Summer Heat and How It Affects Your Roof

When a long, frigid winter is finally behind you and summer is coming up, the last thing you want to think about is what impact the changing seasons may have on your roof. Winter can cause the most damage to your roof, but summer’s heat has its own threats that can cause problems. Summer storms and wind damage, heat degrading the materials, UV damage from sunlight and thermal shock as temperatures fluctuate from day to night can all cause serious harm to your roof. Here’s a look at the hot time of the year and how it can impact your roofing system.

Summer Heat and How It Affects Your Roof

• UV Exposure. UV rays from the sun are constantly bombarding your roof, causing it to age and decay. Though this is even true on cloudy days, it’s especially harmful during long, sunny summer days. Energy at this wavelength, though not visible to the naked eye, causes wood to bleach, weaken and crack, oils in your roofing and construction material to dissipate and asphalt shingles to buckle and split.
• Heat. When your roof isn’t shaded, the dark color absorbs heat, reaching temperatures as high as 160°F on a 90°F day. These high temperatures accelerate chemical processes in the process, causing your roofing and construction materials to break down faster. Proper attic ventilation prevents heat buildup from heating up your home’s interior and causing issues with condensation.
• Thermal Shock. The roof on your home reaches very high temperatures during the day, quickly cooling off when the sun sets, causing roofing and construction materials to expand and contract. This, in turn, weakens your roof’s structural integrity as time passes. It’s especially problematic for metal, which is able to warp out of shape and create gaps.
• Summer Storms. Wind and hail can cause serious issues with your roof’s integrity, but by dealing with any issues in the spring, such as checking for damage to the structure from the attic, checking for damp patches under the eaves, looking for gutter blockage and finally checking the roof itself for damaged shingles, roofing materials of flashing should have you in good shape for the summer, unless a tree or other object falls onto your roof.

Because most of the damage caused to your roof during the summertime is cumulative, it takes time to cause problems. The heat, UV radiation and thermal shock take a long time to show up, so a week-long heat wave isn’t going to cause your roof to fail. For the most part, roofs that are under a decade old that are well maintained are usually free of problems. Taking the time to develop a good eye for issues that may be developing and taking action when they’re spotted are great ways to save money in your home’s long-term maintenance costs.

To alleviate the worst problems that are related to summer heat, make sure that your attic is well-ventilated. This helps your roof last much longer, protecting your investment. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, it’s important that you fix the problem to make sure that your existing – or new – roof will last as long as possible. Catching problems early and taking care of repairs as quickly as possible will always be less expensive than a new roof, so make sure that you inspect your roof annually or have it inspected by professionals. Not currently working with a roofing company? Storm Guard Roofing and Construction of SW St. Louis MO would be happy to help. Please feel free to contact us today to schedule a service or inspection appointment.