Bitumen shingles in colder weather

[johnbuckley]

Had a read through most of the forum and I'm still left with a question please.

Log cabin with roof 12.8 deg pitch & 19mm tongue and groove roof boards.

I have a bitumen underlay to go down onto the boards and my question is with regard to laying the hexagonal bitumen shingle tiles in not so good weather.

I am in Highland Scotland and not only are we not having the warmest time but it is often raining and the unpredictable winds are a pain.

Having never done a roof before I'm guessing that I am not going to be the quickest at laying the shingles.

Given the weather, temp and winds I am concerned that when I fix the shingles with nails they are then relying on warm weather to seal/stick them. I'm not sure how warm it needs to be but I'm guessing this aint warm enough.

Is it worthwhile running over them with a head gun and small roller to give them a head start or will I be asking for trouble?

Of course, any other words of wisdom, apart from get a roofer in (all trades here seem to be like hens teeth as they are all too busy).
Thanks

 

[catlad]

Hi John
If you are using a torch on underlay as your base layer then yes you can use a heat gun/blow torch to stick them down.

 

[JohnD]

Keep a hose, fire extinguisher and mobile phone handy.

 

[johnbuckley]

Hi John
If you are using a torch on underlay as your base layer then yes you can use a heat gun/blow torch to stick them down.

No I won't be using a torch or heat gun on the underlay, just nailed down.
My query is really, would a 'heat gun' help with the bitumen shingles after they are nailed; what stops the wind getting under them and ripping them off before the heat of the currently non existent sun sticks them down?

 

[catlad]

Whether or not you nail the underlay or blow it on with a heat gun I would recommend you use a torch on underlay so it will be easier to bond your shingles.

 

[johnbuckley]

Whether or not you nail the underlay or blow it on with a heat gun I would recommend you use a torch on underlay so it will be easier to bond your shingles.

Thank you for your reply.
One last question; is there an acceptable outside temperature that is generally acceptable to lay these type of shingles, at the moment we are about 14 - 16 degrees c.
I may just try to see if I can get a roofer anyway as it's a lot of money to waste if I screw this up!

 

[catlad]

Which shingles are you referring too? what are the manufacturers recommendations?