The Sun and Your Roof
As winter fades into spring, the Sun is shining it’s best life. With increasing temperatures comes new strain on your home. Today we’ll dive into how sunlight affects your roof in both good and bad ways! You’ll see that a lot depends on the material and color, but that the flaming ball of gas we need to live is also just really stinking hot.
How Roof Material Matters
The material of your roof plays an important role in how weather-resistant it is. Asphalt shingles, metal roofing, tile, and TPO are all common and dependable roofing materials. They all take the affects of sunlight differently, however. Let’s take a look at the 2 traits of sunlight that pose the biggest threats to the integrity of your roof- temperature and UV.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are a highly common choice for residential roofing. They are incredibly resilient and hold up well to sun, rain, wind, and freezing temperatures. They come in a variety of colors and styles for homeowners to choose, allowing them the perfect look for their home. Unfortunately, shingles tend to give way to UV damage before other materials. Prolonged exposure to UV can degrade the granules on the shingles themselves, thereby weakening the shingle. And since they are commonly available in dark colors, they have a high rate of heat absorption. High heat absorption deteriorates shingles, affects color, and can raise your energy bill.
So, that all sounds like bad news. It isn’t! Just because they are damaged by UV doesn’t mean they’re a bad choice for your home. Asphalt shingles are still incredibly long-lasting and are often an affordable and great-looking choice for your home! The best way to get the longest life out of your roof is to do regular maintenance! There are things you can do yourself, and things we’re happy to help with.
Example of shingle discoloration.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs have been gaining popularity in recent decades. No longer are they simply used on industrial and rural buildings, but are becoming a more popular choice for residential roofing. Metals roofs have great lasting quality against UV rays, taking much longer to show UV damage than traditional asphalt roofing. Temperature, on the other hand, can have serious impacts on a metal roof. It is absolutely vital that a coating is applied to the roof in order to reflect the sun’s rays and keep the roof from turning your home into an oven. The metal roof you need for your shed is going to be very different than the one you need for your home. Be sure you hire a professional that knows the ins and outs of metal roofing. Hint: choosing a lighter color will help with UV reflection, too.
But just like asphalt, the best way to extend the life of your roof is through maintenance!
Click the image to see the array of colors available for metal roofs!
TPO Roofing
TPO is a common choice for commercial roofing. It can be installed quickly and is ideal for flat or low-pitched roofs. When it comes to sunlight, TPO is king. Typically installed in lighter colors like white, it is the best at reflecting UV rays and keeping cool in intense heat. So if you are looking to re-roof your business (or flat-roofed home!), TPO is the best bet for the central Texas sun.
And just like every other roof, your best bet for longevity is still maintenance!
Solar Shingles
Maybe we spoke too fast! Solar shingles are making their way into the residential roofing market and provide a great way to make the most of the sun’s rays! They are based off of a traditional shingle but have a solar cell integrated into their design. These shingles can be placed in large sections all over your home, ensuring you are not only protecting your home from harmful UV rays, but benefitting from a free energy source.
Solar shingles integrated directly onto the roof.
To Conclude
We can’t do much about the sun. We’re so thankful it’s there but dang is it hot sometimes. The best course of action when it comes to your roof is to talk to a seasoned professional, choose the right material for you, and to perform yearly maintenance. How sunlight affects your roof isn’t totally in your control, but some part of it is! Contact Roof Experts for your free inspection or sign up for one of our comprehensive maintenance programs.
Lastly, be sure to follow us on Instagram for all of our projects, roofing FYIs, and silly shenanigans!
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