It's late October in the Ozarks, and if you've been putting off a roof replacement, or you're still working through a hail claim, you may be wondering if you've missed your window. It's a question that comes up every fall. Homeowners post it on Reddit a day or two before the crew is scheduled, usually with a forecast that says 38 degrees and cloudy.
The short answer is yes. A roof can be replaced in cold weather, and the big shingle manufacturers say so in writing. But cold changes how a shingle roof should go on, and it helps to know what a careful cold weather install looks like before you sign off on a December start date.
What the shingle manufacturers actually say
GAF's technical bulletin on temperature extremes says there is no practical lower temperature limit for installing fiberglass asphalt shingles, as long as the right precautions are taken. It also says shingles are easiest to handle when it's above 40°F.
Owens Corning and Atlas both publish cold weather installation instructions, and both use that same 40°F mark as the point where extra care starts. So "too cold" isn't a hard cutoff. It's the temperature where a good crew changes how it works.
Why 40 degrees matters
Cold shingles get stiff
Asphalt shingles lose flexibility as they cool. Atlas notes that below about 40°F, shingles can crack or even break apart if they're bent, thrown or dropped. Bundles that sat on a cold pallet also tend to keep that shape, so they may not lie flat right away. If a shingle isn't flat when it's nailed, the nail can blow through it.
The seal strip needs sun
Every modern architectural shingle has a strip of heat activated sealant that bonds it to the course below. That bond is what keeps wind from getting under the shingle. The sealant needs warmth from the sun to activate. GAF's Timberline installation instructions are blunt about it: shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring.
Until they seal, the main risk is wind. An unsealed shingle can lift, crease or blow off in a strong gust. That's the real reason cold weather installs need extra steps, not the cold itself.
What a Springfield winter looks like for a roof job
Here's the good news for southwest Missouri. Our winters are cold, but they're not Minnesota cold. According to the National Weather Service's 1991 to 2020 normals for Springfield, the average high is 69.9°F in October, 57.3°F in November, 47.0°F in December, 44.3°F in January and 49.5°F in February.
NOAA's climate normals for the Springfield airport also count how many days usually reach 50°F or warmer. A typical November has about 22 of them. December has about 12 and January about 10.
So most of the year, there are workable days. November is still a solid month to replace a roof here. By December and January, crews can still work on the milder days, but the sealant will be slow to activate, especially on north facing slopes that don't get much direct sun. That's where hand sealing comes in.
What a careful cold weather install looks like
If your roof is going on when it's cold, these are fair things to ask your roofer about. Each one comes straight from manufacturer guidance.
- Keeping shingles warm. GAF suggests storing shingles in a heated area above 70°F for at least 24 hours before use, when possible.
- Letting bundles relax. Atlas recommends laying bundles out flat so they adjust to the air temperature, and not draping them over the ridge, which can cause them to take a set and not lie flat.
- Careful nailing. Nails should be driven flush, not overdriven or left high. GAF points out that cold weather can drop air compressor pressure, so crews should keep checking their guns.
- Hand sealing. This is the big one. GAF recommends hand sealing shingles when installing in cold weather, fall or winter, using asphalt roofing cement that meets ASTM D4586. Owens Corning's cold weather bulletin calls for hand sealing all shingles along the roof perimeter with four 1 inch dabs of cement on each laminate shingle. Atlas requires hand sealing in very cold weather for wind protection. More isn't better here, since too much cement can cause blistering.
- Room to expand. Owens Corning calls for a slight gap, no more than 1/16 inch, at the end joints so shingles don't buckle when warmer weather comes.
- Working the warm hours. GAF suggests spreading the job over more days if needed, so installation happens during the warmest part of the day.
One more thing: GAF's instructions say the roof deck has to be dry before shingles go on. On frosty mornings, a good crew waits for the deck to dry rather than rushing it.
When to go ahead, and when to wait for spring
Don't wait if the roof is already letting water in
If you have an active leak, missing shingles, soft spots in the decking or storm damage that's opening the roof up, a careful cold weather replacement beats a winter of water in the attic. A tarp is a short term fix, not a plan for four months of freeze and thaw. Our roof repair and storm damage teams can tell you whether a repair will carry you to spring or whether it's time to replace.
If you're working through a hail claim, keep an eye on your policy's deadlines. We covered how that works in Understanding Insurance Timelines for Hail Damage in Missouri, and if you're not sure the damage is from hail, start with How to Tell If Hail Damaged Your Springfield Roof.
It's fine to wait if the roof is old but sound
If your roof is getting up there in age but isn't leaking, there's no harm in planning for a spring install when the sealant will activate quickly. Use the next few weeks to get an inspection, so you know where you stand going into winter. Our pre-winter roof checklist walks through what to look for, and How Long Do Asphalt Shingles Last in Springfield? can help you judge how much life is left.
What's normal after a cold weather install
Don't panic if a few shingles on your new roof look slightly raised or not perfectly flat in the weeks after a cold install. Homeowners on Reddit describe this all the time, and it usually settles once a stretch of warm, sunny days lets the shingles relax and the sealant grab.
What's not normal is shingles flapping in the wind, creased shingles or pieces in the yard. If you see that, call your roofer and ask them to come check and hand seal or replace the affected shingles.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too cold to install shingles?
There isn't a single cutoff. GAF says there's no practical lower limit when precautions are taken, and that shingles handle best above 40°F. Below that, manufacturers call for extra steps like warm storage and hand sealing.
Will my new shingles seal in the winter?
They may not seal until warmer weather. GAF's instructions say shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring, which is why hand sealing matters for a cold weather job.
If my shingles don't seal because of the cold, is that a defect?
No. Both GAF and Atlas state that a shingle failing to seal because of insufficient heat is not a manufacturing defect. That's another reason it matters that your roofer follows the manufacturer's cold weather instructions for the exact shingle going on your house.
Can a roof be replaced with frost or snow on it?
The deck has to be dry before shingles go on, per GAF's installation instructions, so crews wait for frost and snow to clear before working.
Not sure if your roof can wait until spring?
Titan Roofing is based right here in Springfield, and we'll give you a straight answer. We'll look at your roof, tell you whether it needs attention before winter or can wait, and give you a free estimate either way. Learn more about our residential roofing and asphalt shingle roofing work, or contact us to schedule. You can also call (417) 815-4833, or the Pleasant Hill office at (816) 307-0657.
Titan Roofing is a family-owned roofing company serving Springfield, Kansas City, Columbia and the surrounding Missouri communities with residential and commercial roof repair, replacement, gutters and siding. Questions about your roof? Ask us, or call (417) 815-4833.
