Category: Asphalt Roofing

One of the most commonly asked questions by homeowners is when is the best time to replace your asphalt shingles. Although many roofing companies limit their roof replacement contracts to high season, it is possible to replace a roof in late fall, winter, and early spring. The duration of the asphalt roofing season can vary depending on your location. However, it is possible to install new asphalt shingles as long as temperatures are mild, and the chance of wind, rain and snow is low. The high season for roofing in Southern Alberta runs from late Spring to Fall when temperatures are above 10-15°C but work can be done in the offseason and even winter with certain weather conditions. Some of the factors that mark the end of asphalt roofing season include:

Shingles Becoming Brittle

At freezing temperatures, the asphalt shingles can become brittle and more prone to breakage. To prevent this, many roofing companies avoid working in below-zero temperatures. Even if the shingles are stored at a warm temperature prior to installing them, exposure to cold temperatures at the time of installation is enough to make them brittle. At cold temperatures, the nails cannot safely penetrate the shingle without compromising the asphalt in the shingle. Asphalt shingles by GAF and CertainTeed come with certain warranty coverage when it comes to installation in cold weather. However, manufacturers have guidelines that roofing companies have to follow if they want coverage. Cold shingles may crack when nailed to a deck, this can cause roof failure and leaks. However, this will vary depending on the shingle material. Fibreglass asphalt shingles are more susceptible than SBS modified rubber asphalt shingles.

Lower Safety

Another common reason why roofing companies avoid working in sub-zero temperatures is safety concerns. Cold temperatures can lead to the build-up of frost on the shingles and roof deck which can make the work area slippery.

Equipment Failure

The compressors and nail guns needed to install a new roof cannot work to their full potential in below-freezing temperatures. This can lead to delays and inefficiencies in the application of the shingles.

Alberta Chinooks

When Alberta’s weather cuts us some slack we are able to install asphalt and modified asphalt shingles in the winter. The chinook belt lies almost exclusively within southern and central Alberta. For the uninitiated, Chinooks are warm, dry, gusty, westerly winds that blow down the Rocky Mountains. Every few days, these winds cause unseasonable warming. In Alberta, chinooks can happen 30-35 times per year. The maximum daily temperature anomaly associated with the wind ranges from +13°C in the northwest to +25°C in the southeast. Hence, on these days contractors are able to replace asphalt shingles without having to worry about the shingles becoming brittle in cold temperatures, frozen sealants, equipment failure, or frost delays. Of course, if we have to deal with the snow on the roof, it can easily be swept off using safety gear and equipment.

Alternatives to Asphalt Shingles

If you need or would like to replace the asphalt shingles on your roof during the winter season, consider an SBS Modified Class 4 shingle. These shingles are specifically designed to protect your roof from storm damage and extreme weather. Unlike asphalt shingles, they come with a polymer-based mesh on the back which prevents them from breaking. Moreover, the asphalt is mixed with an SBS polymer blend to create a rubberizing effect. Hence, the shingle is more flexible in cooler temperatures and resists breakage from handling and installation in below-freezing temperatures. Other options for a winter roof replacement include Euroshield’s Vermont Slate or Beaumont Slate, made from recycled rubber from tires right here in Calgary or the F-Wave synthetic roofing shingle, which also has no asphalt and no granules.

About AKRoN Roofing

We are proud to announce that we are the first roofing company in Canada to be working with and installing the F-Wave REVIA premium synthetic residential shingles. AKRoN Roofing provides transferable, ten-year workmanship warranties on all sloped roof installations and can offer up to a 25-year workmanship warranty with a GAF or CertainTeed roof. We hold the highest installation standards on all our roofs and we educate homeowners about products, installation, and warranties. AKRoN Roofing is a proud member of the Alberta Allied Roofing Association. We offer various products for sloped roof replacements with a Class 4 rating from UL, including SBS modified architectural shingles, Euroshield recycled rubber shingles, and F-wave Synthetic shingles. Our other services include, but are not limited to, residential re-roofing with asphalt shingles, TPO, and 2-ply membranes for flat roofing, roof repairs, and inspections of all types of roofing material by our qualified team. AKRoN Roofing is proud of its A+ rating with BBB plus other certifications and accreditations. You can check out our accreditations and certifications here, or contact us here for more information.

The beautiful architectural structures with varying colors and designs of shingles that you see nowadays were not always like this. Asphalt shingles used on houses and other structures have undergone years of evolution. The first Asphalt roofing structure was introduced in Canada by GAF roofing in the 1840s. Back then, coal tar was used to saturate layers of felt to produce a rolled sheet. To protect the surface of the sheet, it was coated with sand and ground shells. At the time, no one expected the rolled sheets to transform into one of the most used products for roofing. To learn more about how our modern-day asphalt shingles came to be and evolved over time, keep reading.

Ready To Lay Asphalt Roofing

Until 1892, asphalt roofing structures were manufactured by saturating felt in coal tar and covering it with sand or shells to ensure waterproofing. In 1892, the first ready-to-lay asphalt roofing was developed. This changed the way roof manufacturers operated. The new product was very much similar to rubber. Hence, all the manufacturers had to do was place the rolls on the roof and set them in place.

Colored Granules

In 1904 colored granule coating for asphalt rolls was introduced. The Standard Paint Company (now known as GAF) had perfected the method of adding colored granules to their ready-to-lay asphalt rolls. This revamped the aesthetics of structures in Canada. Instead of boring black asphalt rolls, manufacturers were using all sorts of colors to improve the way a structure’s roof looked. This method of coloring asphalts is still used today.

Individually Cut Shingles

In 1912, the first individual-cut asphalt shingles were introduced to the market. They were made using rag felt dipped in an asphalt solution. The process was not automated though and the rags were hand-cut and hand-dipped in asphalt. This made the cut shingles much more expensive than asphalt rolls.

Change of Shape

In the 1920s, the durability of hand-cut shingles was improved by introducing a diamond cut shape to increase resistance to wind uplift. These shingles were dipped in pliant asphalt derived from petroleum.

Interlocking Asphalt Shingles

Almost after two decades of introducing cut shingles, shingle manufacturers introduced interlocking shingles as attractive yet inexpensive alternatives to the more expensive roofing options. Moreover, the shingles provided a better wind resistance due to the locking configuration.

Cellulosic Felt

In the 1960s, the rag felt was replaced by cellulosic felt. This exploded the available color selection. In addition to this, GAF engineer Phil Bottoli laminated two strip shingles together to create a shingle of extraordinary strength and aesthetic. This eliminated the need to manually add adhesive to the shingle at the time of application on the roof. This improves installation time, and the size of shingles was increased./ By the ’80s, the asphalt shingle had become the dominant roofing material in Canada and across North America for residential steep slope roofing.

Modern-day Shingles

Although shingles keep evolving, their structure has remained the same for the last three decades. Manufacturing technology, raw material upgrades, and design innovations have resulted in the production of shingles that provide a more distinctive aesthetic to rooflines. GAF’s Timberline Roof shingles are North America’s best-selling shingles. They combine the maintenance-free quality of asphalt shingles with the beauty and grace of wood. Over the years, GAF has had a huge role to play in the advancement of asphalt shingles. The core material of modern asphalt shingles is a fiberglass base sheet instead of organic felt, adding to the durability of the shingles.

About AKRoN Roofing

AKRoN Roofing offers cost-effective and resilient roofing solutions in Calgary. We provide a wide range of the best roofing materials in the market and hold the highest installation standards on all our roofs. AKRoN Roofing is a proud member of the Alberta Allied Roofing Association. We offer various products for sloped roof replacements with a Class 4 rating from UL, including SBS modified architectural shingles, Euroshield recycled rubber shingles and F-wave Synthetic shingles. Our other services include, but are not limited to, residential re-roofing with asphalt shingles, TPO membranes for flat roofing, roof repairs, and inspections of all types of roofing material by our qualified team. AKRoN Roofing is proud of its A+ rating with BBB plus other certifications and accreditations. You can check out our accreditations and certifications here. Contact us here for more information.