How to Tell if You Need a Roof Replacement in Ontario
September 3, 2024Some people think summer is the season for roof replacements, but our contractors are ready to share their best-kept secret—fall is the best time to replace your roof in Ontario.
Why is fall the best time to replace your roof?
Summers in Ontario are wet, hot, and incredibly humid, making it difficult for people to work outside comfortably and asphalt shingles to adhere to your roof. Plus, if you try to book in summer, you’ll face the crowds competing to book your busy local contractors with phones ringing off the hook.
What happens when a roof is replaced?
The fall brings cool, consistent temperatures between 7 and 29 degrees and fewer rain delays. But the benefits don’t stop there—you’ll get a better roof replacement cost, better quality installations, and decent energy savings during the chilly months.
Before the winter hits in Hamilton, consider a fall roof change to keep your home protected all winter long. Our expert roof contractors share the five biggest benefits of replacing your roof this autumn. Read on to see more.
#1: Energy Savings All Winter Long
In Canada, we face the same struggle every winter—our heat naturally flows away from warm areas and into cooler ones. When faced with average daily temperatures in Hamilton of 2°C to -5°C (and that’s just December!), your precious heated air is busting at the seams to get out of your house.
How do you know it's time to replace your roof?
If your old roof leaks more air than usual—and most do—you'll waste a lot of money heating absolutely nothing. Don’t delay your roof replacement if your aging shingles are no longer energy efficient.
If you install a new, energy-efficient roof this autumn, you can start earning back that investment through this winter’s heat cost savings. While the numbers vary by home, indoor temperature, and area, most homeowners can expect to see a 10% to 25% reduction in their heating bills by simply installing a new roof.
Not only will you save cash on your energy bills with a new roof, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint, increase your home’s value, and keep a more consistent, comfortable temperature—even during the most blustery winter storms.
#2: Saving Money on Expensive Emergency Repairs
Between blistering heat and UV rays, summers are brutal on our roofs, which can rapidly speed up the aging process. If you’ve felt like your aging roof is nearing the end of its life after this summer, you’re likely far better off with a proactive roof replacement this fall than a reactive (and expensive!) emergency repair in the winter.
Winter brings along some more extreme weather when a sudden leak or roof failure will grow into an even more stressful and costly repair. You have to hope the weather is decent enough for a crew to safely perform emergency repairs and pray that a team is available to help you. Many contractors take time off in the winter, leaving few options to help you out of a jam.
Even if you manage to find cheap roofing companies in Hamilton to help you, you’ll pay a premium for emergency roof repair services. The costs will vary, but expect to minimally pay a few hundred extra dollars on top of the typical repair costs in an emergency—especially if your problem hits on a weekend.
#3: Better Protection During a Winter Freeze
Winter weather is especially harsh on our roofs, with whipping winds, heavy snow dumps, and constant freezing and thawing with rapid and extreme temperature shifts. Most Ontario roofs are built to withstand around 20 - 40 lbs of weight per square foot, but densely packed snow and an aging roof can quickly cause major issues.
If you’re one active winter storm away from a damaged roof, do your replacement in the fall (rather than roof repair Hamilton) so you can rest easy all winter. Sometimes, even invisible damage can lead to a partial roof collapse, so don’t assume that everything is fine beneath the surface because all “looks well” on an old roof.
The freeze-thaw cycle is especially brutal in Hamilton, where we might see a ten-degree jump from one day to the next. That thawed ice and snow turns into water that seeps into your old roof’s cracks, expanding as it freezes and widening them even further. Invest in some affordable roofing this fall and skip the winter stresses—at least the ones about your roof.
#4: Better Contractor Availability & Off-Season Pricing
Nearly every homeowner chooses the summer for their home projects, making top roofing companies Hamilton hard to come by as demand surges through the roof (pardon our roofing joke). Our roofing demand decreases in the fall, which generally means you have more flexibility over booking dates.
Beyond getting to choose when shingle roofers re-roof your home, your handpicked shingles and materials are more likely to be available. The summer is such a whirlwind that many suppliers are running low on stock by July, especially in the season’s trending colours and new materials or technologies. In the fall, demand has dropped off and suppliers have replenished their stock.
Many roofing companies are trying their hardest keep their teams busy during the shoulder seasons, which can help you save some money. Some company roofing contractors will offer labour discounts, while suppliers may even give you a deal on materials to make way for new stock in the spring.
#5: Ideal Weather Conditions for a Better Install
In the crisp fall Hamilton weather, the conditions are more comfortable for roofing contractors performing the heavy labour, allowing them to get the work done quickly with as few weather-related delays as possible.
Beyond the labour side, roofs are genuinely installed better in the fall.
When dealing with asphalt shingles, the adhesives used best stick when installed in temperatures between 7°C and 29°C, allowing the adhesive strips to activate fully. Since air generally holds less moisture, your new roof is likely to have the best longevity and performance if installed during these conditions.
What is replaced when you get a new roof?
We tear everything down to your roof deck and even replace it if it’s in bad shape. What matters most is rebuilding that strong foundation, installing new shingles to serve as the first point of your home’s protection, and eliminating any roof problem you’re experiencing.
Sameday Roofing: Residential Roofing Companies Hamilton
Don’t wait for winter damage to push you to action. Replace your roof this fall and reap all the benefits from energy savings, repair cost savings, and better protection from the winter elements. Fall is the prime time to invest in a new roof.
Looking for roofers near me? Our team of roofing experts in Hamilton, Ontario, are ready to chat and get started on a free roof estimate - call (905) 902-7663 today.