Central Texas Weather and Your Roof

The weather in Central Texas can bring it all—intense heat, severe storms, tornadoes, and even hail. Your roof must withstand all these elements, but Mother Nature can sometimes be too much. 

If severe weather damages your Austin home’s roof, it’s essential to repair or replace it quickly. Vulnerable roofs are prone to leaks and other issues that can escalate and cause further damage to different areas of your house.

In this article, we’ll discuss all the ways weather can wreak havoc on your roof and what you can do preventively (and reactively) to fix any issues caused by the weather. We’ll cover the following weather scenarios we commonly experience here in Central Texas:

• High winds and tornadoes
• Rain
• Hail
• Sun, heat, and humidity
• Leaves (yes, these can cause problems for your roof, too)

Let’s get started.

How High Winds Impact Your Roof

High winds can rip off shingles and tear off tree limbs, easily becoming projectiles headed straight for your roof. One fallen tree limb can puncture your roof entirely and expose it to rain. And that’s just during a strong wind event. There are also tornadoes to worry about.

Though generally less frequent than other weather events, these stealthy storms come in fast and hit hard. Tornadoes can rip off your roof with the same ease that it takes for you to lift a blanket over your bed. They can also down trees, power lines, and cause other structural issues.

If your home has been in the path of a storm, it’s always a good idea to get your roof professionally inspected once the dust settles. Even if there aren’t any signs of obvious or significant damage, strong winds and heavy rains can weaken your roof. Over time, this can become increasingly problematic. 

In nearly all instances, it is far cheaper to repair your existing roof preventively than to wait until you have no choice but to replace it. 

Your Roof and the Rain

Water is any homeowner’s enemy, and a leaky or exposed roof provides an all-too-convenient path for water to enter your home. Insulation can quickly get saturated, and soon you’ll be staring down another kind of opponent—mold.

Heavy or frequent rains can make it difficult for your roof to keep up. If puddles pool on your roof and can’t flow out and away from your home, it can lead to water damage on your roof, attic, or ceilings. It can also cause problems for your foundation. 

Moreover, if your roof has any weaknesses—whether in the flashing, shingles, or gutters—water will find and expose those weaknesses. Unfortunately, you may not notice any warning signs until you face a significant issue.

Keeping up with roof maintenance is the easiest, cheapest, and overall best way to keep your roof strong and performing at its peak during rain events. It’s also the best way to prolong the life of your roof, and it will be the cheapest option by far in terms of overall roofing costs. 

How Hail Can Damage Your Roof

Whether as small as a pebble or as large as a baseball, punishing hail can beat down on a roof, weakening it or needing a complete replacement. If you are concerned your roof has been damaged by hail, here are a few signs to look for:

• Dents and dings on your roof as well as in other places like your gutters, siding, windowsills, air conditioner, and other outdoor items
• Granule loss on your asphalt shingles – while some missing granules may not seem like a big deal (it’s not a hole, after all!), this type of damage can accelerate the aging process of your shingles and should be promptly repaired
• Cracks in your shingles
• Loose shingles or any exposed roof surface
• Weakened seals, which are essential for securing shingles to your roof
• Black-colored dots on your shingles

Significant hail damage is generally fairly obvious even from the ground, but it’s best to professionally contact a roofer to inspect the damage from above.

The Impact of Sun, Heat, and Humidity on Your Roof

Even the most durable and weather-resistant roofing products won’t last forever in a climate like ours here in Central Texas. The sun is powerfully unforgiving, and we’ve all seen what it can do to our gardens. That same force beats down on our roofs, too. 

Over time, repeated exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can make shingles crack, become brittle, and cause other damage to your roof. Moreover, as the temperatures change from daytime highs to overnight lows, roofing materials expand and contract. Though hardly noticeable, this slight shifting of materials slowly wears down your once-strong roofing materials.

In Austin, heat and humidity combine for a double-whammy hit to our roofs. Too much heat or moisture can reduce the lifespan of your roof and lead to water damage if excess moisture accumulates. 

The more frequently our roofs are exposed to intense weather conditions, the more quickly they wear out if they aren’t maintained and repaired at the first signs of a problem.

One solution to battling heat and humidity is to insist on quality waterproof roofing materials. Many materials claim to be waterproof, but when tested, they just don’t compare to higher-quality products. 

It’s also important to ensure that your home is well insulated and ventilated. Insulation will help your home retain a consistent temperature and minimize moisture accumulation. Ventilation allows your home to breathe and prevents it from becoming too hot. Proper ventilation in your roof can also extend the life of your roof.

As you consider your roof’s age and condition, consider all the weather impacts it must withstand. Routinely evaluating its weak points, especially near seams and the part of your roof most exposed to the sun, helps spot problems before they morph into major expenses. 

Think Leaves Won’t Damage Your Roof? Think Again.

Our last weather topic to discuss is less about the day-to-day weather we encounter and more about seasonal changes that can impact our roof. It’s leaves.

If leaves sit on your roof for extended periods, they can begin to cause serious problems. 

One of the most significant problems is excess moisture under the leaves, especially if clumped or piled together. Even though fall is less hot and humid than summer, moisture will still accumulate on your roof. Add any rainfall to the mix; you could see rotting near the leaves and under the shingles much more quickly. 

Here are a couple of remedies for keeping leaves off your roof:

• Trim nearby tree branches regularly – This will help keep more leaves off your roof and allow more sunlight to dry up any roof moisture.

• Keep your roof clear – Hire a professional or climb very carefully and safely on your roof and clear away any leaf piles.

• Clean your gutters – Gutters that are clogged with leaves and debris will prevent them from doing their job of carrying away rainwater.

Leaves seem so light and free. It’s hard to imagine them damaging your roof, but they can if left unattended. Stay on top of your fall yard and maintain your roof to keep it tip-top shape, especially as you head into winter. 

If you’re concerned about your roof’s performance in Austin’s weather, please contact us right away at Storm Guard. A quick roof repair might be all it takes to keep your roof doing what it does best—keeping you safe and dry—and most definitely without a middle-of-the-night water emergency.