We were in the direct path of one of the seven tornadoes here in PA.

We sustained heavy damage to our roof...its trapped and adjuster has been out.

The adjuster is backed up due to the amount of claims...as is the insurance company.

We will most likely get approved for an entire new roof but it might be awhile until we get the go ahead.

My question is about timing on installing a new roof?

How late in the season can a new roof be installed?

I had always heard that if it's too cold, the shingles won't take a "set" and bond to each other? And as a result may curl slightly and not adhere once weather warms. Any truth to that or is it BS?

No, there is no limit. During a rainy season, care must be taken to ensure the house doesn’t get wet while the roof is off. I used to shovel snow off roofs before installing shingles. They will take until the first sunny day for them to seal, but they will. If you get a wind storm before they seal, they could come off, but that should be covered by the installer.

I was forced to get ours replaced in January a few years ago and didn't have any problems.

BTW,I can relate to your avatar

We had an issue years ago, late roof, cool/cold, no heat ‘setting’. A few edges blew up & broke off with winter winds, fixed most myself. The roof was put on in Nov.

Other issues are the quality of the job & shingles themselves, bother were a little poor.

Our second roof on this house much better, crew, shingles, put on mid summer.

I had a roof installed about a year and a half ago.
The roofing contractor would not do it until spring when the temps were in the 40+ range or above.

I'm in the same boat...have a leak in the back that I just tarped last night, and I know there's some sheeting damage under there. I keep calling people to see if I can get it done, and finally got ahold of a guy on monday, but he hasn't come out to look at it yet. I'm hoping he can get to it before winter sets in and we have a real mess on our hands.

In your case as long as its not winter. Hopefully you can get it done in October.
I think the ideal time is spring- early summer and late summer to late fall.
To me roofing nails rip through shingles because they are too soft and dont secure very well during hot summer days. You can see the results when shingles slide out.
Of course they need heat to seal so winter is bad.
Just my thoughts.

Thanks for all the replies and input…

Looks like it’s a crap shoot.

I will make sure to ask the roofer I choose about it and a guarantee.

Thanks again…

The roof can be installed at any point in time. Think about it this way, new homes and additions are built all throughout the year. The construction process does not stop due to seasons. If the building is ready for roof then that's what gets completed.

In all reality it can be just as hard on the installer during the summer as it is in the freezing temps of the winter. With high heat installers can easily have issues of materials sticking together or the granular getting rubbed off due to the material being soft due to heat. In the winter the material is rigid and doesn't seal instantly like in the summer, however with the sun out the shingles will begin the sealing process.

Personally I wouldn't be to concerned on the season when having a roof replaced

One of the larger roofers around here advertises heavily and offers significant discounts for winter installations. Keeps his crews busy in the “off season” that way. I assume he wouldn’t be pushing for so many winter roofing jobs if it meant poor outcomes.

-Rob

It’s not a crap shoot. Listen to 98XRJC. His response is 100% accurate. It’s more important that your installer uses six fasteners per shingle of the correct length and that they are in the nail line, then the time of year.