You probably already know how to protect your skin in the summer with a high-SPF sunscreen. But as the days get longer and hotter, your roof also needs protection from sun and heat.
Flynn Roofing Company explains the kind of damage that can happen to your roof from summer heat, and ways you can protect your roof.
What the Summer Does to Your Roof
While your roof protects you and your family, it’s also exposed to the elements all year long. In the summer, that means lots of direct, harsh sunlight, extreme heat, and damaging storms. Here’s what your roof goes through every summer.
Extreme Heat
Your roof is designed, in part, to absorb the heat from the air outside so you can enjoy cooler air inside. That heat, though, can take a toll. Dark-colored roofs, especially, take in a lot of extra heat. Without proper ventilation and insulation, this heat can filter into your home. Without that protection, you’re more likely to run your a/c more often and on colder settings, driving up your energy bill.
Heat also affects roofing materials:
- Asphalt shingles: Heat makes asphalt shingles brittle, making them more likely to crack or deteriorate.
- Wood shingles and shakes: Heat causes wood to dry out, which makes it warp, crack, or split open. The dry wood becomes less able to repel water and more susceptible to pest infestations.
- Metal: When properly installed, most metal roofs can actually repel heat. However, if you live with a metal roof that wasn’t installed correctly or is already damaged, it will actually absorb heat and disperse it into your house.
- Tiles: As with asphalt and wood, roof tiles can dry out, become brittle, and crack or warp in hot weather.
If your roof is already damaged, heat can pass through the shingles or tiles and warp the underlying materials.
Direct Sunlight
Just like the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin, it’s not great for your roof, either. Over time, UV rays cause asphalt shingles to warp or crack and make the oils in your roofing materials wear away. As a result, your roof’s materials will fade and deteriorate. This isn’t just aesthetically unpleasing, it also can cause serious damage that requires expensive repairs or a whole new roof.
Humidity
The humidity that comes with hot coastal summers will also affect your roof. You might notice:
- Mold and mildew
- Rust (for metal roofs)
- Rot (for wood roofs)
- Curled or cracked shingles
Temperature Changes
Hot days and cool nights – known as thermal shock – can wreak havoc on your roof. Your roofing materials will expand as the temperatures rise every day and then contract as they go back down every night. After a while, this constant shifting can create gaps in your roof that lead to leaks, pests, or cracks.
How to Protect Your Roof From Summer Damage
Thankfully, there are ways to protect your roof from summer damage.
Heat-Resistant or Reflective Roofing Materials
If you’re already in the market for a new roof, consider investing in high-quality, heat-resistant materials. As we mentioned earlier, a well-installed metal roof can actually keep your home cooler and will endure the summer heat better than asphalt shingles.
Talk to your roofer about “cool roofs,” which have high thermal emittance, or the ability to shed heat.
Reflective or light-colored roofing materials can also help reduce heat absorption.
Shade
The best way to cope with hot, direct sunlight on your roof is to block it. Ask your roofer about polyurethane foam, which is a sort of sunblock for your roof. Consider planting trees near your house that will form natural shade from the sun. (Just make sure you speak with a landscaping professional first, so you don’t plant something with roots that will damage your basement.)
Proper Ventilation
You may not consider your attic as part of your roof, but it provides a necessary service. Your attic should be well-ventilated for optimal airflow between your roof and the rest of your house. Good ventilation also keeps heat from accumulating under roofing materials, thereby lowering the temperature of the roof on the outside.
Seasonal Maintenance
Make it a point to regularly check your roof. Look for:
- Signs of damage, such as broken or cracked shingles or holes
- Debris, including branches, leaves, or other materials
- Pest infestations, like nests, holes, or droppings
Especially after a major storm, do a thorough visual inspection of your roof. Debris is easy to clean up, but holes, leaks, or pest infestations may require professional service. The longer you wait, the worse the problem can get – and more expensive to repair.
Regular Inspections
A professional roofer can find signs of damage you may not be able to see. Your roofer can also advise you on ways to protect your roof from heat in the summer. Inspections will usually include a look at your attic’s ventilation and insulation.
Investing in a roof inspection may save you money down the road by identifying potential problems before they become major issues. For example, a professional roofer will notice weak shingles before they get blown off by strong winds and cause expensive leaks in your home.
Think of professional inspections as preventive care for your roof.
Contact Flynn Roofing Company for All Your Roofing Needs
Flynn Roofing Company has been serving Massachusetts residents since 1997. Our trained and skilled professionals have the experience and expertise you rely on to keep your roof in excellent condition, no matter the season. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service with every job we do.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you improve your roof for the summer.