How the Effects of Climate Change are Causing Rapid Roof Deterioration in Florida Homes
Only days ago, tropical storm Elsa swept the shores of the Mexico Gulf Coast, battering the homes and landscapes in several Florida cities and counties. Roofers in Tampa Bay are warning residents that summer is that time of year when all sorts of natural disasters happen in just a short span of time. Harsh weather conditions from searing summer heat, to the torrential downpours of rain and hail, as well as the accompanying strong winds wreak brutal havoc to the roofs of homes and buildings.
Actually, the worsening effects of climate change are happening not only in Florida but in several countries across the globe. Whether or not homeowners believe in what climate scientists have to say, they should pay heed to what professional roofers are saying, on how the different weather elements and conditions can cause the rapid deterioration of a building’s roofing.
Different Weather Elements and Conditions Cause Gradual Damages to Roofs
Moisture and Changes in Temperature
Bear in mind that moisture from rain or snow as the case may be, affects the wooden decking underneath the shingles. Primarily because wood material tends to expand in reaction to heat, only to contract upon cooling. These reactions causes a strain on the shingles and the movements can cause tiles to loosen and break gradually.
However, the environment in Florida nowadays is extremely different as sudden changes in weather conditions and temperature are happening more frequently than before in a span of one year. Why wait until heavy rains or until balls of ice pummel the roof. At worst, weakened shingles can easily be blown away by an implacable hurricane.
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Hail Stones, Large or Small Cause Roof Damage
Hail stones as huge as softballs have become common but even those as small as marbles have caused roof damages. All the pummeling can form craters on tile shingles or create weak spots on the asphalt types. Both occurrences can compromise the integrity of roof structures.
High Winds Deliver the Blows that Can Ultimately Destroy Roofings
Extreme and ultra-strong weather disturbances come with high winds and these elements are frightening because the intensity of their strength can cause greater damages to roofs and to the building itself. Once the high winds dislodge roof shingles by lifting the corners, the loosened tiles serve as openings that create passages through which the rush of rain water passes in entering a building or home.
Effects of Acid Rain on Roofs
Sudden downpours are common in Florida due to the region’s proximity to the Mexico Gulf Coast. While the frequent rains may seem less harmful than the major storms, the rain water that falls on the roof are droplets of acid rain precipitated from the ocean, which today has been highly acidified due to various pollutants.
Acid rain gradually eats away parts of the roof, specifically those covered with asphalt shingles. Deteriorations are manifested by way of stains, curling blisters and/or cracks. The resulting damage is gradual but it can hasten the aging process or shorten the lifespan of asphalt tiles once other weather elements cause additional harms.
How Extreme Heat Cause Roof Degradation
Intense heat waves are also common in Florida, but for longer periods. The more frequent heat waves occur, the more likely for asphalt shingles to dry out and turn brittle. Even thunderstorms on hot summer days can cause roof temperatures to rise, which when followed by a down poor cause the temperature to immediately drop. The frequency of such processes in Florida have caused a lot of disappointment for homeowners who chose asphalt shingles because their lifespan rating is up to 20 years.
However, as the effects of climate change have been frequently manifested in Florida and other states near the Mexico Gulf Coast, the life expectancy of the asphalt shingles installed in most Florida homes have been reduced to 10 years at the most.
