Southern California’s weather this last decade has been mostly undependable except for June, July, and August when it’s extremely rare to get rain. Experienced Roofing Professionals know that even though a Summertime rain event is rare, Mother Nature can be temperamental and surprise us with a morning drizzle, light shower, or even rain—especially in a hot and humid pattern, like New York or Florida’s heatwave with humidity conditions. Surprisingly, even a fifteen-minute rain can gut a home, apartment, or commercial building’s contents.

Why Veteran Roofers Watch the Weather Year-Round

Any Roofing Contractor with half a brain knows to tarp a roof with rain predicted on the local news, BUT a veteran or expert in the roofing biz never lets his or her guard down, always looking for a brewing weather pattern that could possibly bring rain in 1–3 days. Most roofers do the bigger strip-offs in summertime, as a large section takes several days to strip and dry weather provides an uninterrupted flow of work. Whereas a 20,000-square-foot building during the rainy season would conservatively be stripped, let’s say 5,000 or 10,000 square feet at a time (in up to four phases), warmer weather can allow for large sections to be stripped in only one to two phases. A seasoned and cautious roofing contractor has learned with time to predict Mother Nature’s moodiness, and prevents costly damage from rain, regardless of the calendar month.

Summer Heat Safety on the Roof

In addition to unexpected summer rain, summertime HEAT also presents challenges to any roofing project. On a 90–100°F day (ground temp), rooftop temps usually average 150–160°F, or 50% hotter roof temperatures. Imagine stripping off several layers of old composition shingles or 2–3–4 layers of rolled roofing under such conditions. For the Professionally Trained Roofer, extreme heat is always a concern, but for novices, it can be a serious safety issue. Royal Roofing Company takes several precautions to keep our crews and foremen safe. For one, we provide each crew with heavy-duty pop-up tents to use roof-top on flat roofs, as there is otherwise no shade to duck under. These “cabanas” reduce temps by up to 25–30 degrees, so a 10–20 minute “cool down break” is a very effective tool to keep each crew safe from sun stroke, in addition to having a shady space for their lunch break. Keeping the crews properly hydrated may seem like a no-brainer, just by having plenty of fluids available, but Royal Roofing’s guard is always up—knowing that cool or tepid water vs. ice cold is better, and watching for any signs of heat-related issues.

Summer Re-Roofing Pricing and Restoration Coatings

While summertime re-roof prices do inch a bit higher due to increased labor costs of working on roofs in blistering heat, the risk of water damage during a rainy season is largely eliminated. The additional phases of strip-off, re-roof, and sometimes tarping required during wet months make the warmer months the best time to re-roof. This time of year is also ideal for roof maintenance or for an Acrylic or Silicone “Snow White” Elastomeric Roof Restoration Coating for your low-slope or flat roof (that’s still in good condition). These work like industrial suntan lotion for your roof to rejuvenate the rolled roofing surface while reflecting 90–95% of the heat. They provide a trifecta of additional waterproofing, cooling the 2nd-story interiors, and extending the life of your roof.

How to Vet a Roofing Contractor

So, is preparing for Mother Nature’s whims regarding rain or heat the only safeguard against potential problems? Definitely not! Property owners and managers must do their homework when researching prospective Roofing Contractors’ credentials and hopefully “long-standing pedigrees” in the local Roofing Industry. Verifying third-party documentation is a must to ensure you will be protected. Checking the true age of a roofing contractor’s license with the California State License Board vs. a tagline on the roofer’s paperwork about their years in business can be a real eye-opener. Citations or complaints found on this site can make for some good reading as well. Requiring proof from your contractor of being Licensed, Bonded & Insured is yet another step that shouldn’t be missed to avoid having no recourse should a job go bad.