Installing Roof Shingles In Cold Weather

Owens corning roofing recommends the following procedures for additional fastening strength and wind blow off resistance when shingles are installed during cold weather.

Installing roof shingles in cold weather.

Recommendations for installation of asphalt roofing shingles in cold weather be sure to follow the manufacturer s installation instructions carefully as most building codes require. According to roofing construction estimating by daniel benn atcheson the best temperatures to install asphalt shingles is between 40 and 85 degrees f 4 and 26 degrees c. Shingles can be installed in cold weather if it is done carefully. Extra care should be taken when handling and or installing asphalt shingles when the air and surface temperatures are at or below 40 f 5 c.

Shingles installed in cold weather may not immediately seal until warmer temperatures are present for the sealant to activate. You can still properly install shingles even below 40 f as long as you follow some rules and recommendations for cold weather installations. Roofing shingle providers require that you use a special adhesive in temperatures below 40 degrees for this exact reason. If you re wondering what temperature is too cold to install shingles here s the answer.

Malarkey roofing products as well as the asphalt roofing manufacturing association arma advise caution when installing asphalt shingles in temperatures at or above 90 f 32 c. It may not activate until spring. Here are some things we would watch out for in cold weather. Be very careful when working on sloped roofs.

In those conditions a shingle s asphalt coating softens and may be scuffed and damaged as shingles are fastened or walked on. The suns radiant energy is of significant importance in heating the roof surface to a minimum of forty degrees in the winter. In winter applications there may be nearly invisible ice or frost. The ambient temperature can be colder while the roof surface is 40 degrees.

Epdm rubber membrane roofing materials are even more temperature sensitive than asphalt composition shingles. The temperatures and conditions to activate the sealant will vary by manufacturer and it s also possible that while the shingles on the southern exposure may seal those on northern slopes may not. The ideal temperature for installing asphalt shingles is between 40 f 85 f 4 26 degrees celsius. If shingles are applied below 40 without the specialized adhesive you risk a voided warranty.

Should you install new shingles during winter months it is possible to install new shingles on a roof during cold months and there are many benefits. Asphalt material loses its ability to bend in cold weather. If winter installation is unavoidable most asphalt shingle manufacturers require a specialized adhesive manually applied to each shingle for temperatures below 40 f 4 celsius. If you re installing roofing shingles in cold weather below these temperatures your shingles may become brittle and more prone to breakage.