Roofing in a winter wonderland

By Emma Peterson. 

How Unified Steel products keep contractors working in the cold season. 

For many roofers, the colder season means slower business and more downtime, in part due to the challenges of installing traditional asphalt shingles in temperatures below 40°F. In comes Westlake Royal Roofing Products’ Unified Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing. Engineered with a Galvalume® steel core that resists brittleness, it maintains lightweight durability, flexibility and strength even in cold weather. 

Systems designed for the cold 

In addition to its ability to be installed during colder months, Unified Steel has stronger performance during severe cold weather when compared to traditional asphalt shingles. Unified Steel’s structural integrity and flexibility also make it ideal for carrying heavy snow loads. Robin Anderson, technical and strategy development manager at Westlake Royal Building Products, recommends optimizing Unified Steel for snow and ice management by using a minimum of a 4/12 roof pitch in regions with over 100 inches of annual snowfall to ensure full-deck underlayment coverage, and incorporating elevated or counter-batten systems to maximize airflow and reduce ice dam formation.

Beyond the roofing product 

Making sure that laborers remain safe during installation is vital. Similar to the need to worry about environmental safety challenges in the summer, like sunburns and heat exhaustion, it’s important to consider the unique safety hazards common during colder months. Things like black ice are no laughing matter and can be very dangerous. You also need to have a plan in place for storing temperature-sensitive installation tools, such as adhesives, mastics and batteries. 

In conclusion 

Overall, winter roofing work is possible and can be a great way to keep your business competitive. Equipping your crew with the right products and safety measures helps to ensure that they’re ready to roof in a winter wonderland!