Cold-Weather Installation Guide

Materials can cool down quickly. (Think about how fast a hot cup of coffee gets cold, particularly if it is placed near a drafty window or air-conditioning vent.)

The clock starts ticking the moment materials are removed from a warm environment. This includes drive time to the jobsite if product is placed in an open a truck bed or in an unheated truck or trailer. Once product cools, it takes a long time – often a full day or more – to warm it back up to a usable temperature. (Think about how long it takes a frozen turkey to thaw before it can be cooked for Thanksgiving dinner.)

Rotate materials as necessary to avoid working with cold product. When materials cool, return them to a warm environment, swapping them for materials that are at a usable temperature.

Having to continually rotate materials decreases crew efficiency. Keeping materials warm while working with them helps minimize downtime and maximize efficiency.

Store materials in a heated warehouse or job site hot box until they are ready to be used.

Spray guns and hoses used to apply adhesives should be kept warm, too.

To keep adhesives warm while in use:

• Place containers on pallets or insulation boards to prevent contact with cold concrete or metal roof decks.
• Place heated blankets around the containers. Blankets specifically made and sized for use with roofing adhesive containers are available through roofing supply distributors.
• Use of warming bands is generally not recommended. Heating can be uneven, with some product not warming enough and some warming too much.

Ensuring that materials are at the upper end of the desired temperature range prior to installation gives crews maximum time to work with them before they must be rewarmed.