The Installation of Roofing: Temperatures

Flat Roofing

• Roll roofing, tar and gravel or modified bitumen roofing are common materials used to cover a flat roof. While they’re easily installed, these roofing materials are greatly affected by temperature. Roll roofing, for example, may crack in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit and must be warmed prior to installation in cold temperatures. The tar used for tar and gravel roofs must remain fluid in order to brush it over the roof’s surface. Cold temperatures tend to cause it to harden rapidly, so installation of a tar and gravel roof should be done in temperatures above 45 degrees F as well.

Asphalt Shingles

• Asphalt shingles are ideal for regions which vary in temperature and climate, but this durability exists only once they are installed. Asphalt shingles become brittle in cold temperatures, making them crack when hammered or bent, and they are easily torn in temperatures that are too high. For these reasons, asphalt shingles should be installed at temperatures between 40 and 85 degrees. In warmer months, it is possible to install this type of roofing early in the day, before temperatures become too hot, as long as you can stop work when temperatures climb above 85 degrees.

Metal Roofing

• One of the main advantages that metal roofing has over most other types of roofing material is that it retains its rigidity and workability in all temperatures. All that it requires is a clean, dry surface for installation. Metal will not crack in cold weather, and it doesn’t soften if it's hot outside, so the temperature makes little difference in proper installation. However, you may find roofing panels too hot to touch in extreme high temperatures, and on a windy cold day they may be difficult to carry over the surface of the roof.

Clay, Slate or Cedar Roofs

• Hard roofing materials such as slate, clay or cedar tiles don’t require seamless installation or adhesives to hold them in place. This means that temperature has little effect on the roofing material’s durability or workability during installation. One thing to consider, though, when installing a hard roof, is that they require nails or fasteners to secure them to your roof deck. In the winter months these materials require hand nailing, rather than using an electric nailer, which is much faster and makes the installation easier. Some materials such as slate and clay must be warmed prior to installation as well, which could also lengthen the installation process.