b'Winter RoofingThe Challenges of Winter Roofing By Ted Katsoris and Derrick MooreI t never fails. Around Octoberroofing falls between Novembermanufacturing facility, or similar,material as can be reinstalled inexposethebuildinginteriorto andNovember,manycon- andlateMarch.Althoughthiswhere any form of water leakagea day, with temporary seals thenwaterdamagethroughtearing. sultingfirmsgetcallsfromtimeframevariesacrossCanada,can have significant implicationsmadeattransitionpoints.As- Additionally,whenthedeckis clientsaskingthemtodesignathe general topics presented herefor building users and operators. sumingthenewvapourbarriertemporarilyuninsulated,ther-new roof for immediate replace- aretypicalconsiderationsthatWith new construction, roof- has waterproofing properties, themal comfort may have to be ad-ment, often due to either build- should be addressed in the deci- ing contractors are less concernedproject team may also decide todressed, as will the increased risk ing problems or new tenant/leasesion-making process of when towith water damage to the interiorfully remove the existing assem- of condensation on the underside demands. This could be an abso- begin/continue roofing and whenofthebuilding.Installationofbly and use the new vapour bar- of the deck in occupied, condi-lute necessity, depending on thetostopuntiltheweatherim- the roof usually starts right afterrier as a temporary water barrier severity of leaks and the interiorproves enough to facilitate goodthe roof deck has been installed,while they remove the balance oftioned buildings. Depending on environment the roof is supposedroofing conditions. asitisthegeneralcontractorsthe roof. This approach has thethebuildingrequirements,this toprotect.Contingentonthe(GCs) intent to make the build- bonus of increasing the amountmayrequiretemporarytarping, sizeoftheroof,itscomplexity,ing watertight as quickly as pos- ofroofingmaterialthatcanbeheating and ventilation.and contractor availability, thereThe Approach sible.Atypicaldayforacrewremovedinaday.ItalsohelpsThe complexity of the building may be time to squeeze in the re- Isthisanewbuildorare- on the installation of a new roofminimize the clutter on the roofdesign, ease of access to the roof, placement before the snow falls.placementofanexistingroofwouldinvolvepreparingthe since they are only replacing upavailable space for materials and Of course, one would hope withassembly on an occupied build- deckandthenbeginningtoin- to the vapour barrier, as opposedequipment, and occupancy inside regularmaintenanceandpropering? Although many of the itemsstallthenewassembly.Shouldtotheentireassembly,fewerthe building factor into the deci-capitalplanning,roofreplace- tobediscussedarerelevanttothe weather turn, crews can eas- materials are on the roof duringsion-making matrix. Further, the mentcouldbeavoidedintheboth new and replacement opera- ily stop production and strive tothe reroofing. buildings HVAC system must be winter. However, hope is not al- tions, reroofing over an existingmakeanyexposedmaterialandRegardless, there may be pro- considered,particularlyifunits ways a successful strategy. building in the wintertime posestransitions watertight. longed periods of adverse winter This is not to say roofing can- agreaterchallenge.Thisispar- Reroofingcrewsfacegreaterweather putting greater strain onare being disconnected for a pro-notbeperformedduringtheticularly true if the building is achallenges.Toensuretheroofthose temporary seals to keep thelonged period of time to facilitate coldermonths.However,theredatacentre,transformerstation,remainswatertightthroughthebuildingwatertight.Typically,reroofing. This factor is discussed are many challenges posed to win- hospital,long-termcarefacil- construction period, they shouldthese seals are not as durable asin more detail in the Weather ter roofing work that must be ad- ity or seniors residence, airport,onlyberemovingasmuchthecompletedroofandcouldsection later on page 10.dressed by designers, contractors and owners which are not present duringthewarmerconstruction season. These difficulties can be further amplified when reroofing over an occupied facility, whereas with new construction, the risks to the interior are generally not as critical.WhenrealCanadianwinter-weatherconditions(i.e.low temperatures,freezingrain,and wet and heavy snow) begin var-ies depending on location. These Torontonianauthorsrecallask-ingapropertymanagerinKa-puskasing, Ontario, When does it start to snow up here? He re-plied snow could start falling as early as October. A quick check of Environment Canada records confirmedtheaverageOcto-bersnowfallinKapuskasingis 215 mm (8in.). 1When the fi-nal roof review was completed a few months later, it was a balmy 22 C (7.6 F) at the project site.Forthepurposesofthisar-ticle, one should assume winterPhotos courtesy Morrison Hershfield8ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 3 2019 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'