Asphalt Roofs and UV Rays
There are various factors that could cause damage to our asphalt roofs. Strong winds, excessive rain, built up snow, extreme heat, and different animals are just some of them.
During rainy or snowy months, it’s easy to spot some signs of roof damage such as leaks. But in actuality, these roof damages happen long before you see some signs of problems.
One of the factors that could cause major damage to any roof is the extreme heat from the sun. In summer, it can be very hard to notice this as we usually tend to stay indoors to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful rays.
Asphalt roof shingles are particularly vulnerable against UV rays. These ultraviolet rays can penetrate the components of the asphalt shingles, causing them to weaken and disintegrate over time.
Unfortunately, unlike other roofing materials such as metal, it is not recommendable for a protective coating to be applied on asphalt roof shingles. Protective chemical coatings are simply not made for asphalt roofs.
But don’t worry because you don’t necessarily have to tear down your asphalt roof and have it completely replaced by a metal roof. You can still prevent any major roof problems caused by UV rays if you act fast.
First and foremost, knowing that your roof is susceptible to sun damage, you have to keep an eye on your roof shingles during summer. Watch out for any signs of damage – even a simple crack on any of the shingles. These cracks usually lead to the shingle breaking apart. Also, be mindful of the asphalt granules that may fall from the roof for these are signs of shingles that are already broken.
Get in touch with professional roofing specialists in your area to inspect your roof before the rainy or snowy months for any problems caused by the extreme heat during summer to be fixed right away. The professional roofers will replace any damaged or missing asphalt shingles from your roof.