How Summer Heat Can Impact Your Shingles

Unbeknownst to a lot of homeowners, storms and hail aren’t the only things capable of damaging your roof; the summer heat and light are fully capable of damaging your roof shingles. During summer, you will quickly find the performance and integrity of your roof in the mud. These are the various ways in which summer heat can impact your shingles.

Thermal Shock to The Shingles

The high temperature during summer causes thermal expansion in the shingles. In extreme cases, it can result in the shingles warping, cracking, or melting. During the height of the summer heat, the shingles expand once the sun goes down, the shingles begin to cool, and the shingles contract. Normally, this won’t be much of an issue, but the repeated cyclic load caused by this expansion and contraction day in and day out causes thermal shock on the shingles, eventually causing them to warp or crack.  

Degradation due to UV Rays Exposure

The penetrating power of UV rays is very damaging to roof shingles. The rays, once they hit the shingles, start to discolour them over time, and before you know it, they begin to curl. But the degradation starts to set in once the shingles have been hammered by these rays for a long time.

As these UV rays penetrate the shingles, the protective covering on the shingles deteriorates, and the asphalt in the shingles becomes dry and brittle. The impact here is that this will have the effect of loosening up the granules and thus making it even more porous and susceptible to moisture, which, with time, will have a much easier job penetrating the material and reducing the shingles’ resistance to impact.

High Humidity

Increased humidity from the attic can also impact the shingles. The summer heat increases the moisture that will condense in the attic from the lower part of the house. Moisture will cause mould growth, and can even migrate through the shingles from the underlayment. Mold will compromise the roof structure; moisture penetration will weaken the shingles and cause algae and weeds to grow, which can actually displace a shingle and crack it.

Shortening Lifespan of Roofing

The aftereffect of increased humidity, exposure to UV rays and thermal shock is that it drastically eats at the lifespan of the roof. The roof can only take so much, and if all these problems compound, you will find that your roof is leaking, is unsafe and has become the haven of all kinds of vermin.

Ways of Maintaining Shingles During Summer

If you want to keep your shingles in good condition this summer, follow these steps;

• Conduct an inspection on your roof by checking for drafts in the house, curls on the shingles and leaks in the roof. All these will indicate that your shingles are not in good condition.
• Ensure the roof is properly insulated and the attic is well ventilated.
• Use UV-resistant coating for the shingles.
• Clear the roof of debris.
• Take proactive steps when it comes to repairing your roof.

Choose Nor’Easter Roofing for All Your Summer Roofing Needs

Your roof needs the best care money can offer, and you can expect no better than with Nor’Easter Roofing. They provide expert roofing repairs, installation of lighter shingles, and application of UV-resistant coatings. Contact Nor’Easter Roofing today at 508-667-3278 for all your roofing needs.