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Harsh winter weather can certainly cause a lot of damage to the roof of your home, resulting in spring checkups and cleanup efforts annually.
But what’s often overlooked is the damage that can be done to your roof during the extreme heat of the summer months. This can actually cause just as much, or even more, long-term damage to the roof of your home than even the harshness of winter.
Particularly if you have a shingle roof, the most popular type in the United States, excessively hot heat during the summer can really create issues for your roofing materials.
Now it is important to note that proper ventilation can prevent extreme damage often caused by the extreme heat and humidity of summer. The key is to keep the air circulating as smoothly and effortlessly as possible, which will prevent some of the problems we’ll be discussing below.
But different types of damage are inevitably going to occur and will result in needed repairs over the years. They can be minimized, however, with the proper amount of planning and spending a few hours addressing any small problems before they turn into larger ones.
There are basically two different types of damage caused by extreme heat during the summer months – damage cause by the actual heat and then damage that is caused my moisture, whether that’s humidity in the air or actual summer storms.
Your roofing shingles can also shrink during hot weather, which can pop out the nails that are holding the shingles to the roof. If this happens and the shingles become raised, it could be necessary to replace that section of your roof.
But while the sun can cause damage to your roof from the outside, the extreme heat of the summer months can also cause damage to your roof from below. Your attic or crawlspace can become extremely hot during this time of year and can actually be causing damage to your roof from the inside your home.
Particular if your attic is poorly ventilated, extreme heat can cause blisters and cracks to form in your roofing shingles. If enough of these are created on your roof, it might be necessary to re-shingle your roof sooner than you originally thought.
If the moisture trapped in your attic or crawl space causes problems that are severe enough that the sheathing needs to be replaced, then you’re going to need to remove and replace the shingles as well.
It’s always a good idea to prevent excess moisture from accumulating and remaining on your roof, as this can lead to wood rot and large repair projects down the road, if left unattended. This can involve not only replacing the shingles, but also the roof rafters as well, particularly if mold growth has become so severe that the problem can not be adequately repaired.
If caught early enough, however, you may be able to clean the wood and then paint it with an alcohol-based primer, which will kill the spores and seal the surface. So the key is to keep the problem from getting so large that it simply can’t be fixed without taking on a large repair bill.
About the Author:
Joel Kite
Licensed Texas Roofing Contractor
Joel Kite - Owner Independence Roofing San Antonio
Independence Roofing is a licensed roofing contractor in San Antonio Texas. For more than 20 years, Joel Kite and his company have been providing roofing services throughout South Texas. To learn more about Independence Roofing please visit https://independenceroofingsa.com
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independence-roofing-san-antonio
Particularly if you have a shingle roof, the most popular type in the United States, excessively hot heat during the summer can really create issues for your roofing materials.
Now it is important to note that proper ventilation can prevent extreme damage often caused by the extreme heat and humidity of summer. The key is to keep the air circulating as smoothly and effortlessly as possible, which will prevent some of the problems we’ll be discussing below.
But different types of damage are inevitably going to occur and will result in needed repairs over the years. They can be minimized, however, with the proper amount of planning and spending a few hours addressing any small problems before they turn into larger ones.
There are basically two different types of damage caused by extreme heat during the summer months – damage cause by the actual heat and then damage that is caused my moisture, whether that’s humidity in the air or actual summer storms.
Damage Caused by Summer Heat
Excessively hot temperatures during the summer months will inevitably cause rafters, joists and even decking to expand. This expansion during the warm weather can also cause your roof flashing sealant to stretch and break, which will need to be repaired as soon as possible to prevent future leaks and water damage.Your roofing shingles can also shrink during hot weather, which can pop out the nails that are holding the shingles to the roof. If this happens and the shingles become raised, it could be necessary to replace that section of your roof.
But while the sun can cause damage to your roof from the outside, the extreme heat of the summer months can also cause damage to your roof from below. Your attic or crawlspace can become extremely hot during this time of year and can actually be causing damage to your roof from the inside your home.
Particular if your attic is poorly ventilated, extreme heat can cause blisters and cracks to form in your roofing shingles. If enough of these are created on your roof, it might be necessary to re-shingle your roof sooner than you originally thought.
Damage Caused by Summer Moisture
The humidity and extreme moisture of the hot summer months can cause damage to the materials used in the structure of your roof. This can not only impair your roof decking, but also the shingles of your roof, which can be torn off during summer storms if they’ve become damaged or worn due to the hot weather.If the moisture trapped in your attic or crawl space causes problems that are severe enough that the sheathing needs to be replaced, then you’re going to need to remove and replace the shingles as well.
It’s always a good idea to prevent excess moisture from accumulating and remaining on your roof, as this can lead to wood rot and large repair projects down the road, if left unattended. This can involve not only replacing the shingles, but also the roof rafters as well, particularly if mold growth has become so severe that the problem can not be adequately repaired.
If caught early enough, however, you may be able to clean the wood and then paint it with an alcohol-based primer, which will kill the spores and seal the surface. So the key is to keep the problem from getting so large that it simply can’t be fixed without taking on a large repair bill.
About the Author:Joel Kite
Licensed Texas Roofing Contractor
Joel Kite - Owner Independence Roofing San Antonio
Independence Roofing is a licensed roofing contractor in San Antonio Texas. For more than 20 years, Joel Kite and his company have been providing roofing services throughout South Texas. To learn more about Independence Roofing please visit https://independenceroofingsa.com
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independence-roofing-san-antonio
