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Nov 11, 2017
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Everything You Need to Know About Installing a Roof in the Winter

Before the temperature drops to far, learn how roof installation projects can be completed in cold temperatures. Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on a recent program.

Listen To The Entire Winter Roof Replacement Show Here:

With the colder temperatures setting in, many homeowners are curious to learn whether or a not it’s wise to install a roof in the winter.  Nancy from Oakdale, MN reached out to us because her home had been hit with hail over the summer but it had taken numerous conversations with an insurance adjuster in order to settle her claim.  Andy advised her that as a general rule, an asphalt roof shouldn’t be installed in the winter unless it’s an emergency situation.  That’s because shingles must be kept warm in order to prevent cracking and adhesives need extra reinforcement.  

Metal roofs can be installed in the winter, but it’s important that installers have the ability to safely set-up their scaffolding.  Those installing metal roofs in the winter should avoid working in subzero temperatures.  Winter metal roofing projects generally take more days to complete because there are fewer hours of daylight.  Nancy is not unlike many Twin Cities homeowners dealing with hail damage roof insurance claims.  In one instance, it even took us two months and multiple phone calls to various representatives from the same company in order to get back in touch with the initial insurance adjuster in order to get pricing fairly adjusted to cover the work needed to be done.

metal roof

Pondering a roof this spring?  Visualize what your home could look like with new HOVER technology.

The cold snap has prompted an uptick of homeowners calling us to voice their concerns about leaky windows and subpar insulation.  Andy shared a story of a 12-year-old house he was recently in.  The owners were considering replacing their windows because they were noticing drafts.  However, once our team completed a home performance inspection, complete with FLIR imaging and a blower door test, we determined that the home had never been properly insulated.  The homeowners were grateful that we took the time to fully investigate the issue, as new windows for the whole home would have cost substantially more than insulation and wouldn’t have addressed the problem. 

FLIR image

Another owner of a newly built home sent a text in to report that they were noticing cold drafts in areas of their home and wanted to understand if a blower door test would require digging into the walls for further investigation.  Andy assured them, the test is comprehensive and does not cause damage to the home.  When probed for why a new construction home could be experiencing this type of problem, he noted that speed of install, lack of craftsmanship, and builder grade materials can all be contributing factors.

Learn more about Home Performance Testing Here:

Mike from Oakdale, MN called in because his project for the weekend was re-insulating his garage.  It had a heating system in place for approximately 10 years.  The building had roof vents, but none for the soffits.  When he asked Andy for his thoughts on this scenario, Andy informed him that roof vents without intake provide little, if any benefit to a structure.  Attic chutes can remedy this situation and can be easily installed by a reputable professional.  This extra step can prevent excessive condensation which can ultimately speed up the lifespan of a building’s roofing shingles.  Improperly insulated and ventilated attics also risk voiding the warranty on your shingles.

Jerry in St. Paul resides in a historic home.  His current overhangs lacked ventilation and he wanted to know if there was anything Andy thought could be done.  Andy recommended the use of a fascia vent and advised that this type of work could be done even after a new roof had been installed.  However, he cautioned against using multiple types of roof ventilation because they aren’t designed to work in tandem and ultimately can work against each other.

For more information about our roof installation services, contact us today. Our team of professionals is ready to serve you.

Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am.  Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651-461-9226.

Learn More About Asphalt Roofs:

Minnesota Roofing Reviews:

"I have used Andy Lindus and his crew for several home improvement projects and they have always done top notch work and have never failed to please. They have proven they do quality work that they stand behind. Their latest project for me is installing Glenwood Class 4 Shingles for which I have received a discount on my homeowners insurance premiums."

Linda E.
Bloomington, MN
August 14, 2023

"We are very happy with the gutter and roofing project at our home. It took only two days for the complete roofing (with lifetime shingles) and underlayment project!  The next day the gutter crew came out and completed our 163 feet of LeafGuard® Gutters.  Everyone was friendly knew their job! They were a well-oiled machine."

David S.
Stillwater, MN
May 19, 2023

"Thorough, timely, efficient, good communicators. Excellent work, cleaned up well and took care of a few extra details without any hassle."

Carla U.
Minneapolis, MN
May 17, 2023

"We had great service. We appreciated the great team that came out.  Thank you, Lindus."

John H.
Maplewood, MN
May 15, 2023

"Your services and products are wonderful!  (And we have used Lindus three times now). The crews were gracious and hard-working."

Alan W.
St. Paul, MN
May 11, 2023

"Jordan’s response time to each communication was prompt and efficient. The actual repair job Micah & Trevor completed surpassed our hopes and resulted in a better looking project than we’d even anticipated! We will be calling Lindus Construction first if the need for a contractor comes along again. We’d highly recommend them."

Julie I.
Excelsior, MN
May 10, 2023
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