If your roof is in the middle of being either replaced or installed for the first time, it can be a stressful period. Especially if your roof is left open for a few days or the job is taking a while to finish. What if it starts raining before the roofing job is finished? While some roofs can be worked on in the rain, not all of them can.
If you want to know how to deal with rain during your roofing job, and what issues it might present, then this article is for you. Keep reading to find out if rain is going to be an issue for your roof, and what to do about it if it starts raining unexpectedly.
How to prevent rain on unfinished roof issues
If you’re about to start a roofing job, the first thing you should look at is the weather forecast. While you might be desperate to get your new roof put in place, sometimes it might be worth holding off on starting the job for a while if heavy rain looks likely.
While some jobs can be completed in rain, many of them will be presented with major issues and could potentially cost more to sort out.
Some roofing jobs can be done in as little as a day, but if your roof is going to be left unsecured for longer (like a few days and nights), you’ll need to look at a longer-term forecast more thoroughly. The problem is, these forecasts aren’t always as accurate.
Holding off on doing the job might be more of a problem if you’re fixing leaks in your roof, as waiting because it’s due to rain could cause further issues in your roof.
In situations like this, you can temporarily secure your roof and plug the gap while you wait for a dry period so it can be properly fixed.
Don’t rush your job if you think it’s going to rain soon, it could cause more issues than it’s worth. While it’s frustrating not being able to get the job done quickly it’s much better in the long run.
A good quality roofer should not be prepared to work when it’s raining or rain looks likely. If you have to wait a few days, that might be the best option.
Be prepared
If your roofing job is only expected to take less than a day, then you won’t have to worry as much. If the job is going to take longer, a good quality roofing contractor should generally only remove an amount of roof that they’ll be able to replace each day, so large areas of the roof aren’t left open at night.
Even if you think it’s not going to rain, that doesn’t make it guaranteed. Make sure your roofer has tarps and other emergency equipment to quickly put in place if it does start raining. Clear anything out of the roof cavity that you don’t want to get wet just in case.
What issues does rain present for a roofing job?
Since roofs are generally put in place to protect your home and interiors from weather like rain, then rain while the roof is open is obviously not ideal. Especially if you’ve got a loft conversion or something stored that shouldn’t be exposed to weather conditions. Rain can also make it harder to sealants and other materials to dry or be secured in place properly.
Aside from the damage it could do to your home or unfinished roof, rain is harder to work in. It might even be unsafe for roofers to work on your roof during rain, so these aren’t risks you should take.
What to do when it rains during a roofing job
With most roofing jobs, rain will mean quickly covering up any open areas with tarps and securing the area. Any work will obviously need to stop during this period. However, there are a few circumstances where roofing jobs can continue during light rain.
With rain that keeps stopping and starting, roofers can work on smaller parts of roofs at a time, only tearing off and replacing each part at a time. This means less of the roof will be open to rain damage.
Rain can also help roofers inspect drainage issues and see where the water is flowing. Sometimes, leaks can be hard to find the source of without firing water at them. Rain can help a roofer get to the root of the issue, but it’ll still have to dry up for the repairs to start properly.
When working at a time when rain looks likely, roofers will work small areas at a time, as we already touched on. In perfect weather, a roofer might tear off the entire roof before they start replacing it all. This obviously won’t be a good idea during rain.
If you’re considering doing your own roof repairs rather than hiring an expert, you should be even more careful. While it can be frustrating to call out a roofer and then have to wait until the rain stops, this is often the best option.
Don’t try and convince a roofing firm to work on a wet roof or during rain if they don’t recommend doing so. Most quality roofers won’t work in those conditions.
If they won’t, then neither should you. Roofing during rain is dangerous, especially if you aren’t an expert. Always err on the side of caution with this sort of thing.
You might have seen some roofers who are happy to work in the rain, but these will either be taking risks they shouldn’t or will have specific knowledge and experience to get the job done safely.
While rain can be frustrating when you’re trying to get your roof repaired or replaced, it’s something you’ll just have to put up with for a while. It’s one reason why roofing jobs should generally only take place in less rainy months, so it’s not as much of a risk.
Whether you choose to wait a few days or even until a different season, hopefully you now know a bit more about rain and what it could do to your roofing job.
