Your roof is the barrier between you and the elements. That means that your roof is constantly battered by all the extremes of weather. Your roof is designed to withstand the day to day wear that weather can cause, but it is important to know the potential damages that certain weather conditions can pose for your roofing system. Depending on where you live, you may have to deal with many different weather extremes when it comes to your roof, and different kinds of maintenance requirements. From the ice and snow in the north to the hurricane winds of the gulf, there are many different potential problems for your roof system you need to be prepared for.
RAIN
The most obvious issue that can be caused to your roof is water damage. Residential roof systems are not actually waterproof in the true sense of the word. They are designed to “shed” water, instead of creating a watertight seal. This means that if any part of your roof system becomes damaged, it may not be able to continue shedding water effectively, leading to water penetration, and roof leaks. The issue with water damage is that once you notice it inside your home, you likely have already experienced a lot of irreversible damage. It is important to catch water damage before it becomes a costly and labor-intensive issue. That is why regular roof inspections are essential to a long lasting and effective roof.
HEAT
One of the most overlooked causes of damage to a roof is one that tends to be a slow build and can go often unnoticed. Storms are the most obvious cause of roof damage, but even a clear sunny day can cause damage to your roof. Extreme heats can cause long term damage to your roof system. One of the reasons tile roof systems are common in the southwest, is because they are designed to be able to withstand the extreme heat of that climate. Shingle roof systems can be damaged by too much exposure to extreme heat causing curling or cracking. If your climate has an unseasonably hot summer, it may be a good idea to have a roofing professional like Deer Park Roofing come and inspect your roof for any damage.
HAIL
Hail is one of the worst issues that homeowners will face when it comes to the health of their roof. Hail can wreak havoc on a roof system if it is not designed to withstand large impact. There are roof systems that are designed for hail impact if you live in an area with frequent hail, but hail could strike anywhere at any time, and your roof may not be designed for that kind of abuse. After a hailstorm it is essential to get a roof inspection to detect if any damage has been done to your roof. Often insurance will cover damage done to your roof by hail impacts. If not addressed properly hail damage can cause leaks and thousands of dollars of additional damage to your home.
SNOW
It may not be especially obvious how snow could damage your roof system. After all, it is soft and light, it couldn’t really cause much harm. However, it isn’t actually the snow that causes the problems, it is the uneven melting of snow that can cause disaster. If your home is not properly insulated, you can develop an issue known as ice dams after snow fall. The snow will begin to melt on certain parts of your roof due to heat loss. But the surrounding air temperature is still below freezing, so by the time the melted snow reaches your gutter line, it may begin to refreeze. This can cause the rest of the melted snow to be held back, like a dam, to begin to leak into your roof backwards from the gutter line. Like mentioned before, your roof is not designed to be waterproof, only water shedding. If water begins to pool or sit on the roof, it will start to seep through, down the interior walls of your home, causing untold damages.
