Toronto’s winter weather always presents challenges when it comes to roofing work, but armed with the right knowledge, your repair or replacement doesn’t have to suffer. Over the last 65 years of being in business, we have come up with protocols and materials that work their best in cold weather so that your roofing project is completed without issue. Here’s what you need to know about winter roofing, so that you can be prepared when talking to your contractor.
1. We are always cognizant of storage and application ranges, and plan accordingly.
Every material that we use for our roofing projects has a guideline for temperature and environment. For example, rolls of modified bitumen need to be relaxed for fifteen minutes before winter weather application, while adhesive products have minimum temperatures in order to bond properly. Your roofing professional should be able to give you a detailed breakdown of the materials they plan to use and how they function during application in winter weather, so that you can rest easy knowing that your installation will be completed within the product manufacturers’ approved guidelines.
2. Residential roofs have very different cold-weather material considerations than flat roofing systems.
Shingles that are being installed in the winter won’t be as flexible as those installed during warmer weather. Your contractor should be storing the shingles flat in order to prevent warping. Winter installation of shingles also requires additional adhesive, and often the use of extra nails in order to prevent shingles from flying off of the roof. For best results, even in winter, it is ideal that pitched roof shingles be installed where there will be direct sunlight in order to help with the sealing process.
3. The EVT (Equiviscous temperature) for application of asphalt requires more attention in cold temperatures.
Asphalt temperature should be within the published equiviscous temperature (EVT) but not less than 420 °F (216 °C, and must be maintained at the point of application of the roofing membrane). In situations where the temperature is exceptionally low, your contractor should be taking precautions such as ensuring that, to the extent possible, asphalt bitumen is left in insulated drums versus open mop pails.
Winter weather applications for roofs is something that we at Elite have been doing for dozens of years. While there are always considerations to be taken for winter roofing work, an experienced contractor knows how to handle their materials even when the temperature drops below freezing.
Having some basic knowledge of what to expect from your contractor can help you more easily prepare yourself for your roofing work, and ensure that your contractor of choice is following the proper protocols. If you’d like to find out more about winter roofing, click here. Or, if you’d like to speak to someone at Elite, contact us through our contact page, or the chat on our website during working hours.
No matter what your roofing issue, Elite has got you covered. That’s the #eliteadvantage.
