Pennsylvania is well-known for its hot and humid summers. While spring and summer are great for outdoor fun, they’re not so great for your roof.
Hot weather, combined with severe thunderstorms, can do severe damage to your roof, resulting in leaks or even complete roof failure.
We’ll take a look at how heat, rain, and wind can all cause spring and summer problems for your roof and what you can to do to keep your roof in pristine shape.
Sunlight Exposure
Sun exposure damages your roof in two distinct ways. The first is through UV rays, which will break down roof membranes and cause them to crack and warp. Materials such as plastic and PVC are most susceptible to UV damage, though modern roofing compounds often come with UV resistance built-in.
The second is through heat, which will cause roofing materials to expand. Combined with cool evenings, these rapid temperature fluctuations can cause significant damage to your roofing materials.
Wet Weather and Storms
Hailstorms and severe rainfall can erode and damage your roof tiles. Once small cracks appear, additional water can seep into these cracks and cause even more damage. Once the moisture gets into your underlayment and roof deck, you can expect structural water damage to become a problem.
Flat roofs are often more susceptible to wet weather damage since water has nowhere to go. Instead, the water accumulates either on top of the roof or in the corners. This accumulation can significantly shorten the lifespan of the roof.
Storms also often result in plenty of plant matter and debris accumulating on your roof and in your gutters. Leaving this debris can result in clogged drains and gutters, which can lead to structural water damage and roof damage.
Winds
Strong winds can do a lot of damage to your roof. They can get under your roof’s parts, tearing off fasteners, dislodging tiles or sheet metal, and even removing the roof membrane from flat roofs. Since winds often coincide with wet weather, they can also open up your roof to moisture damage.
The second threat with windy days is that strong winds can dislodge branches and other debris, which can strike your roof and cause plenty of damage. If you’ve ever had a tree branch fall on your roof, you know the extent of its damage.
What Can You Do?
Modern materials and modern roofing techniques have made roofs more durable, but they’re still vulnerable to Mother Nature. You can’t control the weather, but you can control what you do after a heavy storm has passed, or after a long string of hot, sunny days.
Your best option is regular roof inspections and maintenance. At Gotcha Covered Roofing, we’re happy to schedule regular visits to make sure your roof is in tip-top shape and ready to handle what Pennsylvania summers can throw at it.
We also recommend inspecting your roof after a severe storm. Even the newest roof can sustain damage, and fixing it sooner can prevent massive problems from cropping up later.
