You’ve put it off for long enough. This year, it’s finally time to get your roof replaced. The peace of mind you’ll feel makes the replacement worthwhile, but when is the ideal time to schedule the work?
The best time of year to replace a roof is between September and November. The fall weather is cool but not freezing cold, there are more hours of daylight for the roof team, and your roof will be ready for a hard winter ahead.
You probably have more questions about roof replacements, such as the cost or how often to get a new roof. In this article, we’ll answer all those questions and more, so make sure you keep reading! You’re certainly not going to want to miss it.
This Is the Best Time of Year to Replace a Roof
Since you’ll be tucked inside (or at the office) while the roof repairs are ongoing, you might not care as much about the timing of the work. Your roofing team, though, certainly does care. They’ll be outside for hours per day over the next few weeks or longer.
You want optimal conditions for the roofing contractors so they can do an exceptional job. It’s for that reason that we’d say the months of September, October, and November are the best for getting a new roof. Here are some of the benefits of scheduling roof work during the fall.
Comfortable Temperatures
One of the reasons that autumn is so beloved is that the temperatures finally begin coming down. The days are warm but not hot while the nights are cool and crisp.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information’s National Climate Report for 2020, the average temperature in September for the United States is 66 degrees Fahrenheit. In October 2020, the national average was 54.4 degrees, and in November 2020, the average was 46.4 degrees.
On a 66-degree day, your roofing team can comfortably work in jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe in the morning, they’d need a light jacket, but not all day. Once that afternoon sun is out in full force, the temps are comfortable and even a touch warm.
The October average of 54.4 degrees is still very comfortable for outdoor work. The t-shirts have been replaced with long-sleeved shirts or hoodies, but there is no need for a winter coat. Even in November when the average is 46.4 degrees, your team could work in a heavier jacket without gloves or a scarf.
More Daylight
Since fall officially begins in late September and lasts through late December, we’re in a period of the year where we get moderate amounts of daylight.
Time and Date predicts that in September 2021, the average sunrise time will be at 7:01 a.m. at the start of the month and then 7:13 a.m. by the end of the month. Sunset starts at 7:40 p.m. by the beginning of September, and by the end of the month occurs at 7:08 p.m.
In October, reports Time and Date, sunrise is still at 7:13 a.m., at least for the first few days of the month. By the time Halloween rolls around, sunrise is nearly at 7:30. Sunset starts at 7:07 p.m. by the beginning of the month and then by 6:39 p.m. at the end of the month.
In November, the reduced daylight hours of winter are beginning to take effect, but you still have more sunlight this month than you do in December through February. Time and Date predicts that sunrise at the beginning of November will be at 7:30 a.m. Then, by the end of the month, the sun will be up by 6:50 a.m. because we turn the clocks back.
Sunset will happen earlier, starting at 6:38 p.m. at the start of the month and occurring by 5:28 p.m. at the end of the month, so November is your last good autumn month for scheduling roofing work.
Your Roof Is Ready for Winter
Here is arguably the best reason to schedule a roof replacement in the fall. When your roof is ready to go by late November or early December, you don’t have to worry about getting through a brutal winter with an old roof. It only takes one good storm to rip the shingles from your roof or otherwise weaken it further.
With a new roof over your head–quite literally, in this case–you’ll be all geared up for the winter ahead. The peace of mind you’ll feel is incredible.
What Temperature Is Too Cold to Replace a Roof?
What if November has already passed? You really don’t want to wait until next autumn for a new roof, especially now that you’re in the thick of winter. You’d love to get your roof replaced before the winter is over so you don’t have to worry about the risk of further damage to it.
Is this time of year too cold for a roof replacement? If the temperatures are regularly at 40 degrees or under, then yes, it’s too cold.
The reason isn’t only due to the comfort of the construction team putting together your new roof. It’s also that the work the roofing team does is not as effective in cold weather.
What do we mean by that? The roofing team will use adhesives to stick together the shingles that comprise your new roof. These adhesives require sunlight to activate and bond the product. Since sunlight is rather sparse in the thick of winter, the adhesives could fail.
This can result in shoddy workmanship and a dangerously unstable roof. If you don’t have a warranty for the work being done, then you have no protections for your low-quality roof. You could always try suing the roofing company, but that will not be an overnight process.
In the interim, you’d have to wait until warmer days are ahead, typically in the spring, and then hire a new roofing contractor to come out and do the work correctly. This means paying for the roof twice over!
What Temperature Is Too Hot to Replace a Roof?
Okay, so you certainly don’t want to schedule roofing work as winter gets underway. Maybe the summertime is better? After all, there’s more daylight, more sunlight, and the days are more than warm enough for the roofing materials to bond.
Yes, that’s all true, but in very hot temperatures such as 90 degrees or over, working on your roof is dangerous for the construction team. At their elevated height on your roof, the team has no protection from the sun. It will beat down directly on them all day.
What’s worse is if the roofers are installing a black roof or one made of metal. It’s no secret that black absorbs heat, and metal can do the same. The black roof will increase the heat further, making the work very difficult.
Metal roofs can be hot to the touch, possibly posing a burn hazard in severe cases. Installation would have to wait.
If you can only get your roof replaced in the summertime, a construction team might not tell you no, but do be aware that very hot temperatures can make the work start-stop, which will only drag out the replacement process.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof?
Exactly how much are you going to pay for a roof replacement?
HomeAdvisor quotes the standard range as being between $5,575 and $11,448. The national average is $8,374. Keep in mind that your location can influence roofing installation costs. Here’s a breakdown of average costs per location:
- $5,600 to $10,000 in Phoenix
- $6,400 to $15,400 in Los Angeles
- $7,000 to $13,800 in Seattle
- $5,800 to $10,000 in New Jersey
- $6,300 to $12,300 in Colorado
- $6,550 to $11,900 in Michigan
- $4,500 to $9,500 in Maryland
- $5,750 to $10,600 in Houston
- $8,000 to $16,500 in Florida
You’re paying mostly for labor, as HomeAdvisor says the price split is 60 percent for labor and then 40 percent for materials.
Breaking it down in square feet, your new roof costs $3.50 to $5 a square foot. If you know the size of your roof in square feet, then all it takes is some simple math to estimate your fees.
The roofing material you choose will influence the price as well. For 17 roof squares, here is what you’d pay per roofing material:
- More than $25,000 for copper
- $20,000 for slate or high-end stone
- $14,000 for stainless steel
- $3,000 for galvanized steel
- $2,500 for three-tab asphalt shingles
Since your home already has a roof, you must pay to get that removed. HomeAdvisor says this job costs between $1 and $5 a square foot. If you’re paying $40 to $80 an hour for a roofing team, the overall price can be around $1,500.
How Often Should You Replace a Roof?
How do you know when it’s time to replace your roof? Well, you can go by the age of the roofing materials. If yours is metal, the roof has the longest duration, anywhere from 50 to 75 years. A rubber roof lasts a respectable 30 to 50 years. Wood shingles are only good for 20 to 25 years while asphalt shingles last 15 to 30 years.
Composite shingles have the shortest lifespan, about 12 to 20 years.
When you move into a home, you don’t always know the age of the roof. That’s why you must keep an eye out for the following signs. They’re all indicative that it’s time for a new roof.
Your Roof Is Turning Green
Whether it’s algae staining the roof, a bit of moss, or even the growth of grasses and small weeds, any sign of greenery on your roof is concerning. Use a stiff brush to remove the stuff but then schedule a roof replacement soon.
Sagging or Drooping
This is a very serious sign that should not be ignored. If your roof has begun caving in, then it’s only a matter of time before it collapses. No matter the time of year, you need a new roof immediately.
Disappearing Shingles
A few shingles that have detached from your roof might not be much to worry about, but if you have large swathes across the roof that are devoid of shingles, that’s more problematic. You need to do something about it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re waiting to schedule your roof replacement for the best time of the year, do it between September and November. The temperatures are comfy and there’s plenty of daylight to allow roofing adhesives to bond.