ROOFERS: Make Cold Cash in Cold Weather
Cold weather roof installations? It’s possible when you’re installing DaVinci composite slate or shake tiles. Our tiles can be installed in temperatures reaching down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
How can that happen? Because DaVinci tiles are made to remain flexible in really cold temperatures. This allows contractors, when following a few guidelines, to install our composite tiles in winter conditions.
For roofers, this means keeping your business running 12 months a year. This is such an important business-building subject that RoofersCoffeeShop dedicated a Read-Listen-Watch (RLW) segment to this topic. “Keep the Cash Flowing in Cold Weather” provides insights and tips on what you need to know to build your business during the coldest months of the year.
Answers from the Experts
Josh Yandle, Co-Owner of Umbrella Roofing in Colorado, and Zach Stopyro, Director of Technical Services and Installation with DaVinci Roofscapes, participated in the RLW session. Here are three key questions they addressed about cold weather roof installations.
Question #1: Can I store DaVinci composite tiles outside on the jobsite when it’s below freezing, or do they need to be in a garage or inside?
Josh: You can definitely store them outside on the roof after they are loaded. However, we always end up separating the bundles and allowing them to warm up as much as possible. Sometimes we even break up the bundles and lay out the product on our toe boards before we start installing. If you just pull a bundle off the pallet and attempt to install super cold, it will drastically slow down the already slow process.
Zach: The method Josh and his team use is great. As long as the tiles are flat and installed within the temperature requirements we have, this is fine. However, if there is a way or area to keep products warm, we recommend doing so. Especially tiles that will be cut and the accessories, like the hip and ridge and any caulks. A warm garage or even a car with the heat on can be used in a pinch.
Question #2: What kind of difficulties do you get into with using power tools in below-freezing temperatures?
Josh: At lower temps it’s easy to overdrive the fasteners. This can lead to sections coming off during high winds, or also placement issues after a few years. If you’re not very experienced I would always recommend hand nailing. If you are experienced, you would lower the pressure on the compressor. We generally are between 100-110 PSI during the summer/fall months and 85-90 PSI during the winter months.
Zach: I’d also recommend you check and adjust pressure as needed throughout the day as temperatures and weather conditions change. Remember that batteries for cordless tools may require charging more often as well in extreme cold. Always have additional batteries with you for necessary tools.
Question #3: Josh, have you had any challenges when installing other products on a roof in frigid temperatures?
Josh: The ice/water shield is probably the most important step. It requires patience and experience as the priming of the deck can extend the labor time by a substantial amount. The Class A paper goes on pretty easy in the winter. Flashing — and especially copper — will expand and contract a lot regardless of temperatures. But, since it is cold, it will be contracted during installation, which is something to think about since it will expand as it warms up. I like to pre-drill exposed copper. This gives it a little more ability to move once it warms up. This can help reduce the chances of it buckling.
Looking for more insights into cold weather installations? Then connect with the “Keep the Cash Flowing in Cold Weather” session. You can watch the webinar, listen to the podcast or read the transcript. However you get informed, this information can help change your business!