Your roof is one of the first lines of defense your home has against the weather. It should be engineered to withstand heavy amounts of rain, wind, and sun exposure. But aging roofs or poorly constructed roofing systems fall victim to these natural elements.
The Effects of Extreme Weather
Florida has many extremes, from relentless heat in the summer to devastating storms that can pop up half of the year. Your roof needs to be ready to protect you from these unpredictable elements.
Rain
It’s no surprise that rain threatens the integrity of your roof all year long. During the summers here in North Central Florida, heavy thunderstorms can be expected in the afternoons. These can last 15 minutes or occur for many days. Regardless, your roof will experience a great deal of water. While this may not seem like a big deal, a short storm can turn into a big problem if your roof has any underlying damage.
Improper flashing, missing shingles, or an opening in your roof can become an issue when water finds its way through the roof and into your home. This will lead to leaks that threaten the interior of your home. If your roof isn’t designed to properly channel water, you can end up with ponding water sitting on top of your roof that will then harm your shingles and the roofing materials that lie underneath.
Heat
Here in the sunshine state, we receive our fair share of exposed sunlight and extreme temperatures. Heat is problematic for asphalt shingles because UV exposure actually causes the shingles to shrink, expand, and crack. When shingles expand and contract from sunlight, blistering occurs which causes your shingles to have a bubbling texture.
Additionally, sunshine can cause your roof to age faster. Choosing lighter color shingles over darker ones can help avoid this sun damage as it reflects sunlight. This can even help to keep your attic cool. If your roof has improper ventilation, hot air will be trapped in your attic and can actually cook your shingles from below!
Humidity
What happens when you combine hot Florida air with a high moisture index? You get humidity. Humidity is more than an uncomfortable consequence of living in Florida. Increased humidity can wreak havoc on your roof if it’s already susceptible to damage. This could lead to leaks from condensation or mold growth on your roof. You can’t avoid the humidity in Florida, so it’s important to keep your roof maintained and ready to protect against moisture.
Wind
Big storms produce heavy amounts of rain, but also wind gusts. Wind can loosen or blow off your shingles, exposing integral parts of your roof. If your roof wasn’t installed properly with high-quality underlayment, your roof deck can be threatened by any water that follows the wind.
Not only can you lose shingles, but wind can also stir up debris or branches around your home. If strong enough, these items can become projectiles and damage your home and your roof.
Hail
While not as common, hail can still occur in North Central Florida and threaten your roof. Hail can’t be prevented nor is there much protection from these projectiles. When there is a hail storm, hail can range in sizes, as small as a penny or as large as a baseball. The larger the hail, the more likely damage to your shingles and structure is bound to happen. Even metal roofs can crack or dent from hail. The best thing to do after a hail storm is to schedule a roof inspection to ensure no damage occurred and if it did, you can correct the issue quickly.
Protect, Maintain, and Repair Your Roof with McFall Residential Roofing
Extreme weather is an expected challenge when living in Florida. Whether it’s water damage or intense storms that threaten the security of your roof, our team of roofing professionals is ready to protect, repair, and maintain your roof to give you peace of mind all year long.
Call us or request a free roofing estimate to get started!
