The summer season is nearly half over and the heat isn’t going away any time soon. While you’re enjoying family vacations and BBQs, you probably aren’t thinking much about your roof. Unfortunately, there are summer-related issues that spell trouble for roofing. If you experience any of the following, you’ll want to contact a professional roofing contractor for help.
#1: Overheated Attic
Your attic temperature should be close to the outdoor temperature. This space in your home isn’t going to feel as cool and comfortable as your main living areas, but there is a limit to how hot your attic should get.
If your attic reaches 100 degrees or higher, this is a sign of trouble. It shows that the attic is likely unventilated and can ultimately end up baking asphalt shingles from your roof—especially if the attic reaches 150 degrees. It also causes your air conditioning system to work in overdrive, resulting in higher energy bills.
Gable, soffit, and ridge vents help keep your attic at the appropriate temperature and prevent overheating during the summertime.
#2: Missing Shingles
During strong storms, it’s not uncommon for shingles to blow off your roof. If you notice shingles are missing, you don’t want to ignore this issue. Missing shingles expose the roof deck to the elements and can result in extensive, costly damages over time.
How do you prevent shingles from blowing away during a windstorm? Make sure your roofing is installed by a professional while also offering a wind warranty. For example, a good roofing wind warranty can guarantee shingles to stay intact during winds of 110 MPH and sometimes higher.
#3: Moss on the Roof
Unfortunately, moss isn’t a quaint addition to give your home a cozy cottage feel. Moss is worrisome because it can damage the asphalt shingles. Moss holds water and can make the shingles remain damp for extended periods of time. Eventually, the shingles can fall off of your roof or blow away from a strong wind gust.
#4: Leaks in the Attic
If your roofing is old or shingles are missing, you’ll likely experience a lot of leaks during the summer season. Rainstorms can allow significant water into your attic and collect on the rafter beams. If this goes undetected, eventually you may find yourself with mold and mildew in your attic. The water damage may also extend to your ceiling and interior walls, causing unsightly stains and a big mess to clean up.
If you don’t feel confident fixing an old and outdated roof, help is right within reach. We provide quality roof replacement that makes your home perform in tip-top shape. It can even help you save energy on your cooling bills this summer! This can be a major benefit for new roof installation in San Diego, as energy prices are skyrocketing across the country as we speak.
The Importance of Airflow in Your Attic: Energy Savings & More
By now you may have decided that you need new roof replacement in San Diego. Have you ever climbed into your attic on a summer day and noticed that it’s hot and stuffy? While attics aren’t the most comfortable area in the home, the truth is that they are not meant to be treated the same as your main living quarters.
While it’s important to create an airtight seal to conserve energy in the home, this isn’t the case for attics. The attic space and roof is designed to breathe. If the attic is hot and stuffy, this is a sign that your energy costs might be going through the roof—literally.
These are the primary reasons why an attic needs airflow all throughout the year:
Reason #1: A Hot Attic Can Damage the Roof
Did you know that an unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the summer? This is 50 degrees higher than an attic temperature should reach. If the attic space becomes too hot, it can damage your roof. Asphalt shingles can withstand relatively high temperatures, but they begin to buck, curl, and even crack once they reach their breaking point.
If this situation occurs, you might be looking at roof replacement sooner rather than later.
Reason #2: You’ll Pay Astronomical Utility Bills
Who wants to choose between using the air conditioner or paying crazy high utility bills? Unfortunately, an attic without airflow may force you to make this choice. When the air becomes trapped in the attic, your air conditioner must work harder to cool down your home.
Before you know it, you’ll open your mailbox and discover an unpleasant surprise with your next electric bill. With increasing electricity costs, Americans will pay an average of $540 over the summer months.
Reason #3: Condensation Can Accumulate in the Attic
When the attic is hot and stuffy, this is the perfect climate for condensation to form due to humidity. When the attic is humid, condensation can collect on areas such as the beams in the attic, wood floors, interior walls, and even the underside of the roof sheathing.
This is a problem because the moisture can eventually rot the wood in the attic. What’s even worse is that the moisture can cause mold and mildew to form, which is costly and potentially dangerous to remove.
The truth is that a healthy roof comes down to several factors, including maintenance. But how do you maintain your roof during the summer months in San Diego?
3 Summer Roofing Maintenance Tips for San Diego Homeowners
Now that you know the signs that you need a new roof as well as why you should consider replacement, what about roof maintenance? If you’re a San Diego homeowner, consider the following tips when it’s time to give your roof a once-over:
Tip #1: Check Your Roof Vents
While no homeowner wants cold air getting into their home, this isn’t the case for your attic. In fact, air needs to flow through this space to regulate the home’s temperature and even prevent mold growth.
First, check to make sure that you have vents at all. You’ll typically find them installed on your soffit or even along the top of your roof. If you do not have vents, you’ll want to consider getting these installed as soon as possible.
Next, make sure there is nothing blocking the vents, such as a fan against soffit vents. Your vents are equipped enough to improve ventilation on their own.
Lastly, keep an eye on your energy bills in the upcoming months. Higher energy bills can possibly point to insufficient airflow in the attic space.
Tip #2: Look for Missing or Bucking Shingles
Don’t worry if you’re afraid of heights—you can accomplish this step with a pair of binoculars while standing on the ground. Look over your roof and examine the state of the shingles. If you find shingles that are bucking, curling, or missing, you’ll need to take the steps to get these repaired.
If the shingles are showing heavy wear and tear, such as many missing shingles or even exposing areas of the roof, it’s time to contact a roofing company in Akron for replacement.
Tip #3: Clean out Your Gutters
Your gutters play a critical role on the functioning of your roofing system. Clogged gutters spell big trouble for your roof, and not to mention other aspects of your foundation such as pooling water.
Keep on top of gutter maintenance as the summer comes to an end. If you don’t want to keep climbing up on the ladder, install gutter guards that conveniently cap the system with stainless steel mesh.
Healthy Roof, Happy Home from Peak Builders & Roofers
Don’t underestimate the importance of roofing. Peak Builders & Roofers help homeowners increase the efficiency of their homes with high-quality roofing systems. Contact us now to learn more.