How long do new shingles take to seal?
It depends on the weather, not the calendar. Owens Corning, who makes the shingles we install (opens in a new tab), says its shingles have "a factory-applied strip of thermally activated sealant," and that "Shingles installed in cold weather may not immediately seal until warmer temperatures are present for the sealant to activate." A roof put on in warm weather seals on its own. A roof put on in the cold can sit unsealed until it warms up, and we don't want to set a homeowner up for a roof that fails early.
Can you replace a roof in the winter?
Not when it's below 40 degrees, at least not with us. Owens Corning's cold weather bulletin says extra care should be taken "when the air and surface temperatures are at or below 40°F (4°C)." We hold that line and don't install below it. When the weather is above 40 degrees and rising, we build.
How cold is too cold to install shingles?
Below 40 degrees. That's the temperature Owens Corning points to in its cold weather guidance, and it's where we stop installing. In that cold the sealant strip may not activate, and Owens Corning asks for extra care just handling the shingles.
What if my roof is leaking in the winter?
Call us. We'll come out and tarp it to stop the leak and keep the water out of your home. Then we schedule your new roof for spring, once temperatures are back above 40 degrees and rising. You stay dry now, and your new roof goes on in weather that lets it seal the way it should.
Will my new shingles blow off before they seal?
We've never had shingles blow off a new roof before they sealed. That's because we don't install in the cold. Our roofs go on when the weather lets them seal.
Can you install a roof the day after it rains?
Yes. A wet deck the morning after a rain doesn't hold up the start. Rain on the day of the build is what moves a date, and so does a forecast below 40 degrees.
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Next step
Next step: see our Dayton roof replacement prices and when we recommend replacing a roof. Or book a free roof inspection and we'll tell you what your roof needs and when.