Sizzling Sun, Cracking Roofs: The Impact Of Summer Heat On Your Roof
As the summer heat hits its peak, homeowners are looking for ways to keep their homes cool and comfortable. While turning on the air conditioner might seem like the obvious solution, you shouldn’t overlook the state of your roof.
The intense summer heat can take a toll on your roof, especially if it’s made of materials like asphalt. Asphalt shingle roofs are highly susceptible to damaging UV rays and other elements that come with summer weather. When these conditions persist, the material can become brittle, compromising its ability to protect your home.
This blog post highlights a few things that intense summer heat can do to your roof and how you can prevent or address the damage.
Roof Shrinkage
Roof shrinkage is primarily a concern for single-ply roofs, such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) roofs, under extreme heat. During the hot summer months, the scorching heat causes the roofing material to expand. Once the temperature drops, especially at night, the roofing material will then contract.
This constant cycle of expansion and contraction can lead to roof shrinkage. The roof material pulls away from wall details, flashing, or other roof penetration, resulting in tears or cracks.
These cracks and tears pose a significant risk to the durability of your roof since they become bigger and allow rainwater to seep inside. Extreme temperatures can also cause your roof to warp, which means that the roof materials will lift and separate.
In some cases, trapped air or water within the roof layers can lead to bubbles or blisters that worsen if you fail to address them. The bubbles can eventually burst and create even bigger gaps due to the heat, leaving your roof vulnerable to leaks.
To stay ahead of these problems, keep a close eye on your roof’s condition just as the summer heat kicks in. If you notice sections of the roof beginning to shrink or form bubbles, contact a professional right away.
Simple fixes like patching or resealing these sections can help prevent further damage and associated problems in the future. If you suspect more severe damage, your contractor might recommend you replace the affected sections entirely. This is a more expensive route, but it allows for a more permanent solution.
Thermal Shock
The temperature fluctuations caused by the intense summer heat can cause your roof to experience thermal shock. This happens when different areas of your roof heat up and cool down at different rates, which puts a lot of stress on your roof and leads to premature deterioration.
In extreme cases, thermal shock can cause your roof to collapse if there are enough weak spots that can no longer bear the weight.
The best way to prevent thermal shock is to keep your roof well-maintained and insulated, which will help regulate the temperature. Insulation also keeps the heat from radiating to other roof sections, ensuring that one area doesn’t get too hot or cold.
You can also apply reflective coatings to your roof to deflect the sun’s heat. The reflective coating will help reduce the amount of heat your roof absorbs so it doesn’t get too hot in the summer.
Fixing thermal shock damage is more complicated since it’s often difficult to pinpoint where the damage is and how extensive it is. It helps to have a contractor inspect your roof to determine where the weak lines are.
If the damage is isolated, you may need to patch and reseal the affected areas. But if the thermal shock damage is more widespread, your contractor might recommend replacing some of your roofing material with a lighter, more flexible material.
Don’t let the summer heat take a toll on your roof. Give us a call at Jerry Newman Roofing & Remodeling Inc for a comprehensive roof inspection! We can help you identify heat damage issues and offer a solid plan to address these problems.