I've installed plenty of hip and ridge shingles in chilly weather without warming them overnight, and honestly, it's usually fine if you're careful. The trick is to avoid bending them too sharply or forcing them into place—gentle handling goes a long way. But hey, if it's super cold out, tossing a bundle in the cab of your truck with the heater blasting for 20 mins can save you some headaches...and frozen fingers.
Yeah, I hear you on the gentle handling thing. I've definitely cracked a few shingles trying to rush things in cold weather—lesson learned the hard way, haha. Curious though, have you ever tried using a heat gun on low setting just for a quick warm-up? I've seen some guys swear by it, but I'm always a bit paranoid about overheating or damaging them. Wonder if that's worth giving a shot next time...
"Curious though, have you ever tried using a heat gun on low setting just for a quick warm-up?"
I've actually done that a couple times. It can help, especially if you're working in colder temps, but you've gotta be careful—it's easy to go from "just warm enough" to "oops, melted it" pretty quick. I usually keep the gun moving constantly and test the shingle flexibility every few seconds. Honestly though, patience and gentle handling still seem to be the safest bet... learned that one the hard way too, haha.
I've done the heat gun trick too, and yeah, it definitely works if you're careful. But honestly, I've found that just laying the shingles out in the sun for a bit beforehand does wonders—assuming you've got some sunlight to work with. Even on colder days, giving them an hour or two in direct sun can soften them up nicely without risking melting or warping. Learned this after I accidentally scorched a couple shingles with my heat gun... not my proudest DIY moment, haha.
Also, one thing that helped me was using a slightly wider nail head on the ridge shingles. It seemed to hold them down better without tearing through, especially when they're a bit stiff from cold weather. Might be worth trying if you're still struggling with installation.
"Learned this after I accidentally scorched a couple shingles with my heat gun... not my proudest DIY moment, haha."
Haha, been there myself—those heat guns can be deceptively powerful. I second your suggestion about sunlight; it's surprising how much difference even a short time in the sun makes. Another thing I've found helpful is gently flexing the shingles by hand before installing. It seems to loosen them up just enough without risking damage. Good tip on the wider nail heads too, I'll have to remember that next time I'm up there.
