Homeowner’s Guide to Summer Roof Care

When people think of seasons that can cause damage to the roof of their home, the first thing to come to mind is winter. Living in a climate with snow and rain in the winter months your roof can really take a beating. When the seasons change and summer comes around, it is unlikely that you are worried about your roof. However, the summer months can do its fair share of damage too. Knowing what to look for and how to best protect your roof can save you headaches and lots of money down the road. The team at Roofing Direct want to be sure you know how to care for and maintain your roof so that you can spend the summer the way it is meant to be- BBQing and enjoying time with friends and family. 

Knowing what to look out for and be aware of is an important first step in managing and maintaining your home’s roof.

Monitor Exposure

If your roof doesn’t have any tree cover or shade to guard it from the sun it can get really hot. When was the last time you were on your roof on a hot summer day? The dark colors of a typical roof absorb a great deal of heat making temperatures on your roof top soar. These high temperatures can create a reaction and cause premature breakdown of the materials used in the construction of your roof. Check and see if your roof is showing signs of heat and weather exposure damage. Look for cracks around flashings and in shingles or between shingles and for loose or missing shingles.

Regularly Check For UV Damage

Most of us use sunblock in the summer to protect against harmful UV rays. Those UV rays can do more than just damage your skin, they can wreak havoc on your roof too. Your roof is constantly feeling the burn from UV rays in the summer. Over time UV damage like this can accelerate the aging of your roof and increase decay. This intense energy causes the wood used in construction to weaken and crack. Look out for any shingles that are buckling or splitting, this can be an early sign of potential problems below. 

Look Out For Heat Shock 

Your roof reaches very high temperatures in the day and then quickly cools off in the evening when the sun has set. These extreme changes in temperature can cause roofing and construction materials to expand and contract at an above average pace. Over time this can weaken the structural integrity of your roof. If you have a metal roof these expansions and shifts can cause separations and splits. Keep a keen eye out to see if there is an unevenness or potential shifts in your roofing. Anything that looks a little odd or out of place is worth a trip on the roof to take a closer look and monitor more carefully. 

Watch For Summer Weather Damage

Hot summer days can whip up summer storms with hard rains, high winds and lightning. While a break from the summer heat is always welcome, these storms can be a big problem for your roof. After any storm always take time to look at your roof and give a proper inspection to ensure that no damage has been done. High winds can shift shingles out of place and pull flashing away. Ensure that you look to see that your gutters are still cleared and that no debris from trees is left on your roof after a storm. Small shingle repairs are a task that you can complete with little problem. Replacing or repairing flashing can also be an easy job when caught early. 

Keep Fit For Summer: Inspect Inside And Out

We all know the drive to have a beach body and get ourselves physically ready for a season that is spent playing outside enjoying long sunny days. But remember, your roof needs to stay in good shape so that you can enjoy the summer and the other seasons to come. Just like us, keeping our roof fit has much more to do with the inside than the outside. It is rare that you will spot a small leak by looking at the top or your roof. To have the best idea of your roof’s health, you need to take a peak on the inside by going into your home’s attic. 

First thing to have an eye for is the insulation. As a homeowner you should know that proper insulation can make your home many times more energy efficient. However, not so many know that it also prolongs the life and strength of the construction materials used for your roof. Adding insulation is a relatively easy and low cost fix that can save you a ton of cash and many headaches down the road. You also want to be sure that your roof is well ventilated to ensure that you avoid the biggest problems of heat and temperature change. Inspect your roof from your attic to look for any water stains or drips, a red flag that you have a leak to fix. 

Summer damage takes time to build up. A heatwave won’t wreck your roof, and well cared for roofs under ten years old should be good for many years to come. As a homeowner you should be in the habit of inspecting the attic and the roof top for any small problems that could get much bigger and more costly. 

In Conclusion

Here at Roofing Direct we want to help you catch the small problems before they become big ones. Whether it is figuring out if you have enough ventilation or needing insight on repairing a bit of damage on your roof, the team at Roofing Direct is ready to help. Their skilled customer service team has decades of experience and are ready to help you solve your roofing problems on your own. The parts and pieces will ship directly to your home and you will be sure you have what you need to do the job without running all over town.