Is Summer The Best Time To Replace Your Roof?

Replacing a roof is a necessary part of property maintenance. Though roofs have a lifespan of between 20 and 25 years, it's important to stay ahead of roof maintenance as leaks in your roof can lead to structural damage to the rental and growth of mold and mildew, which can be a hazard for your tenants. For landlords, determining the ideal time to perform this work can affect costs, convenience, and tenant satisfaction. 

Today, we’ll go over why we believe summer is the ideal time to replace your roof.

Weather Conditions

In Southern California, during the summer months, the weather tends to be more stable and consistent. Precipitation is generally at its lowest during the summer, meaning there is little probability for rain. This consistency in the weather allows for a better, more consistent work environment for workers, which minimizes delays that may be caused by the weather, allowing for work to be completed on schedule.

An additional benefit to replacing the roof during the summer is the performance of the material. For example, asphalt shingles, which are commonly used in residential roofing, adhere more effectively when the temperature is higher. It's been shown that installing these shingles during warm weather supports proper sealing of the roof materials when compared to cold weather. When it's too cold, these shingles can become brittle, increasing the risk of damage or improper installation. Furthermore, while replacing your roof, you can take advantage of the opportunity to inspect the attic. Ensure there is adequate attic ventilation and insulation while the area is more accessible. Doing this can improve efficiency in cooling, which can reduce the wear and tear on the electrical and HVAC systems. Finally, summer conditions reduce safety hazards for workers, which helps ensure consistent progress on the work at hand.

Tenant Coordination

Replacing the roof of your rental property is a large project that can be difficult to coordinate with tenants. However, summer offers a number of benefits in this aspect as well. Summer is often seen as a time to travel or go out. Summer is also a common season for general maintenance, meaning scheduling multiple projects at the same time is a possibility. Tasks such as landscaping and HVAC servicing are commonly performed during the summertime. By scheduling roof replacement, you can reduce the overall scheduling conflict between your tenants and your tradesmen. 

Replacing a roof can be disruptive for tenants. However, summer minimizes many of the common issues associated with this type of work. Depending on the tenants, they may have a more flexible schedule, or even be on vacation or otherwise be able to spend time away from their home. This reduces their exposure to noise, dust, and debris from the work being done on the roof. Clear communication is crucial, as some tenants may require additional time to get their schedules organized. By ensuring your work aligns with the season when tenants are least impacted, landlords can improve their relationships with their tenants. This can help reduce contention and complaints. Although any construction can be an inconvenience, summer conditions help limit the disruption to your tenant’s comfort and daily routines.

Choosing the right season for roof replacement is an important decision for landlords, and for some, summer may not be ideal. Though in general, summer provides favorable weather and a better ability to coordinate with your tenants. While the costs involved with replacing your roof can be significant, completing this work during summer can be more efficient while improving the overall value of your rental property.