Yes, you can make repairs to a flat roof in winter time. The repairs can take longer and you have to work around the weather, but all flat roof systems are repairable in winter time.

Challenges

If you are having an active leak and need immediate assistance, a roofer can clear the snow from the roof and apply a temporary patch. This will effectively plug the leak until the snow melts naturally. This approach, however, is contingent on weather conditions in your area.

Snow Clearance

If you are in an area of the country where the snow won’t melt until late spring, roofers can implement a more permanent patch, but it can be challenging. The roofer has to clear the area of snow and ensure a dry surface before any patch can be installed.

If the snow is actively melting, there is an old trick that involves using kitty litter to contain melting snow long enough for the patch to be installed. The challenge here is to once again ensure the area to be patched is clean and dry. Winter weather conditions can obviously make this challenging, but not impossible.

Temperature Considerations

It is important to consider temperature obstacles when planning winter repairs.

Flat Roof Solutions’ policy specifies winter temperatures must be at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit and rising for any roofing work to be done, be it repairs or new installations. Our temperature threshold is in place because it’s hard for the crew to work in lower temperatures. Adhering to this policy ensures the quality and safety of the work. In most areas of the lower 48 states, this isn’t a problem.

Careful Planning and Execution

Despite the inherent challenges of cold weather, careful planning and execution ensures any commercial flat roof can be repaired in the winter. Roofers must coordinate their efforts with weather conditions and property managers should be aware that repairs might take longer than usual or a temporary solution might be needed until the spring thaw. Challenging, but not impossible.