Have you wondered how different weather conditions can affect your roof? Especially in the UK, it is important to address this question as we go through seasonal changes from hot to cold temperatures within a year. This does have an impact on your roofing and you must pay close attention to it so you could reduce the likelihood of costly roofing repairs or overhauls for your property.
These changes in weather conditions does have an impact on your roof, both internal and external. Let’s explore the various applicable scenarios and determine what could be done to mitigate them.
How Can Hot Weather Conditions Affect Your Roof?
The summer sun is most likely to do more damage to your roof than it seems. For instance, an overnight summer storm can bring in plenty of rain and debris down on your roof. Below are some other instances where hot weather can affect your roofs.
UV Rays
Most roofs are unshaded and is therefore directly exposed to the unfiltered UV rays from our sun. This continuous exposure to heat and UV rays can contribute towards drying out your roof overtime. This can cause shrinkages, and also weaken the wooden structures on your roof. In a worse case scenario, it could also potentially lead to cracking. One such solution would be to apply roof coatings to your roofing system.
Thermal Shock
Thermal shock is a situation whereby the temperature increases a level higher than average during the day and then faces a sudden drop during the night. This drastic change in temperature can cause the membranes to expand and contract within a short time. It can eventually lead to weakened structural integrity leading to warping. This is especially the true in the case of metals.
Rapid Moss Growth
When the roofs are not maintained on a regular basis, overtime, it is possible for moisture to be trapped within the roofing structures. During summer, the high temperatures and increased supply of water can contribute towards moss and mould to grow at a much faster rate. It is therefore important that you maintain your roof regularly to reduce the chances of it leading to a larger structural damage.
How can cold weather affect roofs?
During autumn and winter, shorter days, less sunlight and bitter temperatures can affect your roof in different ways.
Rain
It is the most common weather experienced in the UK and it is more so during winter. So how can rainy weather conditions affect your roof? The continuous drops of water beating down your roof can overtime take a toll. Especially for flat roofs, it’s important to ensure that the water drains out properly. While fixing the roof, you need to ensure that there are no water puddles on surfaces and that gutters are clear of leaves or debris. It is also equally important to make sure that the downpipes are directed towards the drains without any leaks or spills.
Our team of roofers are experts in making sure the roofs are well maintained and ensures that it resits various weather conditions too. Get in touch with our team for more information.
Drainage System
If there is no proper drainage system built for the water to flow easily, it can cause structural damages to the roof and even lead to surface condensation especially during extremely cold climates. Professional roofers generally avoid this by building an efficient drainage that can definitely save you from costly repairs in the future.
Snow
Unlike rain water, snow does drain down as easily and could therefore be too heavy for an unmaintained roof. The most common thing doe by most homeowners is to let it melt away. However, an alternative would be to use a snow shovel to remove the snow flurries. If not done carefully though, it can have more detrimental effects on your roofing tiles, knocking them lose or completely removing them.
If you are not sure how to handle snow removals from your roof or if you are concerned about the weight it imposes on your roof, do contact your local roofing professionals at SPS Roofing who can advise you on the best method to remove the snow.
Conclusion
It is evident that extreme weather conditions definitely can have an impact on your roof. It is important to recognize this from the beginning and you need to take steps to ensure they are well maintained and cared for.
If you are in need of roofing repairs services, our expert roofers at SPS Roofing can help you. Do get in touch with us and we will provide you with the best advice on how to take care of your roof for various weather conditions.
