Cold weather affects shingle flexibility, membrane relaxation and seal-down. Malarkey describes careful handling, suitable warming and product-specific hand-sealing
Malarkey technical bulletin: Installation Guidelines for Application of Asphalt Shingles in Cold Weather (<40° F [4°C]).
What this means for your roof
Cold weather affects shingle flexibility, membrane relaxation and seal-down. Malarkey describes careful handling, suitable warming and product-specific hand-sealing. Wind coverage depends on shingles being sealed; cold-weather failure to activate the factory strip is not automatically a manufacturing defect. The complete bulletin also discusses valleys and fastening checks.
A useful question for your contractor
Ask how seal-down will be verified and which areas need hand-sealing before the roof is considered complete.
Ask for the answer to be tied to the actual roof condition and the exact product being installed. Keep the agreed repair or installation detail with your estimate and project photos.
Bulletin edition: October 2024. The date shown identifies the manufacturer document used for this summary.
This homeowner summary explains the cited bulletin. The complete manufacturer document and current product instructions govern the installation details. A requirement for one manufacturer or product should not be transferred to another without checking.