Like floors, roofs can be slippery when wet
Rain can make your roof deck slippery, making it dangerous for DIYers and professionals to work in the rain.
Moisture trapped under your shingles can lead to mold growth and poor fastener connections.
Some shingle manufacturers may actually void your roof warranty if you install the materials in the rain.
If you’re installing a new roof and the weather isn’t cooperating, you might wonder if it’s safe to install shingles in the rain. While light rain might be safe for professionals to work in, most of the time, you’ll want your roofing materials to be completely dry when you install them. In this guide, we’ll explain why you shouldn’t install shingles in the rain and what to do if the weather surprises you mid-project.
Generally speaking, no, you shouldn’t install shingles in the rain. Not only is it unsafe to work on a slippery roof deck, but rain and moisture can actually affect the installation itself, leading to a less stable roof, warping of the roof deck, and even mold and mildew becoming a problem under your shingles. If you’re DIYing roof repair or replacement, always check the weather beforehand and plan around precipitation.
Most local roofing companies also won’t install shingles in the rain—which should serve as a warning for any DIYers considering it.
Roofing contractors might be willing to work in light rain if they believe it’s safe, but they’ll likely delay the installation if they expect moderate to heavy rain. They may wait a day or two after heavy precipitation to allow your roof deck to dry out, too. If you’re in a rush to avoid ongoing water damage from a leaking roof, hire a roofing contractor who is willing to work in less-than-ideal working conditions to get the job done as quickly as possible.
There are a few reasons you should avoid installing shingles in the rain, including safety issues and problems with the installation itself.
Most importantly, rain can make your roof deck slippery, which makes working on the roof far more dangerous. Professionals with proper roofing harnesses and experience might be willing to work in light rain, but you should never get up on your roof if it’s actively raining or if the roof deck is wet.
If you’re installing solar roof shingles, it can also be dangerous to make the necessary electrical connections in wet conditions.
Rain can warp and distort your roof decking because the wood will absorb moisture. Installing shingles over a wet roof deck will hold that moisture in and make the problem worse. You could end up with a wavy or uneven roof if you move forward with the installation while it’s raining.
Depending on how long the installation takes and how heavy the rain is, you could also run into problems with water seeping through the roof deck and causing water damage in your home.
Installing roof shingles over a wet roof deck will trap the moisture between the building materials and can lead to mold and mildew. The space will eventually dry out, but likely not before you do some damage to the decking material.
Your roof deck will expand slightly when it’s exposed to moisture, and driving roofing nails into a wet deck won’t cause any problems right away. However, when the wood sheds the moisture and shrinks, the movement can compromise the connection with the fastener, leading to a less secure roof.
Finally, some roof shingle manufacturers will void your warranty if you or a professional install the shingles in the rain. This depends on the company and the product line, but even if your specific warranty doesn’t mention anything about installation conditions, the fact that some do mention it should be enough to lead you or your professional to wait out the rain.
Sometimes, you plan around the weather the best you can but still get hit with rainfall while your installation is underway. If it does start raining, it’s a good idea to set up some tarps to keep the exposed roof decking dry while you wait for the rain to pass.
Alternatively, you can work in sections if you’re doing the job yourself. Tear off a section of old roof material and put down the underlayment right away. Install new shingles over that section before moving on to the next one. This can take some additional roof measuring to coordinate, but it will help minimize the amount of roof deck that sees direct rainfall.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLCThis place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
While Naaman and Mike were very professional and amicable to work with, there were issues in this project that makes giving a higher rating impossible. We had several communications issues that delayed completion. The roofers accessed the property without communicating with me. Just showed up...
Ohio Roofing SolutionsLyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
I have known and used Brian Davis and his crew of Davis Roofing for years on several properties, he is the most honest and transparent and fair roofer you will meet - hands down! His team is prompt, professional, seeks to educate you to make the best decision! Polar opposite of the storm...
Davis Roofing and RestorationIt went very well. They were very professional and very knowledgeable about problems and fixes with flat roll down roofs.
An estimator/sales representative came to the home and met with me after the roof was measured. A thorough explanation was given of all the components that would be part of the new roof, as well as what any cost overruns might occur. The job was scheduled two weeks out following our...
B&T Roofing LtdSeveral years ago Pomante replaced the roof of a small area of my house, the porch roof, with a rubber roof. This is a shallow roof and shingles were never able to shed the water appropriately; I needed a rubber roof. At that time they were the only company I could find that would do this...
We had to replace rotten wood on both buildings and shingle the sides of our dormer walls on the main building. Prior to replacing the roofs we had to tear down a deteriorating chimney to the roofline and Muth and Co worked with our hired chimney vendor to complete the project. While...
Muth & Company RoofingDavet Roofing really did a great job, they roofed our whole house in one day. They hauled away the debris from the old roof, so we did not have to hire someone to do that and they left the area around the house clean.
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