Summer is upon us now. With that comes longer days, warmer evenings and plenty of hot weather. While days out in the sun, barbecues in the garden and fun with the family are great for us, our roofs can suffer in the summer heat.
In this post, we look at ways the sun can damage your roof, and how to keep your property protected.
Damaged tiling
Occasionally, when facing prolonged sun exposure, some roof tiles/slates can start to warp and bend. The heat and UV radiation exposure extracts oils and moisture from some tiles making them dry, brittle and coarse. This can lead to warping, cracking and splitting, leaving your roof open to further damage.
Damaged tiles won’t fare well in the upcoming autumn winter months, giving you more issues when the cold and wet weather starts to move in. That’s why it’s important to have regular inspections both before and after the summer months, to make sure your roof is in good working order, ready for the winter.
Poor insulation
When your home and roof becomes hot, the supporting wooden beams in your attic can start to expand and contract, radiating heat into the rest of your home. Without the right amount of insulation in your attic, your home may heat up quickly, becoming hotter indoors than it is outside.
This can lead to a hot, uncomfortable summer, with little relief from the heat. That’s especially the case if you have a dormer or attic room. By ensuring your roof is properly insulated and maintained, you can reduce the risk of excessive heat seeping into the rest of your home.
Poor loft insulation can also result in mould, mildew, rot and poor ventilation. As well as causing issues with your home’s structure and stability, this could lead to health complications for those living in your home, especially if they suffer with breathing and respiratory issues.
Thermal shock
With the English temperature bringing such highs and lows through the summer, your roof can reach hot temperatures during the day before dropping down rapidly to chilly temperatures as soon as the sun goes down. These sudden changes in temperature can cause roofing materials to expand and contract quickly, weakening their overall structure in the long term.
This is particularly prevalent with metal roofing materials (flashings for example), which can warp out of shape and produce large gaps due to thermal shock. That could leave you with significant holes in your roof which can result in mores serious issues later on. By repairing any problems in the summer, when repairs can be carried out quickly and effectively, you can rest assured that your roof will be strong and protected throughout the winter.
Summer roof repairs in Huddersfield
Maintaining your roof’s structure throughout the summer is essential to prevent costly issues and damage during the winter. The experienced team at DPR Roofing is on hand whenever you need us to repair and replace roofs throughout Huddersfield and the surrounding areas.