Our Climate, Your Roof
Our Climate, Your Roof
(The effects of subtropical conditions on your roof)
Here in Southeast North Carolina, we’re no stranger to extreme weather conditions. In our humid subtropical climate, rain, high winds, high heat fluctuations, and severe storms are common occurrences. While your roof is designed to withstand these conditions, over time, these factors working together to attack your roof can cause significant detrimental changes in the quality and life-span of your roof. But how do our climate differences truly affect your roof?
Well, let’s begin with some statistics: North Carolina rainfall is on average 28% higher, temperatures 17% higher, and we receive 26% more storms than the rest of the United States. Though these conditions are normal to us, they’re hostile to your roof for many reasons.
Effects Of Heavy Rainfall & High Winds
Heavy rainfall and high winds after a storm’s wake can cause lost shingles, degranulation, and moisture penetration in the underlayment. This water damage can penetrate the roof deck, causing the water to compromise your home’s structural integrity gradually. Excessive moisture may also lead to rot and mold inside your home, which will not be suitable for your home’s structure and health.
High Heat & Temperature Fluctuations
Asphalt shingles stand up exceptionally well to frigid temperatures, rain, snow, and ice. However, direct heat can cause significant damages. High temperatures prematurely age asphalt shingles. Dark color shingles typically heat up from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit above the ambient temperature.
This means your asphalt shingles can reach temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit on a 100-degree Fahrenheit day. The roofing shingles may remain at a sustained temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit for up to five hours if the shingles are exposed to direct sunlight.
While extreme heat softens the asphalt shingles, ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the asphalt. For this reason, shingle manufacturers coat asphalt shingles with small granules on the upper surface. Over time, the granules loosen and fall away, leaving the asphalt at the mercy of the elements.
Repeated softening and hardening of asphalt shingles in high temperatures causes shingles to dry out and become brittle. The brittle shingles break off the allowing potential moisture an easy point of entry into your roof system.
Ensuring Your Roof Is Protected
Although it’s inevitable your roof will deteriorate and decline in quality, there are numerous ways you can ensure your roof has the best possible defense. Having your roof periodically inspected and having periodic maintenance conducted, your roof can last for decades.
We at Fortitude Roofing Company put a great emphasis on the quality of the roof we install. All of our estimates are free, so if you’re in the market for a new roof, please call us at (252) 515-1016.
Areas we service: Morehead City NC - Emerald Isle NC - Atlantic Beach NC - Havelock NC - Beaufort NC - Newport NC - Swansboro NC - Jacksonville NC - New Bern NC - Havelock NC - Trentwoods NC - Peletier NC - Stella NC- Hubert NC - Richlands NC