How Extreme Heat Damages Your Roof

Extreme heat is bad for your health, the landscaping and even your roof. It surprises people to discover that high temperatures can destroy their roof, but that's exactly what can happen. Here is how the extreme heat hurts your roof along with tips on how you can avoid the extreme damage.

Expansion and Contraction
The rising temperatures cause your roof to expand and contract. The right roofing material will have some movement and can handle the shifting. However, the tar paper beneath tile roofs and even asphalt shingles may become brittle and cracked. That damages the last protective layer and leaves you exposed to roof leaks. Caulk pulls away from junctions, and that can allow flashing to move out of position.

Baked from Above and Below
The extreme heat that's baking your shingles from above may also be turning the attic into an oven. Without proper ventilation, temperatures start to build in the attic. Radiating through the roof sheathing, the temperatures can bake your shingles from below as well as above. Blistering the shingles and damaging the edges of them, extreme heat poses an incredible risk for your roof. You can see this damage by viewing the shingles through a pair of binoculars.

Harming the Roof Decking
In addition to damaging the shingles, the hot attic will also permanently damage your roof decking. It causes the roof sheathing to warp and break down. To determine if your roof has this problem, go into the attic and press on the plywood. If it's soft to the touch, then you have a serious problem on your hands.

Drying Temperatures
As the sun moves across the sky, it beats down on the roof. Drying out caulk and asphalt shingles, the heat can shorten the life of your roof by destroying the asphalt structure. Caulk around flashing and chimneys shrinks and can fail. The damage is hard to see, but it will cause the roof to leak sooner rather than later.

Proper Ventilation
Whether you live in the cool climate of the north or enjoy the warm weather of southern regions, attic ventilation is essential to protecting your roof. While you are not going to make your attic cool and comfortable, you can prevent it from turning into a damaging oven. Make sure that all soffit vents are exposed, and ensure that you have enough ventilation along the ridge to move air through the space. If you aren't sure, invite a roofing company out to inspect the attic and correct any ventilation problems.

Invest in Professional Inspections
You may not know how to tell if caulk is still in good condition, but the professionals can do this for you. Ask a professional roofing company to inspect the roof and make any necessary repairs before they turn into damaging leaks.

Radiant Barriers
You can also keep the heat out of your attic by investing in radiant barriers. These can be sprayed onto the roof sheathing, or they may be rolls of special material that effectively reflect heat back out of the house and keep attic temperatures lower. They are highly recommended for people trying to lower their cooling costs, but they are also great for protecting your shingles from an overheated attic.

Choose the Right Material and Color
Asphalt shingles are great in cool climates, but warm climates call for something different. Consider using metal, clay tiles or even concrete if you live in a hot region. You can also cool the roof down by choosing a light color that will reflect the heat.

Storms can damage your roof, but extreme heat is also bad for the structure. Protect your roof by making sure you have adequate attic ventilation and investing in annual inspections. Install radiant barriers to keep the heat out of the attic, and consider a light color to keep the roof cooler. Finally, choose a material like tile or metal if you live in warm regions.

Editor's Note: Philip Crocetti is a freelance writer and former roofing contractor. He recommends Chouinard Bros to help with take care of your roof after the extreme heat.

Image Credit: deposit photo