UV rays can significantly damage asphalt shingles, prompting costly repair fees and possible total roof replacements. Therefore, it is paramount to understand how to identify and prevent UV ray damage.
You may think the winter months are harsh on your roof, and you’re right. Rain, hail, snow, ice dams, and high winds cause issues with your asphalt roof. But the summer sun can be just as potent, a lesson you can avoid.
Think about it: Your roof is your property’s first line of defense against rain and the sun. As a result, UV rays can devastate your asphalt shingles as they gradually penetrate the roofing system and materials.
Monitoring your roof and identifying warning signs of a compromised roofing system is essential. In the following post, Roofer’s Guild discusses the specifics of how sunshine damages asphalt shingles.
Key Takeaway
UV rays damage asphalt shingles by breaking down their molecular structure, which can cause granule loss, cracks, and material degradation.
Weather Fluctuations
In the summer months, day-to-night weather condition fluctuations can wreak havoc on your shingles. During the day, it may get scorching, giving way to humid nights.
Humidity fluctuation is terrible for asphalt shingles. During the day, it dries them out and leaves them very brittle. However, when the night is humid, the stark contrast can cause the decomposition of materials.
This fluctuation (more marked in extremely high temperatures) also causes the roofing materials to expand and contract thermally.
Generally, this fluctuation is awful for roofing materials and may cause them to fail sooner than expected.
Excessive Heat
In most climates, the sunniest months present constant and excessive heat. It’s hard to think of any living or synthetic material not damaged by extreme heat, and your asphalt shingles are certainly one of them.
You may not notice excessive heat damage until winter, when leaks become apparent. That’s because extreme UV damage can cause the asphalt shingles to become brittle and move upwards at the edges.
These effects may not cause roofing problems when the weather is warm and dry, but when it starts raining and snowing, it can cause leaks.
There are a couple of ways you can protect your roof against excessive heat:
- Proper Ventilation: Properly ventilated roofs can help keep your roof cool. However, it would be best to pump cool air into these upper building portions to help the shingles retain as much moisture as possible in the hot sun.
- Roofing Inspections: Inspecting or hiring a professional to inspect your roof before the summer months can save you from a world of trouble.
UV Damage
The layers of materials that comprise asphalt shingles are gradually degraded by UV radiation, among other factors, which causes the asphalt to degenerate and introduces structural vulnerability.
In essence, UV rays cause oxidative damage that changes the molecular structure of the shingles, often resulting in the breakdown of the materials that protect the shingles and the roof.
Such deterioration can eventually cause the protective granules to fall off, exposing the underlayers. It can also cause the shingles to dry out and start to crack.
Dryness is a severe problem, too, because shingles are continually bombarded with UV rays, whether the sun is out or not.
Apart from using special shingles with high UV resistance, there isn’t much you can do to combat this problem. But, as always, frequent inspections can prevent more significant issues.
Another option is to use a different roofing material on your residential or commercial property, especially if you live in a sweltering climate.
Weakened Shingles
Granule loss is one of the most common problems with asphalt shingles. The granules on the shingle’s top layer protect it and make it resilient.
However, excessive UV radiation and dry conditions can cause granule loss by drying out the shingle and robbing it of its protective oils and moisture.
When this happens, the shingles weaken and become vulnerable, leading to splits and cracks that may expose the underlayers of your roof.
Again, you will not notice this kind of damage in the summer unless you regularly inspect your roof.
However, it can cause many problems in the winter, including roof leaks, shingle warping, and even roof warping.
How to Address UV Ray Damage for Asphalt Shingles
Whether you are a contractor or home/business owner, it’s crucial to take action as soon as you see:
- Warped shingles
- Curled shingles
- Cracked shingles
- Missing shingles
- Shingles with noticeable granule loss
You must address the symptoms of sun damage as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration of the shingles.
Over time, this can lead to leaks, moisture intrusion, mold growth, and even structural damage to the roof deck.
The most common solutions are replacing damaged shingles and upgrading to a new roofing system that is more resilient in intense heat.
