Summer Roofing Issues: Humidity Damage
Protecting Your Roof from Summer Humidity
North Carolina is the home of humidity. You can feel it on any summer day when you step outside from your air-conditioned home. It’s like you slipped on a warm wet suit of heat. Imagine how this heavy, heated, coat of moisture affects your roof.
How does humidity hurt your roof?
It’s obvious that one of the biggest problems is shingle blistering. We discuss this in depth in our blog article Blistered Roof Shingles. Check it out to see if your shingles are suffering from poor installation or poor quality roofing materials. We explain these problems in the article.
Other roofing problems caused by summer humidity are added moisture in poorly ventilated areas which in turn causes water damage, rot, and mold. No one wants to hear any of these words after a roof inspection. It almost always means extensive repairs or roof replacement. In order to avoid that, it’s a good idea to routinely have your roof checked by a qualified and experienced roofing company. Look for roofing contractors that have been established in your area for several years. Hiring a fly by night roofing crew may save you money, but their inexperience could lead you to more costly problems down the road like blistered roof shingles.
Sun Exposure and Lack of Energy Efficiency
Not only can the summer heat affect your roof, but it can also add a few zeros to your monthly energy bill. Exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays increases the roof’s temperature and this can make your air conditioner work overtime trying to cool your home. When you add moisture to the extreme heat, this combination can shorten your roof’s longevity.
Extreme Heat
The extreme 90 plus temperatures of NC can cause the roofing deck wood and parts to expand and crack in time. This allows water to get into your roof, attic, ceiling, and walls which can lead to mold growth and mildew. Sunlight will cause the heat to rise in your attic, causing shingle nails to pop. The shingles can then shrink and curl. This creates weak spots on your roof’s surface and can in turn lead to holes and water leaks in your roof.
Moisture Buildup
Moisture buildup in your attic or crawl space can accumulate and turn into condensation which leads to mold growth. This can affect the attic floor joists, roof joists, and rafters. Moisture can also lead to wood rot in your attic and roof. Rot will weaken the roof’s support and sheathing.
Prevention
To minimize humidity’s effect on your roof, make sure your attic is properly ventilated. Proper air circulation and roof venting can prevent mold from growing inside your attic, home, and roof. This will also prevent condensation from dripping into your roof, attic, ceilings, and walls which leads to costly water damage. Hiring an experienced roofing contractor can help you avoid these expensive problems.
An experienced roofing contractor like TruBlue Roofing and Remodeling can spot signs of humidity damage. Contact us today at (919) 589-7290 for a free roofing inspection and estimate.
Check out these blogs about other summer roofing problems and repairs:
