Sheet metal roofing - installation in autumn and winter
It may seem that low temperatures and adverse weather conditions occurring in late autumn are a contraindication to roofing installation. The question arises, is it better to take a risk and finish the roof despite the deteriorating weather, or is it safer to hold off on the work until spring? What could be a greater threat to the house - uncertain weather while the roof is being installed, or leaving it uncovered for the next few winter months? What do you have to reckon with when deciding on either of these solutions? The answers are provided by Bartlomiej Ukowski, sales director of Regamet, a Polish manufacturer of sheet metal roofing.
Roof installation in autumn - why is it worth it?
Bringing a house to a closed state requires the erection of foundations, walls, windows, doors and roofing. This should be done before winter, which will allow safe finishing of the internal elements of the building during the colder period of the year, and also protect the investor from damage caused by freezing water and damage to walls not protected from getting wet.
As Bartlomiej Ukowski notes, before winter, construction should be brought to a closed state.
Leaving the house in an open state (without a roof) carries a considerable risk that in late autumn there will be wetting of walls, chimneys and accumulation of water in all kinds of cavities, such as chimney flues, gaps in wall blocks, etc. Consequently, in winter, at sub-zero temperatures, freezing water changing its state of aggregation increases in volume and does irreparable damage in the form of cracks in chimney flues and walls. The accumulation of water entering the building during the winter period will make it difficult to carry out construction work later. It will also practically halt further stages of construction that could be carried out in winter.
The specialist also stresses that the decisions described earlier will most likely pay for the considerable amount of time that will have to be spent on the subsequent drying of the walls. At the same time, there are virtually no contraindications to installing a roof in late autumn. It is also worth remembering that it takes an average of 4-5 days to cover a roof with tile. This is shorter than for a traditional tile roof.
There area number of important arguments in favor of timing the installation of roofing before the onset of winter. A common misconception is the belief that before winter it is enough to protect the construction against flooding by making the roof truss and covering it only with a membrane, and in the spring lay the actual roofing. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Theroof membrane in question is responsible for removing excess moisture from the premises in the form of water vapor and keeping it out. However, it is not used to protect the roof from precipitation.
Vapor-permeable membranes, offered by Regamet, have a filter that allows the described process to take place. However, this filter is sensitive to UV radiation, so it is extremely important that the membrane is not left for too long exposed directly to sunlight. It then loses its vapor-permeability parameters. It is therefore recommended to install the roofing as soon as possible, which will allow the membrane to maintain all its technical parameters," stresses Bartlomiej Ukowski.
What to pay attention to when installing a roof in late autumn?
Making the roof trusses is a relatively simple process, and completing this stage of construction is not particularly time-consuming. One of the risks to be aware of when installing roofing is the low temperatures at which roofers perform flashings. In this case, it is extremely important that they are performed at a temperature of not less than 12-15 degrees Celsius. In the process of bending the sheet metal at temperatures that are too low, there can be micro-cracks in the paint coating, resulting in areas where corrosion outbreaks can occur.
However, as Bartlomiej Ukowski stresses, this should not pose a big problem either.
If the ambient temperature is too low, the roofer should perform such processing in a heated workshop. Regamet also offers a wide range of roofing flashings, which allow to make an aesthetic finish to the roof. By purchasing ready-made roof flashings, we can be sure that they are made in a professional manner and there is no danger of this problem.
It is worth remembering
Concerns about the installation of roofing, and as a result - not performing this stage of work in late autumn, can lead to numerous mistakes that can cost us dearly. Both in terms of money and time. It is therefore worth listening to common sense. It is a greater threat to the construction of a house to leave it for the winter period without proper protection in the form of a roof than to install it in late autumn.
For more information, visit the company's P.P.U.H. Regamet Sp.j. page on the A&B portal.
