You’re a homeowner in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, and you know our weather’s got a mind of its own. You’ve scheduled your roof repair or replacement, and then you wake up to the sound of rain drumming against your window. It’s a scene that has played out many times, and it always brings up the same urgent question: ‘Will the roofers still come?’
After 30 years in business and over 30,000 projects completed throughout Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs-from Bensalem to Conshohocken-the answer from Discounted Roofing LLC is quite clear. The quick response would be: generally, no. But the practical explanation-the one that comes into play to safeguard your home and your investment-is a bit more involved.
Dangers of Working in the Rain
First, let’s talk about why a responsible roofer, such as the team we send to your home, will call off work when the rain starts falling.
Think about it: a roof deck is slippery when it’s dry, especially an older one. Now, add water, a layer of mud from foot traffic and a steep pitch. You’ve got a recipe for a serious fall. The safety of our crew isn’t negotiable. We’re talking about people with families-not just employees. Sending someone up on a wet, steep-sloped roof is a risk that we’re just not willing to take.
Then there’s the quality of the work. Imagine trying to install asphalt shingles – the kind from our partners at GAF or Owens Corning – onto a damp deck. For those shingles to seal, they need heat and a dry surface to activate the adhesive strips. They may not seal at all if they go on wet. You’re left with a roof that looks great but the first big wind could lift those shingles right off. It’s a foundational principle – a proper installation requires a dry start.
And let’s not forget the materials themselves. Some roofing underlayments are designed to shed water during a brief shower, but they’re not meant for a full day’s work in a downpour. Saturated materials are a nightmare to deal with, and they can trap moisture against the roof deck-the very thing we’re trying to prevent. The trapped moisture leads to rot and mold and a whole new set of problems down the line. It’s a shortcut, and in our business, those always come back to haunt you.
Circumstances under which roofers can refrain from working
Safety and quality are the twin pillars of professional roofing. When rain threatens either one, we call a time-out. Here are the specific conditions that send our crews packing:
- Steep Slope Roof Projects
A wet, steep slope is just too dangerous. The asphalt shingles on a pitched roof are slick as an ice rink when wet. The possibility of a serious fall is too great. Our team’s safety is our top priority.
- Installation of New Shingles
The adhesive strips on asphalt shingles only work effectively with heat and only when it is applied on a dry surface. Indeed, those by popular manufacturers like GAF and Owens Corning are no exception. Application of such on a damp deck is a surefire recipe for failure; those shingles may never seal, and your home can easily be rendered vulnerable to wind damage and leaks.
- Saturated or Stormy Conditions
A torrential downpour, or a steady, soaking rain, renders any meaningful work impossible. Visibility is poor, materials become waterlogged, and the fundamental process of creating a watertight seal is compromised.
The Conditional Yes: When Roofers May Continue Working
A downpour is a hard stop, nearly every time. There are some nuanced scenarios where you might still see activity on your property. It’s all about managing risk and making progress where we can safely.
- Emergency Tarping and Mitigation
We do not wait for sunshine in cases of emergencies, such as when a tree limb pierces your roof during a storm. We immediately begin making emergency repairs by securing heavy-duty tarps to prevent further water intrusion into your home; this is a temporary solution until permanent repairs can be made during dry weather.
- Light, Occasional Drizzle
A very light mist or a passing sprinkle is entirely different from a steady rain. Under these conditions, our crew may choose to remain productive by continuing any preparatory or ancillary work such as mitering shingles in a garage or staging materials, but will stop at the instant the roof surface becomes dangerously wet.
- Non-roofing and ground-based operations
Although rain makes shingle work more complicated, it does not necessarily shut down the entire project. Our crew can also safely continue working for gutter repair and installation, site cleanup and organization, interior inspections or drywall work not relating to the active roof leak, and other ground-based tasks.
Why You Should Avoid Roofing Work During Rainfall?
You might have noticed the promise some companies make, claiming that they are ready to help you ‘rain or shine’. Be very, very wary of that promise. A roofer who is insisting to work through a rainstorm is cutting corners, and they’re cutting them on your most important asset: your home. The risks are just too high.
Voided Warranties
This is a huge one: manufacturers like Tamko and IKO have very specific installation requirements when it comes to their warranty guidelines. We say this from direct experience: installing shingles on a wet deck is a surefire way to avoid that manufacturer’s warranty before it even starts. So, that ‘lifetime warranty’ they sold you is worthless.
Hidden Moisture
As we mentioned before, trapping moisture is a death sentence for a roof structure: It can lead to soft, rotting wood that you won’t discover for months or even years, long after that fly-by-night crew has gone.
Poor Adhesion
Shingles won’t seal. Flashing details won’t be watertight. The whole system is compromised from day one. At Discounted Roofing LLC, we partner with the best in the business for a reason: we believe in doing a job that lasts. That means respecting the materials, respecting the process, and most importantly, respecting your home enough to wait for the right conditions.
The Discounted Roofing LLC Promise: Honesty, Rain or Shine
So what’s the takeaway? If you call us for a roof repair and it’s pouring, we will likely reschedule. If we’re in the middle of a full roof replacement and the radar is looking grim, we’ll tarp everything up securely, make sure your home is dry, and come back when the sun’s out. It might be a little bit of an inconvenience, but trust us, that is the only way to make sure the roof over your head gets done right. It is the difference between a roof that lasts you one season and one that will last you throughout your lifetime. We have been serving Philly and the surrounding towns for 30 years. We can wait for a dry day to give you the quality you deserve. So if you have a roofing question, whether it is rain-related or not, give us a call. We will give you the honest, experienced answer you need.