Roofing in Cold Weather

We've been asked this question many times: Can a roof be installed in really cold weather? The answer: Yes...ish.

The qualifier: not on all roofs and not below zero.

Obviously in a fairly mild UK winter, with temperatures hovering around 5-10C, there shouldn't be a problem on most roofs, but some roofers will tell you anything below that is out of the question as water-based and coal-tar based coatings are only usable above 10C. When the weather gets truly subzero, it's true things do get tricky, with bitumen losing its viscosity and adhesives taking days to set or sometimes not setting and having to be redone completely in warmer weather. This temperature cut-off is the same with most roofing materials, including polymer plastics which, like shingles, become brittle below zero. Obviously the danger to the workers installing the roof is also significantly higher in icy conditions.

However down to zero, polymer roofing is still the go-to option for those in need of a good new roof quickly. The fact that (beyond their very high performance) polymer roofs are among the quickest to install, means that even during days of shortened sunlight and unpredictable weather, it is usually possible to sort out roofs at quite short notice, anywhere in the country.

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