New roof in winter takes a specialist

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

January 27, 2005

My daughter, who lives in Syracuse, needs a new roof on her house. Can shingles be successfully installed during the winter months? Or should she wait till spring? -- Marie TenBrink, Carle Place

Asphalt shingles can be installed during winter, but there could be a problem with how the shingles bond to each other. Each asphalt shingle has a sticky strip of self-sealing compound on the face-down side, which allows it to bond to the one immediately underneath it as they are laid. When the bonding process is completed, the shingles resist wind. But to seal thoroughly, the shingles must be exposed to heat from sunlight. On some rooftops that face north and get little winter sunlight, shingles are less likely to seal properly. In many such cold-weather installations, shingles are sealed by the contractor. This step could add to the installation cost.

Your daughter's best bet is to consult a reliable roofing contractor who is experienced with winter installations. By inspecting the roof, the contractor should be better able to advise on a timetable for replacing the worn shingles.

I know from our exchange of e-mails that your daughter decided to have a contractor patch the problem area for now. When she decides to have the roof replaced, tell her to check the Web site of the National Roofing Contractors Association, www.nrca.net. There she can find information on all types of roofing problems and also search for local contractors.

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By the way, when roof shingles are replaced, homeowners should have the contractor inspect and evaluate the insulation and ventilation in the attic. Often overlooked, these two elements are crucial to overall performance of the roofing system. Changing shingles without considering upgrading insulation and improving ventilation is unwise.