Heat and humidity can have negative impacts on your roof. The constant exposure it has to the sun causes the temperature inside it to rise. This forces your air conditioning to work harder. As the humidity increases, it becomes even more challenging to cool your house. When you notice that the inside of your home has become more challenging to cool, it could be a sign that you are in need of roof repair. When you keep a well-maintained roof and ensure it is constructed of high-quality materials, your roof has a typical lifespan of 20-30 years. Here's what to know about the different roofing problems.

Problems Caused by Heat

Extreme heat impacts the support beams, joists, wood roof rafters, and decking of the roof. The heat causes these parts of the roof to expand, stretch, break and crack. When this happens, water can seep into your house, which can cause problems with mildew and mold. In addition, the heat may cause the nails in the shingles to pop while the shingles shrink and curl. This may also cause weak spots on the roof. All of these problems can lead to requiring roof repair.

Problems Caused by Humidity

Moisture caused by humidity damages your roof and the materials used to create the structure of your roof. The moisture gets trapped in the crawl space or attic. It then becomes condensation which leads to mold on the joists and rafters. This moisture leads to weakened plywood sheathing and wood rot. This moisture causes the layers to separate.

How to Protect Your Roof

When you need roof repair and live in a hot climate, the material for your roof makes a difference in how much light it absorbs. The more sunlight it absorbs, the more heat that comes into your house. While insulating the attic will help, it does not entirely stop the heat from coming into the house.

Consider a Metal Roof

When in need of roof repair, consider a metal roof. It reflects more light than other roof materials. One of the biggest myths about a metal roof is that it is a wrong choice to keep your house cool. On the contrary, a metal roof reflects more light making it ideal for helping to keep a home cool.

Now that you know how heat and humidity can cause problems with your roof, you'll be better prepared to mitigate against them and to seek roof repair. Consult with roofers today to learn more and to schedule an appointment.