From Shingles to Rubber

During the hottest parts of the day during the summer months, your home's shingled roof is always under the intense heat and ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. While the asphalt material from which the shingles are constructed is designed to withstand these conditions, as they get older and are subjected to the sun for years, they can start to become damaged. 

Unlike damage from other elemental conditions such as wind and rain, signs of sun damage can start to appear subtly over time. Below are a couple of types of damage that the hot summer sun can do to your home's shingled roof that often warrant having it repaired or replaced by a professional.

1. Shingles Become Dry and Brittle, Making It More Likely They Will Crack and Break Off

One type of damage the intense heat and UV rays of the sun can cause to your home's roofing shingles is that they will start to dry out and become brittle. After years of the rays hitting the surfaces of the shingles, the moisture within them will cause them to dry out and weaken their integrity.

Because the moisture is greatly diminished, the shingles will lose their flexibility and ability to expand and contract from rapid temperature changes. This can cause them to crack or break off more easily. Depending on the extent of the damage and the number of shingles affected, a roofing professional may need to make repairs or replace the entire roof.

2. Edges of the Shingles Will Curl Up and Bow Under the Heat of the Sun

Another type of damage that is often caused by the heat of the sun also has to do with the extraction of moisture from the shingles. As the moisture is pulled out of them, the edges of the shingles can start to curl up or bow under. Even if the lack of moisture in the shingles does not cause cracking, they will often lose the ability to lay flat as they contract and expand, causing the curling of the edges. A roofing professional will determine whether the roof needs to be fixed or replaced.

If you notice these types of damage to your shingles during the summer season, contact a roofing company in your area to have them send someone out to inspect the roof to see if the problem areas should be repaired or if the entire roof needs replaced.