Winter Brings New Challenges For Roofers.
November brings the colder weather of winter to most of the U.S. For those who work indoors, that means an extra cup of hot coffee or cocoa, and maybe a heater under the desk. But for roofers, it signals a complete change in how we work and even how we store and work with materials.
While safety should be a focus throughout the year, winter brings about new safety concerns you should be aware of. In previous articles, we’ve given cold-weather tips on how to keep safe on winter worksites. Wearing layered clothing, insulated gloves, proper footwear, head and face protection, and more are vitally
important to keeping healthy during the winter months, even on clear days. But what about your materials? If the weather affects your performance, surely it also affects the performance of roofing supplies, right?
Yes, it does.
Some solutions are designed with this in mind. Marco’s proven HydraShell™ underlayment, for example, stays flexible in cold weather so you aren’t wrestling with stiff, uncooperative material while up on the rooftop in the chill. And while Marco products are known to be easy to install, even in less-than-ideal conditions, it’s still smart to follow these easy tips when storing and handling materials in cold weather.
According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), there are three main areas to address to maintain efficient and effective installation in colder conditions.
1.Storing Materials: Roofing materials should always be stored in dry and clean conditions. That’s easy during the warmer and often dryer months of peak roofing season. But what about in wintertime? Storing materials indoors is best, but if outdoor storage can’t be avoided, they should always be kept on raised platforms off the ground or roof deck. The materials should also be protected with breathable, water-resistant coverings (such as canvas). And don’t forget to make sure the coverings are properly secured.
2.Taking Time to Warm Up: While you want to get the job done as fast as possible—especially if it’s cold—you need to take extra care (and time) to ensure roofing materials are warm enough to be installed. This could include keeping them in heated storage prior to use if possible. Extremely cold materials can get stiff and not only be difficult and dangerous to install, they can be damaged during installation. Not all solutions stay flexible in cold weather like HydraShell.
3.Properly Storing Rolled Materials: Rolled roofing materials should be stored on an end, not on their sides. Rolls with a selvage edge should be stored with the selvage edge facing up to prevent damage. According to ARMA, you should single-stack roll materials and never throw or drop material rolls when transporting or storing to avoid damaging the materials.
Proper storage and handling of materials during cold weather won’t only make installation easier, it will make it safer for you up on the rooftop. Work smart this winter.
Visit www.MarcoIndustries.com to learn about the full range of superior Marco roofing solutions. To contact us directly, you can email or call 1-800-800-8590.
