Summertime Issues for Your Roof

As Hamilton's premier roofing company, we know a thing or two about the Southern Ontario summer. It's also a big time of year for us to guide clients through roof checks, see our Spring Cleaning checklist here for more insight.

There are a few considerations when it comes to summer's impact on the health of your roof:

Heat

A darker coloured shingle absorbs heat, literally making a shingle hot to the touch. It also creates a chemical breakdown, causing your roof to break down faster than a lighter shingle. It's also worth noting here if your home is not in a shadier neighbourhood. Remember, most roofs have a 20-year life span, on average, so this is not a make or break point to deter you from making a choice based on aesthetics for your home.

When the temperatures hit extremes, the heat on your roof and it's leading to the chemical breakdown could cause issues with ventilation and bring on potential condensation leaking into your attic. Work to ensure your attic is well-ventilated from the start to help reduce the potential of any heat induced damage.

UV Exposure

The sun's warm UV rays are hitting your roof constantly, which, much like again a human, you will begin to see the ageing effects without behaviours to counteract this without proper protection. If you think of your shingles like your skin, the prolonged sun exposure eventually will weaken the roofing materials, causing cracks and splitting.

The temperature variations can also cause your shingles to expand and contract when the sun sets, so this weaken's your roof's structural integrity as time goes on.

Stormy Weather

A rainstorm from time to time is a beautiful thing. Things can get a little scary when the heat and wind bring it on and potentially hail join forces. Summer rain can be just as impactful on your roof as a snowstorm, mainly because of its combination with extreme heat. Be sure to check the integrity of your roof sooner than later as the temperatures climb even higher to prevent any of this precipitation from wreaking havoc on your home.

If you have an unfortunate incident where a storm causes a tree or some heavy object to hit your home, please be sure to get in touch with us. We are not only an Hamilton roofing company, but we serve Ancaster, Dundas, and Burlington as well. Our biggest tip is to check the health of your roof with the seasons routinely. Call us to learn more about roofing repairs and getting a new roof installed!