In the market for a roof replacement? The best time to do it is in the fall. Autumn weather is perfect for home improvement projects, particularly exterior ones.
If you ask professional providers of residential and commercial roofing repair services, here are the top reasons why your roof replacement should be scheduled in the fall.
Less Precipitation
Most homeowners who need a roof replacement or a major roof repair often think about scheduling the work for summer. However, though summer does have plenty of sun, it’s also the time for strong winds, rains, and sometimes, hurricanes. Apart from possibly delaying your project, all those weather events can also take a toll on your roof. It’s best to wait for fall so you can determine whether your roof needs repairs or a full replacement.
In the summer, it’s more likely that you’ll need an emergency roof repair. But it’s not just you. Many other homeowners might need it, so you’ll have to wait until your contractor can schedule you. The same is true for replacements because summer is a busy time for roofers.
Fall Temperatures Are Great for Roofing
Fall is the ideal time to install a new roof. The temperatures are good for the project. A clear fall day with temperatures past 45-50 is perfect. Most American homes have asphalt shingle roofs, so if this is your roofing material, this is a perfect day for the seals to adhere correctly. In addition, when compared to summer, fall is a more comfortable time for roofers to do their work, so you’re sure they’re not putting themselves in danger.
Your Roof Will Be Ready for Winter
Your new roof installed over the fall is fully sealed, and it hasn’t experienced any extreme weather events. Come winter, it will be fully prepared. Winter is a challenging time for roofs. It’s when ice dams form and cause leaks. The weight of snow in some areas can also be challenging for old roofs, as well. The same is true if your area gets hit by hail, which can knock off old shingles and break old flashings. Even if you’re not replacing your roof in the fall, make sure it receives roof maintenance so winter doesn’t damage it.
Roof maintenance involves a thorough roof inspection, as well as repairs for issues or potential issues before they become harder and more expensive to repair. It also involves a check of your roof ventilation. Improper ventilation can lead to some serious problems that can only get worse over time. By having a professional correct your ventilation system even when installing a new roof, you can expect your roof to last longer, with minimal problems, if any.
Winter Is Worse for Roof Installation
If you didn’t install your new roof in the summer and waited for winter to do it, you might have more issues. First of all, without a roof, your home is at the mercy of the elements and it’s much, much harder to keep it warm. Then you also have to take into account that asphalt shingles are less durable when exposed to freezing temperatures. Instead of roofing guns, your new roof installation and emergency roof repair professional will have to make do with hand nailing, just to avoid breaking the shingles which are brittle during winter. This will make the process much slower and more expensive.
It’s Not Always Easy to Hire Roofers in Winter
Winter is the lean season for roofers, so it’s only natural for homeowners and business owners to expect the hiring process to be easier and cheaper. That might be true sometimes and for some areas, but not all the time and not for every location.
As mentioned before, roofing during winter is not easier; it’s harder because roofers have to use hammers instead of nail guns, and the wet roof can be more difficult to walk on, especially if your roof has a high pitch. Thick or sludgy snow can complicate things even more. When you take these into account, roofing might actually take more time and cost more money in the end.
Of course, you also have to consider that your preferred roofers might be on holiday vacation, and if that’s the case, you might have no other choice but to work with whoever’s available.
You Can Improve Heating Efficiency
When you replace your roof in the fall, your home will be more comfortable come the cold winter months. This is especially true if your HVAC is in the attic. If it’s a place of business that you’ve scheduled for a roof replacement, providers of commercial roofing repair services can make it more comfortable for customers in winter, which might help your business.
The Project Is Less Bothersome
You need your HVAC providing optimal cooling to your home during summer. You also want your home to be protected from storms and rain showers in the summer and in the spring. In the winter, you want your home to be heated right so it’s comfortable. You don’t want snow and hail entering your home, either. It takes longer for roofers to finish a roofing installation in the winter.
Starting your roof replacement in the fall is still the best time, as your roofers can work faster and your home can remain comfortable throughout the project.
Get in touch with Superior Construction Company for roof maintenance or replacement. Call us today at (978) 807-1401 or contact us here.