Can I Get My Roof Replaced During the Rainy Season in Seattle?

If your roof is in dire need of replacement, you might be wondering if you can still get the job done during Seattle’s notoriously rainy season. The concern over constant rain causing delays or affecting the quality of the installation is understandable. After all, no one wants to deal with leaks or damage caused by a poorly timed roof replacement.

As a roofing company based in the Seattle area, we at RoofSmart have become experts in handling roofing projects in wet weather conditions and ensuring that homes stay protected, no matter the season. Every year, we complete hundreds of roof replacements and repairs, including during peak rain season.

In this article, we’ll break down what you need to know about replacing your roof in the rain, from the potential risks to the best practices that experienced roofing professionals use to get the job done right.

Can my roof be replaced in the rain?

Yes, roofers can still replace your roof in the rain, depending on how hard it’s raining. If there is a heavy downpour, the roofers must stop. If the heavy downpour lasts all day then they will have to wait for the next day to resume work on the roof. The roof replacement can continue if the rain is more like the typical Seattle drizzle.

This is to prevent moisture from getting into the house through the roof, which would lead to issues like mold or rotting wood. So long as there is only a light drizzle, this can be avoided. Roofing in a heavy downpour can cause extensive water damage to your attic, roof, and home. This will make the replacement process longer and more expensive.

Not all roofers will agree that you should continue roofing in the rain. Although roofers in the Pacific Northwest do exercise caution and stop roofing when conditions are dangerous for the crews or your roof, we’ve also accepted that this is the weather we’re working in and adapted ways to get around it.

What is the process for replacing my roof in the rain?

Luckily, heavy downpours usually only last for a few hours, so the roofers can work around this by taking breaks during the heavy downpour and returning to the job when it clears up.

The first step in replacing a roof is tearing off the old shingles. This can be tricky in the rain because tearing off the shingles and underlayment leaves the plywood underneath exposed to moisture. You don’t want this to get super wet because it will cause the wood to rot.

So, when there is a little bit of rain or rainy weather, your roofer will need to tear off the roof one section at a time, making sure that they only tear off what they can immediately cover back up with new underlayment. It is a slower process than usual, but the benefit is that the roofer can continue making progress on your roof.

Adding new underlayment is crucial when roofing in rainy weather because it will protect the plywood from getting wet.

There are different types of underlayment that you can choose from, but if you know that you’ll be getting your roof replaced in the rain, we’d recommend using a synthetic underlayment like ice and water shield. This is specifically designed to protect your roof from damage caused by water or ice.

The value of synthetic underlayments like ice and water shields, as opposed to an alternate option like tar paper, is that they don’t absorb water. So you can put it down, and rain can get all over it, and it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t absorb the water.

Once the ice and water shield is on, you’re good to go. Your roofer now has a protective barrier on the house and can begin installing shingles. They can even put the shingles on the underlayment when it’s wet.

If the rain picks up while the roofer is still working on tearing off old materials and installing new underlayment, they can start putting shingles on the sections they’ve already done. They might decide it’s too much of a risk to start clearing off another section. So, depending on how much it rains throughout the day, this might not be a linear process.

Most of the time, this adjusted process for the rainy winter months takes about 10 to 20% longer than usual.

Can a flat roof be replaced in the rain?

Flat roofs are very difficult to replace in the rain, but it is technically possible. There’s no way to do temporary protection as you go like you can with an asphalt roof. Instead, your roofer would have to build a tent around your roof on all sides to protect it from the rain because flat roofs must be welded on and this cannot happen in the rain.

This adds a lot of extra time and labor to the project, making it much more expensive. As a result, your roofer would likely only opt to do this if there was an emergency, like having an active, major leak.

Once the tent is set up your roofer can proceed with their normal process. However, it’s much easier and less expensive to wait until the rain clears up.

Roof Replacement in Rainy Seattle: What You Need to Know

With proper planning and precautions, a roof replacement during the rainy season can be just as successful as one done in dry weather. For safety reasons, roofers cannot continue in an outright downpour, but they can safely keep working on your roof in light rain.

Instead of doing all of the tear-off at once, roofers will go section by section and keep an eye on the weather to make sure that your roof stays dry. Though this process takes longer, it allows the roof work to continue while still preventing your home from facing extensive water damage.

Now that you know what the roofing process looks like in the rain and that it is possible for roofers to continue working during Seattle’s rainy season, the next thing you’re probably wondering about is how much a roof replacement costs.

Check out our article “The Cost of A Roof Replacement in the Greater Seattle Area” to learn about the different factors that influence the price and what you can expect to pay based on your roof type, location, and more.