When is the best time of the year to replace your roof?
Well, first of all, roofing contractors like my company work all year round, so whenever customers are ready for us to replace their roof (weekends, holidays, etc.) we’ll be there for them. Most homeowners will wait as long as they can to extend the life of their roof as much as possible.
Of course, the best time to replace your roof is when you have planned ahead, and are not making a quick and rash decision. When any home or building owner is facing the need to repair or replace a roof, scheduling the work can be a hassle. Important questions arise, such as, when to start looking; what’s the best time of the year; what company to choose; is the price going to be higher in the summer and fall? (Hint: it usually is.)
Busy roofing times vs. slow roofing times
The busiest time of the year for most roofing companies is usually late summer through the fall months. Sometimes it gets so busy that many homeowners will have to wait up to a month, and that’s if they can find a reliable roofing company to replace their roof or do a roof repair.
The reason we prefer this time of the year is because the rainy season is over, the days have begun to cool down and the weather is much more predictable. Keeping your roof dry is our main concern. We do not want any sprinkle or rain shower to get into your home. This is difficult here in Kansas City, as the weather is so unpredictable, just like we say here, “wait 5 minutes and the weather might change”.
When is the best time of the year to replace your roof?
Another problem when installing roofs during these months of the year is pricing. Unfortunately, since this is the busiest time of the year for most roofing companies, roofing suppliers tend to wait just before the start of the busy season to increase their prices. This year it will be April 1, so for this reason builders and roofing companies around the country will raise their prices as well. For this reason we encourage homeowners to replace their roof during spring, summer and even the winter months. This leads us to one of the most common questions asked…
What about installing a roof during the winter months?
One advantage to roofing in winter is that homeowners can pick from pretty much any roofing company to install their roof, as most are not too busy at this time of the year. When installing asphalt composite shingles, manufacturers do not change their warranties based on installation temperature, they offer the same exact warranty as a roof installed at any other time of the year. Of course, new shingles need to undergo thermal sealing, which can take several days and even weeks in temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Another positive point is that prices will be cheaper in these months.
What about the summer days?
Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for roofing companies. One downside to shingle installation during summer months is that shingles can get damaged a lot easier and if a roofer is not careful with their nail-gun, as nails can go through the shingles like they are butter. So they need to be careful to adjust the pressure in their nail-guns and avoid human traffic on the roof as much as possible.
Of course, like we said, the best time of the year to replace your roof and get the best price from a reliable roofing company is by planning ahead. If you know that the life of your roof is coming to an end, schedule the job early to secure a place on the roofing company’s schedule (which most of the time we are about two or three weeks out) and even sign a contract to make sure you get current prices with no increases in materials and labor. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, try to schedule to replace your roof during the spring and early summer so companies will be able to fit you early in their schedule.