Roofing Companies Cedar Rapids

Should You Work With Roofing Companies in the Winter?

Winter is here, and you need a new roof. Unfortunately, you think that you may have to wait until the summer to get it fixed. That isn’t quite the case. Thankfully, the best roofing companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa will work with you in the winter if possible. However, you need to fully understand this process to ensure that you don’t put them in a tough situation or experience setbacks that you could have avoided quite easily.

Challenges of Winter Roofing Jobs

While you might think that roofing companies don’t work in the winter, that isn’t entirely accurate. No, they aren’t going to work in severe storms or when the temperatures are dangerously low. However, many roofers work year-round as long as the demand remains high for them. Typically, though, they will experience some issues that may make this experience more difficult for them. Some might even experience complications that can be life-threatening if they are left to worsen.

For example, they will have to wear heavier clothes to stay warm. As a result, they may limit themselves to working on days when the temperatures are more reasonable. This process will significantly slow down how fast they can work and can limit their progress. Even worse, they may end up experiencing a high level of sickness related to the weather that may take some workers out for days. In this situation, your roofers will have to pay workers compensation or sick days for their workers.

And roofers also have to fight against nasty winter weather, such as ice, snow, hail, and sleet. While they may work in light snow, they will need to de-ice the roof before they work to avoid injury. That said, you can still work with roofers in the winter if you keep your expectations at the right level. For example, they can install many types of roofs during this season but not all kinds. Understanding what they can and cannot do ensures that you don’t expect too much out of your workers.

Roof Installation is Limited

During the winter, the types of roofs that you can install will be limited. There are a few reasons for this problem. First of all, some materials do not react well to the cold. They may become brittle or easy to damage without proper care. And other types have adhesives that don’t attach as well. These issues plague both flat and sloped roofs, though roofers can add some classes to your buildings. Thankfully, these types are among the most popular on the market and provide many unique benefits.

For example, you can install only two types of flat roofs in the winter – PVC, and TPO. Both of these thermoplastic options are easy to weld together and resist weather damage quite well. As a result, they are often a lot easier to install than other types of flat roofs. Unfortunately, rubber roofs cannot be installed in the winter because their adhesives will not work well below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, you need to prepare for this eventuality.

Similarly, sloped roofs have a limited range of installation possibilities. Typically, asphalt is very easy to install in the winter. That said, the shingle can become brittle in the cold and must be carefully handled. Trying to bend the shingles too much may result in a crack that can cause serious problems. Thankfully, your roofing companies will understand these limitations and know how to work around them for you. That is just one reason why you need to contact these professionals whenever you experience any problems that may be hard to manage on your own.

Metal Roofing is Very Adaptable to Winter Conditions

If you want a metal roof for your building in the winter, you are in luck. Metal roofs are among the most comfortable type to install during cold weather. The sheets won’t get brittle due to the temperature and won’t fall apart. And they have a high level of expansion and contraction that makes them durable for many types of weather conditions. Therefore, they are usually how most roofers make their business successful in the winter. Some even focus only on winter roofs or also offer discounts on them in the winter to improve their business.

Metal roof repairs are usually quite easy, as well, because the welding shouldn’t be compromised by the cold either. As a result, you should be able to easily add all-new looks to your building or upgrade the design strength during the winter months. Pay attention to any problems that may develop during this time, as they may require specialized repair methods to manage appropriately. Making mistakes on these repairs could trigger a variety of issues, such as widespread leaks.

Can you skip working with roofing companies in the winter to install metal roofing on your home? This step is probably not a wise one. Though metal roofing isn’t necessarily hard to install and repair, you may make mistakes that compromise its integrity. Even worse, you could slip on the roof ice and fall. These dangers are bad enough when you’re a professional but can be even harder to manage if you are an amateur with limited experience working on roofs. Don’t be afraid to spend a little money to protect yourself from serious injuries.

When Winter Repairs Aren’t Wise

Now, while roofing companies can provide you with many unique benefits, there may be times when they aren’t right for your needs. Fully understanding these moments is crucial before you even call them. After all, making a bad call on hiring an expert will cost you time and money. It will also frustrate roofing professionals and make their job more difficult by getting them involved in problematic building situations that they’d probably rather avoid. These issues can be something that you, too, should try to avoid.

For example, if you anticipate a lot of extensive snow or ice in the forecast, you should probably not get roof repairs for a while. Simply put, you may be putting your workers at risk if you get them up on the roof. Even worse, they might get part of the way through a project before abandoning it due to weather. In this situation, the half-finished roof will sit there until the weather is right, which may take months in some cases. This kind of wait can cause damage to your roof that may be hard to repair later in life.

The availability and pay of your roofers may vary as well. While most roofers may not have a lot of work in the winter, they may charge more due to the hazard of the job. If you can’t afford to give them extra wages, you may want to wait until the summer. Many individuals wait unless their roof is truly in a dangerous state. That decision is one that you need to carefully balance to ensure you don’t make the wrong move in this situation. Pay particular attention to any possible complications that you may notice early on in the process. Doing so minimizes the risk of more severe issues.

Call Us to Get Help

If you want to work with roofing companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa during the winter, please contact us at Lynch Bros. Roofing today. Our experts have years of experience working on roofs like yours. We even know how to work on roofs without experiencing severe injuries. Please contact us now to learn more about the many benefits that we have to offer our customers.