Roofs are expected to handle everything the elements can throw at them, but whilst many homeowners are more concerned about strong winds, thunderstorms and snow, searing summer heat can sometimes cause its own problems.
In general, all forms of extreme weather expose the weaknesses in roofs that can emerge over time or through poor upkeep or installation.
This is why you should get in touch with expert roofing contractors if you are at all worried about your roof or how the harsh weather might have affected it.
With three heatwaves in as many months hitting the UK and exposing various ways in which our homes are ill-suited to hotter summers, could older roofs have the same problems?
To explain why, here are the most common ways in which hot weather can damage your roof and how the end of a heatwave can be just as troublesome.
How Does A Heatwave Affect The Roof?
A heatwave, defined officially as three days with unseasonably high temperatures, often exposes older roofs to conditions that can cause them to change in ways that can cause overall damage to your roof.
Houses in the UK have historically been designed with the expectation that houses will experience rain and some degree of cold temperatures all year round. Heatwave conditions have historically been seen as the expectation and not the norm.
Because of this, however, the design and materials used in roofs react in somewhat unexpected ways to temperatures that are hotter than they are designed for.
Here are some of the biggest ways this can affect your roof:
Thermal Expansion
Heat generally causes roofing materials to expand, whilst colder temperatures cause them to contract.
In normal conditions, roofs are designed with movement joints and expansion tolerances in mind, but much hotter conditions than expected or the rapid heating and cooling of materials that are common in heatwaves can create weaknesses and eventual damage to tiles, joints and membranes.
Exposure To UV Radiation
Direct sunlight means exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which causes some materials to change their properties in ways that make them more prone to being damaged.
Felt and rubber membranes may blister or become brittle, causing fatigue cracks and affecting their waterproofing ability when the rain finally arrives.
Trapped Hot Air
Many British homes are infamously poor when it comes to ventilation, meaning that they often trap hot air.
This not only makes them miserable to live in, but also causes mould growth, the buildup of internal moisture and damage to the roofing joists caused by either mould, a lack of moisture making the wooden beams more brittle, or a combination of both.
Flash Flooding
Heatwaves are often followed by flash flooding, when sudden storms often catch people and buildings by surprise.
This can cause not only sudden drops in temperature, but conditions that can expose the true weaknesses of your roof, such as leaks and water ingress, overflowing water from blocked gutters, and strong winds that can rip at brittle and loose roof tiles.
This is why inspections following a heatwave are essential to check for any accelerated degeneration of roofing materials.
