Best Time to Replace Your Roof - A Guide for Colorado Homeowners
Your roof takes a beating from Colorado's wild weather - think heavy snow, hail storms, and gusty winds. A bad replacement job can lead to leaks, higher energy bills, or even major damage to your home. Picking the right time matters; it affects the work quality, your wallet, and how long the new roof lasts.
This guide breaks down when homeowners in Colorado should plan a roof replacement. We cover how new roofs get installed, key weather factors, and the top seasons to aim for. You'll walk away with tips to make smart choices and avoid common pitfalls.
Understanding Roofing Material Curing and Installation Requirements
Roof installation isn't just about nailing down shingles. Materials need the right conditions to bond and hold up against the elements.
Asphalt Shingles & Temperature
Asphalt shingles, the go-to choice for most homes, seal themselves when heat activates their adhesive strips. They work best above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, as per most manufacturer specs. Install them in colder weather, and the seals might not stick, leading to shingles that lift or blow off in the wind. Too much heat, over 90 degrees, can make shingles soft and hard to handle. Workers risk burns or mistakes from slippery surfaces. In Colorado's dry air, this range keeps things smooth for a tight fit.
Aim for mild days to let the shingles cure properly. This step ensures your roof sheds water and stands up to the freeze-thaw cycles.
Colorado's sudden storms add risk, so roofing contractors will always check the forecast ahead of a reroof
Importance of Decking Inspection and Replacement
Before new shingles go on, the crew removes the old shingles and hauls them away. This is when the crew checks the plywood decking to assess its integrity. Hidden rot from years of leaks may become evident. The crew will replace any bad plywood on an “as needed” basis.
The General Seasonal Landscape for Roofing Projects
Seasons shift how roofs get replaced across the U.S. Each brings pros and cons for timing your project. Colorado's mountains and plains add unique twists to these patterns.
Spring: The Resurgence of Roofing Activity
After a long winter, spring brings milder temps that kick off roofing activity. Snow melts, and days warm up, and contractors shake off the slow-season.
Homeowners love spring for quick turnarounds. Your yard greens-up as the old roof comes off, and the new one goes on under sunny skies. Tearing old roofs off before flowers are planted may be advantageous.
Summer: Peak Demand and Heat Challenges
Summer sees the most roofs replaced nationwide. Families plan home upgrades before school starts, driving up demand. In Colorado, this means wait times stretch to weeks, and prices climb.
Hot afternoons, often over 85 degrees, tires workers and poses a threat to marring new asphalt shingles. Additionally, hail risk spikes.
Fall: The "Sweet Spot" for Quality Installation
Early fall hits the mark with temps in the 60s to 70s, perfect for shingle installation. Winds calm before winter, and contractors wrap up summer backlogs. You get focused attention without the frenzy. Leaves might fall, but dry spells dominate. Your roof settles in before the first snow.
Winter: Ice
Freezing temps make winter slightly more difficult. Roofs may need to be shoveled prior to tear-off or installs. Emergencies, like ice damming, might force quick patches.
Preparing for Installation Day: What Homeowners Must Know
The day of installation brings excitement and chaos. Prep right to keep things smooth. Your role matters in a hassle-free job.
Pre-Installation Site Preparation Checklist
Roof replacements can take anywhere from a few days up to a week for larger homes. Before the installation begins, there are a few things that you can do to make everything go smoother:
Clear your driveway for the the dump truck, loading truck and worker’s vehicles
Park cars down the street to free space, pull fragile items away from the house
If you have a dog that likes to run away, communicate this to the roofing contractor, so they know to keep gates latched
Understanding the Tear-Off and Disposal Process
The crew will tear off the old roof in sections and then immediately waterproof the area by installing underlayments. A very important item used to keep the inside of your home dry is Grace Ice and Water Shield, which is the industry standard for making a roofing system weather resistant. Synthetic underlayments will complete the dry-in process.
Removing the old roof typically takes about a day, sometimes 2 if you have a larger home. All the while, the workers will watch for any hint of rain or snow.
The process of removing an old roof can be messy. Roofing crews always clean up your roof and yard at the end of every day; however, if you swing by the house mid-day, it’s normal to see a bit of a mess. Never fear: by dinner time, all debris will be removed from your yard and properly disposed of.
Post-Installation Inspection and Final Walkthrough
After the new roof is installed, a final inspection and walkthrough is performed. However the timeline of this process is also dependent on the weather. After Troost does the final inspection, the county/city will be scheduled to do their final inspection.
Upon completion, the contractor will issue you a workmanship and material warranty. Be sure to register your warranty with the manufacturer and keep track of that paperwork. If you had your roof re-done with Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingles, be sure to let your insurance company know so you can start earning a discount.
Contact Troost to Lock in Your Ideal Roofing Window
Timing a roof replacement in Colorado boils down to weather smarts and planning. Installations can be done year-round w/ proper planning.
Contact Troost Roofing to get a free quote and lock in a time for your roof replacement.
