Seasonal changes, from winter ice to summer heat, can significantly affect your roof’s health. Temperature fluctuations, moisture, and weather patterns can cause wear and tear that adds up over time. Each season brings its own set of challenges that can impact your roof’s overall condition and performance. Rainstorms, high winds, snow, hail, ice, and other weather events come through the Wichita area, impacting home exteriors. But there’s something you can do about it! Let’s uncover practical ways you can protect your roof year-round.
Seasonal Changes That Impact Residential Roofing
Winter Snow and Ice
The weight of snow and ice puts pressure on your roof’s structure, and can contribute to cracks, leaks, and severe issues like a sagging roof that is dangerously bordering on collapse. Ice dams are another threat to your roofing. And freeze-thaw cycles can make materials expand and contract, contributing to costly damage. And that’s just in the winter!
Spring Wind and Rain
Spring brings heavy rains that can seep through any compromised area of your exterior—including your roof. If vulnerabilities exist, the rain will make its way in. If left unnoticed, this can lead to mold, mildew, rot, deterioration, and eventually—roof replacement. If your attic shows signs of moisture in it, you likely have a roof leak. Additionally, spring brings high winds and sometimes tornadoes, which can impact roofing components.
Summer Scorching Heat and Humidity
Summer’s extreme heat can cause some roofing materials to wear out quicker. Asphalt shingles may begin to warp, crack, or curl. They may even detach over time, leading to roof leaks. High humidity and heat can build up in attics that aren’t well ventilated, causing your roof to deteriorate at a more rapid rate. Also, consider the amount of thermal energy that your roof absorbs during the long, hot days of summer. The heat makes its way into your home and causes your air conditioner to work overtime.
Autumn’s Falling Leaves
Clogged gutters are a hazard to your roof because the water that pours into them needs to go somewhere, and if twigs, falling leaves, and other debris keep water from flowing away from your home, it will likely back up under your asphalt shingles and saturate a portion of your roof decking. If this goes unnoticed, it could leak into your attic, causing unhealthy mold and mildew to thrive. Over time, this scenario can become a major issue with water in your walls, ceilings, attic insulation, and more.
Get to Know Your Roof’s Primary Enemies
Hot Temperatures
When outdoor temps swing into the 100s, it can cause your roofing components to expand, crack, and leak.
Freezing Temperatures
If outdoor temps drop below freezing, your roofing contracts, weakening your shingles. Additionally, if water from rain, sleet, or melted runoff seeps into your roof through small cracks, that moisture can freeze and cause issues. When it freezes it expands, and that makes small cracks wider, intensifying problems and increasing roof damage.
Water
When water penetrates your roof, it causes early deterioration and leads to repairs or replacement.
UV Rays
Your roof has a 24/7 job of safeguarding your home from the elements. One of the primary things it stands up against is UV rays from the sun. UV rays can cause shingle deterioration, granule loss, and other costly damage.
Protect Your Roof from Seasonal Changes and Preserve its Longevity
Roof Inspections
In addition to inspecting your roof from the safety of the ground each spring and fall and after severe weather passes through the area, hire a reputable contractor to inspect your roof annually. This will help any minor problems come to the surface while they are small. You’ll avoid major issues by proactively addressing the minor ones. This will save you time, money, and hassles. And it will extend the life of your roof! An “ounce of prevention” is a great perspective here, and is a wise way to approach the long-term health of your roof.
Your roofing contractor will inspect your attic and roof ventilation to ensure your home is able to “breathe”, which contributes to your roof’s longevity. Warm, moist air that gets stuck in the attic can cause premature aging of roofing components.
Maintenance
Roofing is a major investment, so taking care of it with proper upkeep is vital. Ensuring your gutters are free of debris that could potentially block the flow of water is a vital part of roof maintenance. Investing in gutter guards that fit over your gutters to allow water to flow into them while keeping twigs, leaves, and asphalt granules out of them is a smart way to keep gutters working well. This protects your roof from moisture infiltration.
Timely Repairs
The hot summers and cold winters Wichita experiences result in continual expansion and contraction of roofing materials. This can cause warped or cracked flashing, nail failure, and more. The best time to spot these types of issues is in the spring during a professional roof inspection. When a roofing issue surfaces during an inspection, it’s vital that you address it with timely repairs to preserve your roof.
Roof Replacement
Here’s some good news! When new, quality roofing materials are installed with precision by an experienced team (like us!), they stand up against harsh weather fluctuations and extreme temperatures. That means you can rest at ease that your home is well protected when you have a new roof installed. In contrast, old roofing material can get brittle, which causes extreme temperatures to take their toll more readily.
Fortify Your Home’s Protection with a Durable New Roof
You deserve a roof that fully protects you and your home. At Keeter Roofing & Remodeling, we install industry-leading roofing materials with precision and expertise. We have a strong work ethic and stand behind our workmanship. Our unwavering commitment is why we go the extra mile to ensure your roofing installation is a success. Learn more about how our roofing services can keep your home safe, attractive, and weather-resistant.
