Uh oh. The unthinkable has happened. As if winter wasn’t tough enough on your skin and car, now your roof has an issue and the warm temperatures of summer are just a distant memory. Winter is on your doorstep — and so are some of your shingles.

You don’t have a lot of options. DIYing your roof is the last thing you want to do, especially if your existing roof is covered in ice. Because you’re an intelligent, reasonable person, the first question you ask yourself is, ‘can I replace my roof in winter?

Yes, Your Roof Can Be Replaced During Winter

You can relax. Reputable contractors handle roof installations all through the year. It’s not uncommon to speak to contractors who might encourage you to wait for spring — some might flat out tell you “no”. They’ll offer a laundry list of excuses, each with a small grain of truth inside a thick layer of bias. The actual truth is if your roof needs attention NOW you don’t have to wait. In fact, due to the properties of a shingle’s sealant strip, winter might even be preferable! 

It’s not complicated to explain why: the sealant is self-securing under a combination of heat and pressure. Obviously, during spring and summer, your roof gets hotter than it does during fall and winter. If a contractor relies almost entirely on heat to adhere roof shingles, you can understand why they would balk at working during the part of the year without it. When the weather is cold, every individual shingle needs to be affixed manually, each one nailed down in place. This is not a substitution: the self-securing sealant will be triggered when the temperature rises high enough to activate it.

But nailing the shingles down adds an extra measure of protection to your new roof. The combination approach – nails and sealant — takes more time and requires more attention to detail. This is another reason some contractors may shy away from cold-weather roofing. Still, considering you want your new roof to last as long as possible, you want the kind of contractor who puts in the extra effort, don’t you? Consider choosing one that will take the time to do it right. 

A Warning to Consumers

But be warned: since desirable contractors are working throughout the year, deeply discounted rates from their competitors begin to appear in fall and winter. Be very careful! Do your due diligence, read as many reviews as you can find, and ask as many questions as you can think of before you enlist their services. Discounts are common enough, but a too-good-to-be-true deal combined with a 3-star rating might be a red flag.

Also, make sure you check your roofer’s credentials and follow this checklist:

1. Are they associated with a major roofing materials manufacturer and able to offer you special warranties? As a GAF Master Elite Contractor, we can do just that! 
2. Are they Google Guaranteed? To get this prestigious distinction, a roof replacement contractor has to have a certain star rating, be fully insured, and all field workers must pass a rigorous background check. We were one of the first roofing contractors in the United States to be cleared for this program!
3. Are they local? The roofing industry is rife with fly-by-night companies who enter regions only when they experience extreme weather and leave as soon as it’s over. These “storm chasers” are nowhere to be found by the time you figure out their work was sub-par.
4. Are they insured? ALWAYS check this!

So in winter, if you find yourself in a scenario where your roof is in need of immediate attention, don’t accept “no” for an answer. The team of seasoned roof replacement experts at Harmony Home Improvement. can and will get it done for you.

Reputable Roofer in Connecticut

If you have more roof replacement questions or you’re in Connecticut and ready to get started on your roof replacement, please reach out to us today! Click here to get going!