Your roof is locked in a constant battle with the sun. While rain, snow, and hail damage can wreck your roof, the one element that is always wearing your roof away is the sun. The heat and radiation cause the roof to fall apart over time. Without the proper knowledge, summer maintenance of your roof can feel like an uphill battle.
That’s why we’ve prepared this list of things that can damage your roofand how to fight them. There’s only so much you can do to prevent getting a complete roof replacement, but every bit helps. Save your roof and save yourself some money at the same time.
Constant Heat
If you live in a hot and arid climate (like Austin can be), your home can fall victim to the extreme heat of the summer. When this happens, your roof can get very damaged, suffering from intense cracking. Any moisture you can contain can help the shingles in the roof maintain some integrity.
When the sun is particularly fierce, it can dry out the roof and leave you susceptible to even worse roof damage. When wet weather does come around, dry and brittle shingles can erode even more, opening your roof to massive holes and inviting other dangers such as mold and even insect infestation.
To prevent your roof from being assaulted on all sides, make sure that it is properly ventilated. Instead of fighting a battle on two fronts against heat, you can get rid of one of the contenders by pumping cool air into the areas closest to the roof. This could keep the shingles much cooler and less prone to eliminating all moisture.
Another line of defense is the 90-day roof inspection. These inspections are fairly regular, but never an inconvenience. To inspect, take a ladder and traverse your roof, looking for cracks and warped shingles. Make a note of any damage and make sure it gets patched up sooner than later. A cracked shingle could be a sign that even worse problems are just down the road.
UV Radiation
Ultraviolet radiation is a silent but potent culprit of almost all roof damage. UV rays are always hitting your roof, even on cloudy days. Depending on the material, it could even change the molecular structure of your roof, rendering it severely damaged.
The radiation reacts with any present oxygen by speeding them up. The oxygen then bonds with asphalt shingles, which are comprised of many hydrocarbons. The oxygen affects the hydrocarbons, causing the molecules to get rid of any oils in the shingles. Where you once had a beautiful, flexible shingle for easy installation, you now have a brittle piece of thin asphalt.
The best way to combat this is by getting UV resistant shingling or roofing. While UV has major effects on asphalt-based shingles, some models resist the onslaught of the rays. If you invest in metallic roofing, the roof may contract, but it will not weaken due to sun exposure.
Similarly, there are UV reflecting layers that you can put on top of your roofing. This creates a thorough barrier of protection between the radiation and your roof. Make sure that the layering is thoroughly applied, and it must be re-applied at certain times.
Roof Expansion
Your roof expands due to heat and contracts when the temperatures cool down. This would be fine if the temperature stayed consistent, but your roof is subject to constant temperature fluctuations. This can lead to severe damage to the top of your home.
When the shingles expand, they crack and warp through sheer force alone. If a roof was not installed correctly, it could create gaps in your roofing that invite further damage onto your home. The shingles then heat up and expand even more, causing them to break and fall off of your roof.
The best way to fight shingle expansion is proper roof installation and investing in a material that has minimal expansion. If roofers do their job right, they will install shingles with the knowledge that they will expand in hotter temperatures. If they have done their job right, they will roof with a material that has been properly weathered. Make sure you ask your roofer about the weather testing requirements on your materials before you sign.
Have any other tips or tricks?
Let Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal know. We are always eager to hear what clients have in their back pocket to guard against the elements. Fill out our contact form or give us a call and let us know what you think!
