How Long Does it Take for a Roof to Seal?

A common misconception is that once new shingles are nailed to your roof, the replacement is done and you’re good to go.

Not quite. 

Before a roof replacement is considered fully complete, the asphalt shingles must form a seal. If this process doesn’t happen, they are prone to being ripped off by a gust of wind.

What Does It Mean for Shingles to Seal?

When roofers talk about a roof seal, they are not talking about shingles sealing to the roof deck itself, but rather they are describing how the shingles seal or bond to each other. 

Each asphalt shingle has a strip of heat-activated adhesive running along its top. This adhesive, once properly activated by sun and heat, forms a bond with neighboring shingles. A well-bonded seal secures your roof and prevents shingles from being lifted up and away by wind.

How Long Does it Take for Shingles to Seal?

The length of time it takes for shingles to seal will depend on the weather. The adhesive needs to be warmed to an ambient temperature near 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This can still be achieved even when the air temperatures are in the 40s because of solar radiance. It just might take two or three days to seal.

During this process of being exposed to sun and heat, the shingles relax and lay flat. They shouldn’t be disturbed. They will settle and seal on their own, if installed properly.

Another thing to be aware of when planning a roof replacement is that if temperatures are too high, the adhesive may warm too quickly and you could also run into problems. If you want to better understand how temperature impacts roof replacements, we have you covered.

For questions about roof repairs and replacements here in Austin, give our team of experts a call here at Storm Guard of SW Austin.