It feels good to soak up some sun rays during summer. Spending time in direct sunlight is good for your health since your body will be able to absorb some vitamin D which helps maintain a healthy immune system and for fighting off depression. But too much of a good thing can also be harmful since prolonged UV exposure can cause damage to your skin
Your rooftop, just like your body, can also become damaged or worn down from enduring constant UV exposure for many hours of each day throughout many years. In this guide, we are going to check how UV rays affect your roof and we view some solutions for protecting your rooftop.
Asphalt Shingles Can Decay
Asphalt shingles can start to decay if they are exposed to extreme heat and direct sunlight. New shingles tend to hold up very well for a couple of years but they slowly become more and more worn down as time goes on. Decayed shingles can look deformed or rotten. They can also start cracking and might start to miss pieces or show cracks.
Shingles Can Become Wrapped
Shingles can also start to curl upwards after being exposed to many hours of harsh sunlight. When shingles start curling upwards, it can create gaps that could result in roof leaks.
Roof Tiles Can Start To Crack
Wrapped roof tiles endure a lot of tension and might start to crack. General roof tile decay can also result in cracks in your roof tiles that can cause your roof tiles to chip or split.
Your Roof Can Look Bleached
Roofing shingles or tiles can start to fade and lose colour after being exposed to hot sun rays throughout the year. These changes aren’t too noticeable in rooftops that enjoy constant UV exposure throughout the entire roof. But if your roof is only partially exposed to the sun with some parts in the shade, it can result in uneven colouring. The shingles in shaded areas will start to appear much more vivid and darker compared to those that are fitted in direct sunlight.
How to Prevent Or Treat Sun Damage To Shingles
Sun damage to roofing tiles is usually irreversible. Once your roof tiles become brittle or once the roof tiles start to fade, there is little that can be done to restore them.
The best way to treat sun damage is by preventing it, to begin with. Here are a few good solutions for preventing UV damage.
- You can UV protect your roof by adding a coat of UV-protected roof paint. A coat of paint will act as a protective barrier between the sun and your roof tiles and UV reflective paints can also reduce the interior temperature of your home. But once you paint roofing tiles, you will need to repaint or add a fresh coat about once every five years.
- Another good solution is to get the roofing tiles treated with a stone shield or clear UV coating. These coatings are highly durable, they won’t alter the colour of your rooftop and they can keep your roof protected for longer. But once again, the coating will need to be reapplied every few years because they too can become worn out by the sun.
It is also important to keep restoring your rooftop as it might become damaged. Get a professional roofing company in Melbourne like Singh Roofing to regularly clean and inspect your rooftop. UV damages will be identified during these inspections so you can get the damages restored before your roof starts to leak or before a single damaged shingle starts affecting surrounding materials.
