Living in the nearly year-round heat and humidity of Florida can sometimes present special challenges; this is especially true when it comes time to get your roof replaced. The state certainly gets its fair share of storms, so you don’t want to leave this job longer than you absolutely need to, but when is the best time? Considerations like cost of materials, availability of reliable contractors, temperature and weather all play a part in dictating the best times of year to replace your roof. While you’ll be able to get the work done any time of year you choose, there are seasons you may want to think twice about scheduling a roofing job.
Avoid Spring and Summer
Rain is a big obstacle when replacing your roof–while the humidity in the air may not make a difference and a light drizzle can be worked around, most contractors simply won’t work on your roof when it is outright raining. This is due in part to safety concerns for the laborers themselves, but also out of deference to your home. Installing roofing components in a rainy environment can trap moisture in the decking and under the membrane, preventing shingles from properly adhering and increasing your chances of leaks.
It can rain in Florida year-round, and often does, but if at all possible you should avoid replacing your roof during the rainy spring seasons. This time of year is known for rains that can come out of nowhere and leave streets partially flooded, so certainly not the best environment for a brand new watertight roof to be installed.
Summer months are also not the best choice; the very high temperatures can make common roofing components like asphalt shingles much softer than normal. In this softened state, they can be more difficult to install and are more vulnerable to scuffing from foot traffic on the roof during the install. While summer may be preferable for roof replacement in more moderate climates, the height of summer in Florida is simply much too hot.
Aim For Fall or Winter
While all of fall and part of winter are still vulnerable to bad weather because of hurricane season, inclement weather due to hurricanes or tropical storms is typically easier to predict and work around than the intermittent downpours of the rainy season. Choosing to get your roof replaced in the fall or winter months can give you a better chance of clear weather so that your contractor can get the work done quickly and without incident.
Temperature is also a consideration–your roof needs to undergo a process called thermal sealing that helps perfect the watertight barrier keeping the inside of your home nice and dry. Typically this means that winters are too cold for reliable roofing work unless you want to wait much longer for sealing to complete. In Florida, however, winters are typically mild enough (above 40 degrees) for long enough that you can avoid the extreme heat of summer and the wetness of the rainy months.
If you own property in Florida and know you’ll be needing a roof replacement, try to give yourself the time to find a contractor you trust and get the work done in the later seasons when weather conditions are friendlier. If you’re concerned about rate increases because getting work done outside of the rainy season is so popular, consider signing a contract farther in advance to secure costs before they have a chance to rise again.