Most of us are looking forward to summer, that pleasant time with warmth and sunshine. Finally, it will be possible to spend a lot of time outside, enjoying high temperatures. However, sometimes they exceed the safe value, causing weakness, even threatening stroke. So it is necessary to protect oneself from such heat so as not to spoil one’s health. However, we should remember that such high values on the mercury column also have a negative impact on the roof. And it is this subject that we will address in the following article, considering how to protect it from such harmful weather conditions.
How does hot weather affect roofs?
High temperatures are welcomed by most people because they provide a pleasant mood. However, the higher they get, the place of good mood will be taken by discomfort. And when high humidity is added, we have a ready-made recipe for tiring spirits. Not everyone knows this, but they also have a negative impact on roofs, as high temperatures, exceeding 30 degrees in the shade, cause various damages to them, affecting their durability and aesthetics. Hot weather and the condition of the roof is therefore a bad combination! And what we are about to see – it manifests itself in many different aspects.
One of these is material expansion, as building materials such as wood, metal and asphalt expand and contract when exposed to the sun. This can lead to cracks, deformation or loosening of roof components. And this consequently contributes to leaks and, worse, structural damage.
Protecting the roof from the heat is therefore crucial, especially since other factors, such as the aging of materials, also have a negative impact here. High temperatures and the sun’s influence on the roof accelerate chemical processes in roofing materials, such as bitumen or synthetic membranes. This causes them to oxidize, become brittle and lose their elasticity. This makes them less resistant to mechanical damage and weathering, such as rain, hail, etc.
At the same time, it should be remembered that practical issues are not everything – aesthetics are equally important, related to the loss of color of the roofing. As a result, intense sunlight causes fading and discoloration of roofing materials. Such extreme weather conditions also have a huge impact on the load on ventilation systems, as these have to work more intensively, which translates into higher energy costs and faster wear and tear of equipment.
How to protect the roof from the effects of high temperatures?
So there is no doubt that in the face of these problems, we should try to protect the roof from the sun and high temperatures. There are ways to deal with this.
One of them concerns regular inspections that will allow early detection of damage caused by extremely high temperatures. During such inspections, professionals will assess the condition of the roof materials, check for leaks and detect any problems with cracks and deformations. Proper regulations, such as setting appropriate standards for roofing materials, are also important. They are able to contribute greatly to improving the resistance of roofs to extreme weather conditions.
Another important task is to paint roofs with special paints designed to reflect the sun’s rays. These are reflective paints that reduce the heating of the roof surface, and this automatically translates into lower temperatures inside the building. This has positive aspects alone, as the load on air-conditioning systems is reduced, as well as the risk of damage caused by material expansion.
There are other methods of protection, especially thermal insulation of the roof. It is made of materials such as mineral wool or polyurethane foam. It protects the house from the cold, but also prevents heat penetration into the building.
Roof ventilation is also very important, allowing to maintain adequate air circulation. This prevents the roof from overheating and accumulating moisture. Effective waterproofing of the roof also works, which protects it from the destructive effects of moisture and water. We will elaborate on this topic in the next paragraph.
Roof waterproofing – why is it so important?
Every roof is exposed to a number of negative actions. Among them, the influence of water and moisture is predominant. For these ills, the best solution is to waterproof the roof, which ensures its tightness. In the case of leaks, destruction does not affect only the roof, but also other structural elements, as water pouring in can do a lot of damage. It gets into the cracks of the masonry, for example, where fungi and mold can form after a while.
Waterproofing of flat roofs is especially mandatory here, which is due to the fact that water on such roofs stands for longer and during this time can penetrate deeper. These are, of course, solutions for flat roofs, but also for all other types. Among the various methods, the liquid waterproofing offered by RS-MAL is particularly noteworthy. Its liquid form dries in a very short time, creating a uniform, smooth surface. This makes it seamless and seamless. The advantages of using waterproofing cannot be overestimated. First of all, it is an effective protection against weather elements, such as rain, snow, which lasts for a long time, even more than 2 decades. The waterproofing membrane forms a uniform coating, through which water has no chance to pass. The waterproofing is characterized by excellent mechanical strength, resistance to very high and very low temperatures and UV radiation.
This is what modern roof waterproofing materials are, which is why every homeowner should use them!
