Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:
Category: Roofing Product: Asphalt & Gravel flat roofing
Temperature Limitations: Roofing materials flow best above +10 C (+50 F) -- emergency repairs can be made down to -10 C (+14 F)
Rain Limitations: No rain or snow into exposed roof deck -- or between layers of roofing
Wind Limitations: Do not work on a roof in high wind conditions -- both you and the membranes can blow off the roof
Humidity Limitations: n/a
Continuous Conditions: Rain free and reasonable temperatures during work
Comments: Some roofers work all year round but both the material and the workmen are more flexible in warmer weather. If rain or snow is threatening, keep a tarpaulin ready to protect the roof and the house.
Weather limitations on most renovation products can be located on the WEATHER tab above.
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APPLICATION / INSTALLATION DETAILS
For very low slopped or almost flat roofs, Asphalt & Gravel is the most common roofing material used in Canada.
Click here for a comparison of ASPHALT V.S. ELASTOMERIC membranes.
Any time you are going to remove a roof covering and expose the house to the elements it is important to pay attention to the weather forecast. This is especially true of low slopped or flat roofs where water will tend to collect rather than run off as with a peaked roof.
If you must work when rain or snow is threatening, have large tarpaulins ready with a plan as to how to deploy them, hold them down and how the water will actually run off rather than collect. Any delay in spreading out the tarpaulin could end up requiring the removal of wet insulation in the roof space or even replacing a soaked ceiling below!
You are probably hiring a contractor for this job, so talk to him about his preparedness for rain -- or agree that the work may be put off and put off until clear skies are a sure thing.
Some roofers claim that they can work all year round, and it is true that emergency repairs can be made in any weather, but understand that in very cold weather both the material and the workmen are more brittle and less flexible. Membranes crack and humans just don't move efficiently not to mention the increase in the potential for accidents to both the house and themselves. Very cold weather and icy conditions inevitably reduce the quality of the job.
If winter is bearing down it is often best to simply patch a problem for the winter and immediately book the roofer to be one his first jobs in the spring. Calling a roofer in the spring may put you on the late summer or even fall work schedule -- so sign the contract early, even put the month you want the work done down in writing if you want the job done early but not while winter conditions are still present.
Click here for information on INSPECTING & MAINTAINING ASPHALT & GRAVEL FLAT TOP ROOFS.