Your roof is the primary defense against protecting your home from storms and other elements. That said, sunlight is one of the most dangerous forces your roof faces, especially since the ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause significant damage to its surface. It may not be immediate damage like you’d see from a storm, but over time, the wear and tear from continuous UV exposure becomes very visible on most roofs. Here are five ways UV rays can impact your roof and ways you can protect it.
1. Roofing Material Breaks Down
UV rays can do serious damage to roofing materials over time, and depending on the material used in the construction of your roof, you will notice quite a bit of deterioration. That said, when certain materials break down, such as asphalt shingles, you will find that they become brittle.
Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Brittle shingles tend to crack and split easily, so you won’t have much protection on your roof when storms roll in. Brittle shingles are more susceptible to windstorms, and since they break apart easily, water damage can result. Granule loss from the shingles can also be a result of UV rays, especially if your home has asphalt shingles.
Wood Roofing
Wood material is very vulnerable to sunlight. The UV rays cause the wood to dry out, which makes it lose its natural oils quickly. When wood bleaches in the sun, it becomes weaker and more prone to splitting, cracking, or warping. In addition, wood rot and mildew become an issue when the wooden shingles begin to break down.
Metal Roofing
Although metal roofing material is more durable than most, extensive exposure to the sun’s rays can cause it to fade over time. Paint and coatings can fade, while seams and fasteners can weaken.
Tile Roofing
Tile is more resistant to sun damage, but with enough UV rays beaming down day in and day out, tiles and sunlight can crack. Once a crack forms on the roof, it will not be able to insulate your home as well.
2. Thermal Expansion of Roofing Materials
Excess heat causes most roofing materials to expand, and when the temperature cools again, the material will contract. This consistent expanding and contracting will weaken the integrity of your roof. Eventually, you will see the shingles warp and buckle. In fact, this expansion/contraction process creates more cracks between the shingles on the roof.
3. Fading and Discoloration
Any UV rays that reach the roof will cause the shingles or other roofing material to fade. Roofing materials that have faded can make your roof look old and worn. It will make your curb appeal look worse than with a protected roof. This discoloration is typically more noticeable on darker roofing material. However, the color of the roof is not the most important aspect. When the surface of the roof fades, there is typically more damage under the shingles.
4. Degradation of Protective Oils
The top layer of the shingles on your roof is a protective layer. When UV rays beam down on the roof’s surface, this layer is gradually stripped away. Enough sunlight will remove all the oils in the roofing material, making the granules of the shingles more susceptible to damage and moisture. These oils are also designed to help reflect the sun’s rays from the roof, so that the absorbed heat does not increase the amount of energy needed to cool your home.
5. Shortened Lifespan
An asphalt shingle roof can last up to 20 years. While this material is not exceptionally durable, it presents an affordable option that won’t incur high replacement costs. However, UV rays striking your roof without protection are likely to diminish the lifespan of the roofing materials. Even if it’s not easily noticeable, many roofing materials that appear faded from the sun may have lost a significant amount of weatherproofing, making your home more vulnerable to storms.
Ways to Protect Your Roof
Now that you’re aware of how UV rays can impact your roof and your home, let’s take a more in-depth look at the steps you can take to help protect your home.
Apply a Reflective Coating
If you notice that UV rays are damaging your roof, one way to protect it is to apply a reflective coating on the surface, which helps reflect sunlight. By reflecting sunlight, your roof absorbs less heat, making it easier to cool your home using less energy. This type of coating works best on roofs with a minimal slope or ones that are flat.
Install UV-Resistant Roofing Materials
If you need to install a new roof on your home using new materials, consider using UV-resistant materials for better protection. There are some roofing materials that have the natural ability to maintain the roof’s integrity a little longer than other types of materials.
Here are some options when looking for UV-resistant roofing materials:
- High-quality asphalt shingles with protective granules
- Metal roofing with UV-resistant coating
- Roof tiles with UV protection
Properly Ventilate Your Attic
When your attic has good ventilation, the UV rays from the sun create less damage. You will be able to reduce the heat buildup in the roof because the airflow helps regulate the temperature better. With less damage to the roof due to the increased airflow, energy efficiency also increases. This will also extend the life of your roof. Ensuring proper ventilation in your home, especially in the attic, is essential.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
You already know that you should always have a roofing inspection after a storm to check for any damage. However, it’s just as important to schedule a roof inspection at least once a year to make sure that the sun’s UV rays have not caused excessive damage. If there are signs of damage, a member of our team will quickly pinpoint and manage repairs to prevent them from becoming too costly in the future. In addition, if replacement is a better option, we will let you know.
Contact a Roofing Company Today
UV rays are not something that we can see, but the effects that they create on the roof of your home are not invisible. If left unchecked, the roof is likely to continue deteriorating, making it more vulnerable to storm damage in the future. There are several measures you can take to protect your roof, starting with the installation of a new one. With the right protections, you can extend the life of your roof significantly while maintaining its integrity.
At Emerald Roofing, we have been providing roofing solutions for Omaha residents since 2010. As one of Omaha’s top roofing companies, we know how important the integrity of your roof is to your home. If you’re in the market for a new roof installation or just need repairs on your existing roof, contact us today! We can also replace and repair your siding and gutters.
