The summer is always a time to be excited about, but not when the strong heat damages your roof. Read these detailing tips below on proper roof protection.
The summer is finally here, and that means more hot days and sunny weather. That’s good news for you, as you want to get out there and enjoy the sun, but it’s not so good for your roof.
You know all the dangers of wet weather for your roof, but did you know that the sun can damage it too? There are several things that you need to watch out for as the weather becomes hotter. Here’s how to keep your roof safe and in good condition over the summer.
Properly Ventilate Your Roof
In the summer, you won’t be expecting it to rain much. As such, you don’t have to worry about water damage right? In fact, you are still at risk, and so need to be vigilant.
The water damage and rot risk come from poor ventilation. In your home, heat will rise and in a properly ventilated roof, the air will escape the roof through vents. If there’s not good ventilation, then warm air will get trapped in the attic, causing condensation and water damage.
If you think you may not have adequate ventilation, then you’ll want to look into getting better ventilation installed. Call a qualified roofer to come check out the roof for you, and get those vents installed if needs be.
Replace Any Missing Shingles
If you have a shingled roof, take a look at it before summer and see if any shingles are broken or missing. There are lots of reasons why they may have taken damage. If you’d had high winds and storms recently, then they may have got torn off. In the summer heat, they easily dry up, curl and crack too.
Some feel it isn’t as much of a problem in the summer, especially if you’re not expecting rain. Even if there isn’t going to be rain, you still want to avoid water damage. When there’s high humidity, water can still get into the underlayment through those broken shingles and start causing problems.
To stop this happening, replace the shingles or have a roofer replace them before the hot weather begins in earnest.
Clear And Fix Guttering
Again, some feel that guttering issues don’t need to be addressed in the summer if you’re not expecting rain. Even so, you want to take a look at them and correct any damage you see. If you’ve had high winds or storms lately, there’s so much debris that can get blown into the gutters.
When they’re blocked with debris like leaves, it stops water running away from the roof. That leads to pooling and ongoing water damage. The added weight of debris in the gutters will also lead to them coming away from the house, and causing even more problems.
It’s very easy to avoid, though. Simply grab a pair of gloves and a trash bag, and start scooping debris out of the gutters. Then, if you do get rain showers during the summer you won’t need to worry about water damage. Repair and replace and guttering that’s breaking away from the walls, and consider adding in gutter guards to stop this happening again.
Avoid Thermal Shock
The one problem you probably hadn’t already anticipated is thermal shock. This is the term given to the expanding and contracting of roofing materials. In the summer, you’ll find that the roof will heat up a lot during the day, and then cool off quickly at night. Because of this, you’ll see the roof expanding and contracting a lot during the hotter months. This leads to shingles aging quickly and breaking, as well as gaps in the structure that let moisture and other issues in.
This is usually avoided by using the right materials in your roof to match your climate. If the damage becomes too bad, you’ll need to have the roof replaced, using appropriate materials. You can also apply a reflective coating to the top of the roof, to help deflect some heat and reduce the rate of expansion. This has the added bonus of reducing your energy bills too.
Prevent Moss And Mold Growth
On most roofs, there’s going to be a small amount of moss and other growth. If it’s a small amount, it’s not going to cause much damage. If you see it spreading in the summer months though, that’s a cause for concern. That moss will hold water under it, which will then get into your roof. This often leads to mold growth, which as you know is a health risk for you and your family.
If you are seeing some moss growth on the roof, it’s best not to try and clean it yourself. Some people like to use pressure washers, but these knock off shingles very easily, causing more issues. Talk to a roofer to see how your roof can be cleaned.
Do Regular Inspections
The best way to avoid all of these problems is to do regular checkups on your roof. If you’re checking regularly, you’re going to spot most problems before they can cause much, if any damage at all. Walk around your home and do a visual inspection from the ground, looking for things like broken shingles or flashing. You can also get up on a ladder and check your guttering, too.
Then, go into your attic and look at the roof from the inside. Are there any signs of mold or rot? Also, can you see sunlight through the roof? If so, you’re in need of repairs.
If you find problems, talk to your local roofing company, to come put them right. That way, you’ll be ready for the summer.
The hot summer months will take their toll on any roof, but you can mitigate the effect they will have. For proper roof protection, keep inspecting it and make repairs as and when they’re needed. That way, you don’t have to worry about the sun damaging your roof and landing you with a big bill.