Safety Practices Followed by GAF Roofers During the Winter

Your roof is an indispensable part of your home that you need to keep in great condition at all times. This is why responsible homeowners contact roofing contractors whenever they need something done to their roof to ensure its longevity. Keep in mind that a roofing system is something that you’ve poured a lot of time and effort into. Some of its key functions include enhancing your home’s curb appeal, comfort, and energy efficiency. Most importantly, it keeps you and your family safe against the exterior elements, which is especially important during the winter and summer months.

When it comes to residential or commercial roofing, it’s always a great idea to have a proactive mindset, since you can address issues at the earliest opportunity when you spot them after a roof inspection or maintenance project. However, one concern that stands out for many homeowners is whether or not it’s safe to conduct roofing jobs during the cold, winter season.

In this post, your stucco and GAF roofing specialist, Precision #1 Contractors, Inc, shares the safety practices they follow to ensure that your roof stays intact during the winter season.

What Is the Ideal Temperature to Install Roofing Shingles?

Keep in mind that there is no limit that states when or where asphalt shingles should be installed. Your trusted roofing and siding contractor would say that you can have your roofing shingles installed as long as you take extra caution, especially during the winter and summer months. However, if you want a safe number to stick to, the experts from GAF recommend installing roofing shingles under temperatures above 40° F during the winter season. 

During the hot summer months, it is recommended to install roofing materials under 90° F. When installing these materials, make sure to have the proper safety equipment worn and always refer to the manufacturer’s installation instructions to ensure that your new roof is installed properly. Keep in mind that your roof is only as good as the way it’s installed.

Installation Tips For the Winter Season to Prevent Damage

Your trusted GAF roofing and siding contractor shares the following tips to give you peace of mind when you’re installing new shingles. Here are some of them:

• Make sure that your asphalt shingles are stored in a heated container with temperatures that are around 70° F or 21° C for at least 24 hours before installing them. Keeping them at this temperature makes them much more flexible. In turn, this makes it easier for your contractors to install your new shingles, reducing the risk of them damaging the shingles in the process. Make sure that you’re wearing the proper protective gear when you’re moving your roofing shingles to and from the storage space.

• GAF highly suggests against using the racking installation method during the cold winter months. According to roofing contractors, this installation method can lead to your asphalt shingles having a shorter lifespan than expected. In turn, you can see signs of damage like bending, cracking, and breaking even quicker. The racking method involves the asphalt shingles being bent or lifted to drive in the last nail. When installing your roof during the winter, make sure that you take extra care since the cold weather and high winds not only affect the roofing materials but also your own safety.

• The sealing time for your asphalt shingles can change depending on a number of factors. This includes the sloping of your roofing system, the physical orientation, and the surface area that is exposed to the elements. If you’re having difficulty sealing your shingles, you can have them hand-sealed for extra security against the cold weather. This will then activate the Dura Grip™ Adhesive to provide a tough, durable grip on the surface that it is applied on.

Possible Issues That You Can Encounter During the Winter Season

There are a lot of things that can happen when you’re installing a roof during the winter season. However, these mishaps can be avoided as long as the proper safety precautions are followed. This is why roofers need to take extra care when they’re working on any job in the cold weather. When the climate shifts toward the cold end of the spectrum, they can become brittle, making them prone to breaking. Your roofing contractor needs to be careful when handling them so that it doesn’t bend too much, break, or crack in the future.

Remember that cracks in your shingles can lead to serious issues in the future, even if they are small. Keep in mind that small roofing issues can grow worse over time. Some of these issues include water leaks that can become very problematic, especially during the winter season. Aside from causing mold and mildew growth, they can freeze in your roof, which can form ice dams that can put stress on your roofing system.

Bonus Installation Safety Measures

When you’re putting nails into your roofing shingles, your contractor needs to be wary as this can cause a cold shingle. The hammer’s force can break the shingle area that surrounds the nail head. If this happens, the nail might not be able to support the weight of the shingles. The high winds can also easily tear off your shingles because of this.

Your roofing contractor should also properly install the starter strips. This is a mistake that’s commonly made by newer roofing contractors, or subpar roofers who cut corners or simply forget the basics of roofing. The importance of starter strips cannot be underestimated since this initial layer prevents the strong wind from tearing off the first layer of roofing shingles.

Another indispensable part of your asphalt roofing is the felt layer. This helps protect your roofing system against fires and secures its fire rating. Also, the felt roofing layer helps prevent water and moisture from getting into your shingles. In turn, this makes your home safer and energy-efficient for the years to come.

Looking for expert roofers and stucco specialists? Look no further than Precision #1 Contractors Inc. We’re a preferred James Hardie® company that aims to give you outstanding customer service and quality workmanship for you to get the most out of your home improvement investment. Contact us at 215-364-5115 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.