23 Nov Can You Reroof in the Rain?
Can You Reroof in the Rain?
The rainy season is now in full swing – and as professional roofers, we know that with rain comes a slew of surprise roof leaks and emergency repairs and sometimes a reroof in the rain. Your roof is more susceptible to leaks the older it is, but the recent draught in California has also made it so that any holes or cracks in your roof have gone unnoticed for long periods of time. So the chances are that when you do experience the first big rain of the year, your leaky roof will be a big problem.
But can you reroof in the rain?
Let’s say you came home after work, it’s raining cats and dogs, and you notice a puddle forming in the center of your kitchen getting bigger and bigger by the second. What should you do? Should you wait until the rain stops to call a roofer? Do you try to patch the hole yourself? We’re here to answer the question of whether to reroof in the rain, and if not, what other approach you should take to lessen the water damages on your home.
Why You Shouldn’t Reroof in the Rain
The short answer to the question of whether it’s alright to repair your roof in the rain is no – don’t do it. Why not? There are both practical and safety reasons why you should never attempt to reroof during a storm, even if your roof is letting down a waterfall into your home.
Reasons to Avoid Reroofing in the Rain
1. It puts your home at a greater risk for water damage.
2. A slippery, wet roof puts your contractors at risk.
3. You risk ruining the integrity of your new roof.
4. Shingles will not stick to a wet roof.
Roofing in the rain not only means you or your roofing experts will be extremely wet, uncomfortable, and exposed to more risk, but it also means that your new roof could have less integrity than if it were installed in dry conditions. If the felt or liner of your roof gets wet and shingles are installed on top of it, then moisture will get trapped inside. This is not ideal.
What You Should Do
If you’re scheduled to have your home reroofed on a rainy day, talk with your contractor and see if you should reschedule. If the risk of rain is too great, they’ll likely tarp the roof to keep it safe and dry, and return to the job when the weather conditions are better. If the roof does get wet, wait until the roof is entirely dry to begin or resume work.
Or perhaps you’re experiencing an emergency roof leak? In this case, you’ll definitely need to take some action in order to prevent water damages to your home while you wait for the rain to subside and the roofing contractor to arrive. See our emergency roof leak repair page for information on what to do if your roof is leaking.
Precautions
We want to caution our readers on several things when it comes to rain and your roof.
1. Know what to look for. If you see that your roof deck is wet, warped, or wrinkled, you should not attempt to reroof. Not only does this violate building codes, but your roof just won’t last if installed atop a wet base layer.
2. Make sure your roof is completely dry before reroofing. As wood absorbs water, it expands. If you install new shingles on top of an already wet roof deck, it will shrink as the water evaporates and cause your shingles to adhere less firmly.
3. Hire a licensed roofing contractor. Don’t ask just anyone to reroof your home. A licensed contractor will never attempt to reroof during a downpour, and they’ll always make sure that your roof is installed up to code in terms of both integrity and safety.
Element Roofing is the leading roofer in the bay area with roof installation in Hayward, roof installation in Castro Valley and roof installation in Blackhawk.