How Does The Weather Effect Your Roof?

In the UK we aren’t very susceptible to severe weather phenomenons such as tornados or hurricanes. We do however experience weather that can still affect your roof in a variety of different ways. It’s important to keep on top of roof maintenance to reduce the likelihood of requiring expensive roof repairs on your property whether its a residential or commercial building.

Our weather in the UK is typical – fresh temperatures and blue skies in spring and autumn, hot summers and cold, dark frosty wet winters. These can all have adverse effects on the health of your roof. A seasonal review of your roof is recommended to see whether there are any minor problems than could lead into major ones. A small leak from a damaged roof can soon turn into a much bigger job. At Cotswold Roof, we provide all aspects of roofing repair work in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

How Hot Weather Affects a Roof

You might think that hot weather has no negative impact on your roof. Wrong. Damage caused by hot weather is not often noticed until a period of intensive wet weather such as an overnight summer storm.

UV Exposure

Most roofs are left to smelt in the sunshine. There’s no level of protection between your rood and the UV rays from the sun. Overtime exposure to heat and UV rays can start to dry out your roof causing movement, shrinkages and cause the wood to bleach and weaken. Tiles that face long exposure to high temperatures can begin to buckle and crack, and the joins between tiles can become looser as shrinkage occurs.

Older Roofs

If you have a roof older than ten years or an unventilated attic space, known as a ‘Hot Roof’, talk to Cotswold Roof Co. about the benefits of a new roof or additional insulation.  Advantages of investing in a roof include improved energy bills, better insulation against lost heat and improvement of airflow ventilation around your roof.

Thermal Shock

One of the greatest threats during the summer is the risk of thermal shock on roofs – thermal shock occurs when the temperatures reach higher than average during the day but drop off rapidly after the sun goes down. This extreme change in temperature and moisture in the air can cause the materials on your roof (especially metal) to expand and contract within a short time frame, affecting the structural integrity and on some occasions, leading to warping.

Preventing Growth

If your roof is unmaintained, either through lack of time or buying a property that hasn’t been maintained on a regular basis, your roof might have some moisture trapped between tiles or under within support structures. Over the summer, with the increased warmth and a supply of water, mould and moss can grow rapidly; spreading across your roof in a blanket of green, creeping into your attic spaces and down the external walls. Make sure to treat your roof and regularly remove any green growth to reduce the likelihood of rapid spreading that requires additional effort or cost to remove.

How Cold Weather Affects a Roof

The colder months bring shorter days, less sunlight, frosty, bitter temperatures and an increased chance of rain and snow.

Rainy Days

Rain is the most common weather experienced in the UK, and even more so over the winter months. The constant beating down of water on your roof can begin to take its toll after a few weeks and months of regular rainy weather. Make sure your roof can drain properly, with no water collecting in pools or puddles on flat surfaces, keep guttering clear of leaves and debris to prevent overflowing or blockages. As part of your winter roof maintenance, you should also check that your downpipes are centred over drains with no chance of leaks or spills that could create slippery, icy walkways.

Ample Drainage

By ensuring your roof has efficient drainage, you are reducing the weight of water that would otherwise collect on roof surfaces and preventing the build-up of moisture between tiles that can cause unsightly mould and moss growth. By keeping on top of your roof maintenance before it gets too late into the winter season, you can prevent leaks and moisture ingress through damaged structures to reduce the likelihood of damp, rot and mould in attic spaces. Not only can damp, rot and mould be difficult to get rid of, but, if it’s in a place that isn’t often used or visited in your room (such as unfinished attic), the problem can become an expensive nuisance before you realise it’s occurring.

Snow Flurries

With the wetter weather and temperatures dropping, snow is never far behind. Snow doesn’t ‘drain’ off a roof as easily as water and the build-up of snow can be quite weighty on unmaintained or old roofs. Although many homeowners allow the snow to melt naturally, those who want to clear the snow from their roof should make sure to do so properly, in order to prevent further damage. For instance, some homeowners think using a normal show shovel can be an effective way to ‘knock down’ snow flurries. However, this can cause damage to tiles, knocking them lose or removing them completely. Additionally, some homeowners use rock salt or other ‘melting’ solutions, but these can react negatively with the materials on your roof, requiring yet more expensive repairs.

High Speed, Icy Winds

Bitter, icy winds can also have an adverse effect on your property, especially as we experience the tail end of intense weather from severe weather in international countries. High winds can loosen, move and jostle your tiles, sometimes lifting them up and causing a chain of damage across your rooftop. The best preventative method of protecting your roof against high winds is to regularly check your roof for loose or missing tiles and have these repaired or replaced where necessary.

Weather Roof Maintenance and Safety

Remember, when preparing your roof for intense weather patterns and working at height, you must only do so if you have the confidence to do so and know how to utilise the correct safety equipment. Falls from a roof or from a height can cause life-changing injuries or worse. With that in mind, it is always safer to call a professional when you don’t feel confident in carrying out checks or performing maintenance yourself.