Your roof plays a big role in maintaining the overall integrity of your home, keeping you protected from the elements and helping control your heating and cooling costs. But, like everything else in the world, a roof doesn’t last forever.
A typical roof with asphalt shingles will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years, but most homeowners will squeeze out a few extra before making the investment in a replacement.
So, when is the best time to replace your roof? Well, before you’re in dire need. Being able to plan for a replacement allows you to shop around, budget and eliminate having to make a rash decision out of necessity. So, if you’re at the point of squeezing out those extra years, you might want to think about putting a roof replacement plan together.
In terms of what time of year is the best time to replace your roof, we say April through October. But, we work on roofing projects all year because emergencies often happen.
Why do we say April through October? Well, traditional asphalt shingles need to undergo a thermal sealing process. In Pennsylvania, temperatures and the sun angle in these months makes this process happen much quicker. Also, shingles can become brittle and break in colder temperatures, so the warmer temps make installation go more smoothly.
Can you replace a roof in the winter? Absolutely. But we prefer not to replace roofs in weather below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As mentioned above, the asphalt shingles need to go through a thermal sealing process, and colder weather makes this take much longer. But, sometimes working in temps below 40 degrees is unavoidable. Most shingle manufacturers call for a specialized adhesive to be applied to each shingle in temps below 40, which is something we certainly abide by.
You should be inspecting your home at least once a year to see if any issues are arising. If you notice missing or damaged shingles, mold or mildew growing, or you’ve noticed spots on your walls or ceiling inside your home, you could have a problem roof.
Your home is one of your largest investments and its roof should protect that investment. At Greenawalt Roofing Company, we ensure that protection by using only the highest-quality asphalt shingles and underlayment. Contact Greenawalt Roofing Company today at 717-898-6000 for your FREE estimate.
