Roof repair below freezing?!

Kelly M
by Kelly M
My homeowners insurance is being a bear. They state we have have "curling and lifting" shingles and require us to make a repair by 2/2/11. It's well below freezing temps all week and I don't predict a string of 40+ weather...
How can we make a repair in this weather? Roofing nails and then add a sealant later?
We need to submit photos to prove that a repair was made. Ugh!
  14 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 04, 2012
    Roofing can be completed any time of the year...it just not very pleasant when its cold. The only real requirement is that any snow and ice will need to be removed. When the shingles are installed they should be 6 nailed for "high wind" ratings. When the summer sun and warmth does return it will thermally set the adhesive strips.
  • What they want is for you to put on a new roof. Not patch the curling shingles. Get a letter from a local roofing contractor to state your under agreement to make repairs once weather complies with proper installation. I had my insurance company come by on my home telling me to remove my ladders or provide proof of commercial insurance to have them there. I said fine. I got another insurance company to insure my home. Told them they had no business being in my gated back yard and they were lucky I did not sue them for trespass. As far as you submitting to them the proof using photos. Tell them to take a hike. Its their job to check this not yours to do their work for them. Just confirm that your in the process of getting estimates for the work and that your not planning to have any work done until weather warms up enough so not to void the shingle manufacture installation warranty. (yes they tell you right on the package of shingles not to install below freezing weather for fear of early failure of the shingle due to cracking)
  • RTB Construction, LLC RTB Construction, LLC on Jan 05, 2012
    Woodbridge is 100% correct about not installing a roof in that type of weather and your insurance company should be aware of this. I agree that you should get it under contract and let the insurance company know that it will be replaced as soon as the weather permits.
  • Kelly M Kelly M on Jan 05, 2012
    I did push them on the phone to provide details. I didn't want to find out later that they really wanted a full roof replacement. The rep did confirm that they had photos of specific problem areas (that they wouldn't share with me) and that a repair with new photos would be sufficient. We have applied for a home repair grant, as a new roof isn't something in the budget right now. Of course, wait time to hear an answer on the grant is now a year. I did get 5 estimates for a full roof replacement. I asked if we could just get a signed agreement for a replacement in the Spring and the rep said no. This is coming from Traveller's, if that matters. We switched to them to try and save $200/year and that's turning out to be a disaster. Is it time to find another insurance company?
  • RTB Construction, LLC RTB Construction, LLC on Jan 05, 2012
    If they have pictures of the problem areas they should send you copies to insure that you're repairs are done in the correct areas. I would suggest calling them again and requesting copies asap, they really won't want you to have to get on the roof yourself to find the areas of concern when they have the pictures in hand.roof. It sounds like they only want a repair if that is the case then what your contractor can do is remove and replace the shingles in the areas those areas only. This could be done anytime of the year. Did you just purchase the home? Why is the insurance company making these demands it doesn't sound like you put a claim in for your roof. I am from a little town that is half way between Rochester and Syracuse and I know how cold it is there. Do not attempt to replace your roof until the climate is around 40 degrees. You can check any manufacturers web sites and they will tell you this. Our company specializes in roofing and if you replace a roof when the temps are too low the shingles will not adhere (and you always install using six nails per shingle) which will cause the shingles to blow off when it is windy and we know how windy it can be in NY during the winters. To be honest that $200 annual savings is going to cost you alot more money in the long run. Good Luck.
  • Every manufacturer of composite roof shingles I know if instructs to only apply their product when the temp is above 45Ā° to 55Ā°F. If you can contract with a roofer for spring replacement and have him write a letter to that effect and you include that in an appeal to the ins company, that should satisfy them
  • Kelly M Kelly M on Jan 05, 2012
    I got the roofing inspection because we changed insurance companies, trying to get a cheaper policy. Seems like it's costing me more in hassle.
  • Any company that you switch to will do an inspection. Some could even be worse then just asking about the roofing shingles.
  • Lola Lola on Jan 30, 2015
    Every state has an insurance board where you can get help with all your insurance problems. They can contact the roofer and the insurance company for you. They investigate all situations. I had a problem, contacted them through online form, they called me the next day and within a month I had a solution to my problem.
  • Janice Janice on Jan 31, 2015
    After reading the comments here, I'd ask to speak to a supervisor. Something doesn't sound right about how the insurance company rep is dealing with you.
  • Comet Comet on Feb 09, 2015
    We have had similar problems with ALLSTATE. Also live in Upstate NY with a lake to the rear of our property that kicks up tremendous wind sometimes. After we lost almost ALL of the shingles on the BACK of the roof and a good deal from the FRONT of the roof we had tarps put on THAT DAY as an emergency measure. This was during a huge wind storm that also then drove rain into the house. When we called Allstate they sent some one out in a tiny car with a huge ladder sticking out which the guy declined to take OUT of the car; demanded that WE provide a ladder! Nope! Well after it had rained (on top of heavy wet snow) the shingles that blew off had FROZEN to the old snow and dirt. They then decided that A. The entire roof was NOT covered because only some "proportion" of the front was damaged; and that the internal damage---wet ceilings with a hole in one area! -and damaged siding--the siding also blew off-but they declared that the fresh DUCT TAPE holding my SIDING on had been there BEFORE we bought the house--several YEARS earlier. And B.---These shingles FROZEN in the ice were DEBRIS and that was a REASON to deny our claim! Well they TOO had "Secret Pictures" that they REFUSED to show me--I could about HEAR the shredder going while I was on the phone with them. I too had to DEMAND a review of this case as the roof was NOT getting repaired AND the guy we hired to put the tarps on was BLOWN OFF while he was working---lucky for THEM he was not hurt or they could have had a much BIGGER claim. We eventually WON on this--but no; the shingles could NOT be replaced with sub-zero weather. And for them to demand this is unreasonable unless there would be MORE loss if these were not replaced at once. We have also had Allstate demand that we provide a "handrail" on "steps" leading up to a deck--unfortunately these were NOT steps; it was a tiered PLANTER that had nothing to do with the deck. And they demanded that we HAD to have some sort of a step set up- outside a sliding glass door that--in our case--leads to--nothing. It did once lead to that deck--sinbce removed--but because of the placement of the door--directly OVER a concrete staircase leading to the basement--and if you HAVE a step coming OUT of the house--will actually COVER the steps at a height that means no one can WALK on them--the old deck had a trap door for this!--thus making the basement exit unuseable. We finally convinced them to NOT require this--since it would mean permanently BLOCKING a fire exit--by installing a grate over part of the slider---which we don't open in any case. In EACH of these cases--and a few other smaller things---I had to spend much time and effort on the phone and emailing them and getting higher level management involved. You NEEd to be very persistent and point out to them the RISKS of what they are demanding you do at what time of year. That if they INSIST on you doing something that involves risk that THEY will be liable for any injury or further damage---esp if the shingles don't SEAL--which they won't. We had a different insurance co send out a team to look at our house BEFORE we got coverage--after we got an estimate for coverage--and they REFUSED to insure us because we dared to have SHRUBS (we live out in cow country and no burglers are hiding out there!) and also we had that odd dark streaking on the soffits that cleaned up in about 5 minutes with a pressure wash--but THAT was enough to KEEP us from being approved. Basically I think they do not WANT to cover you and will find ANY excuse to get rid of you. I know it sounds harsh. But they are in the business of NOT paying out--from their point of view!--and making sure that structures are in good repair. One thing that might be in your favor--for now--is if the roof is NOT leaking. You might need to have some one go into the attic and check for this. I know some people (I have neighbors like this) feel that if they have peeling paint etc the "value" of their home is less for tax and insurance---this works with tax to a certain extent but NOT to insurance--the insurance co just sees this as defered maintanence and higher risk to THEM.
  • Lola Lola on Mar 14, 2015
    Really in sub zero weather with 6-20" of snow on the roof. I would suggest they persist in getting a letter stating that repairs will be made when the weather is acceptable to guarantee that the shingles will be up to temp for manufacturer's warranty.
  • Alton Alton on Jul 26, 2015
    Shingles have little spots of tar on them to help hold down the tabs and it takes hot weather to make them work so being 20 deg. or 40 deg. will not mater BUT I'd warm the ridges to keep them from cracking as they are bent .