea who to call and South Shore was one of the roofers recommended. From the moment I met Luke Patrick I knew my decision was made. His knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance company adjusters made South Shore stand out high above my other bidders. Luke’s efforts to negotiate a full roof replacement v. partial was masterful. Additionally, South Shore agreed to act as the G.C. to handle all other aspects of the remediation work. I HIGHLY recommend South Shore for any roofing needs! I only wish they did commercial work so I could ditch my so-so existing roofers.

Debbie Walker

South Shore Roofing gave me very professional service from beginning to end. I was emailed a picture and brief bio of the estimator who would be viewing my roof. Luke Patrick arrived on time, was very professional and was very knowledgeable. He met with my insurance adjuster and handled all the paperwork and phone calls. It was truly a blessing to have South Shore handle all the details. During the roof process, they kept me informed, answered all my questions and were very reassuring. I highly recommend them.

Daniel Menges

We are so thankful to have come across South Shore Roofing while searching for contractors. Luke went above and beyond, to make sure the whole process was quick and painless. Erica was efficient, making sure the paperwork process went smoothly. Overall, South Shore is a phenomenal company. If you want a professional, hardworking company with great pricing, South Shore Roofing is the way to go!

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore made the process of replacing our roof completely seamless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster when we could not be present to keeping us updated with photos of the work’s progress, they were professional and courteous all the way through. the work they did was top notch and the final product is beautiful. Would do business again in a heartbeat and have already recommended them to neighbors.

Craig Delaney

This was the best experience that I have had with any roofing company. They worked with us from start to finish and never once did we have to have them redo anything. They began work at 7 a.m. as stated in my contact with the tearing off of the roof and was finished with the replacement asking with clean up by 8:30 pm. Awesome job!

John Spotto

An absolute pleasurable experience dealing with South Shore Roofing. From the first contact with Justin, to the last correspondence with Erica at the office and the dealings with the project managers (Brent & Kyle) in between, it has been nothing but a very smooth & professional experience. The new roof looks fantastic and workmanship top notch.
If you need a new roof these are the people to seek out! Highly recommend South Shore Roofing!