Being a new homeowner can be very exciting. After all, you finally have a place that you can call your own. That said, many beginner homeowners may not be aware of everything that goes into maintaining their home, and a big part of this is the roof.
The roof might just be one of the most important components of any house, because it is what keeps the rain and snow off of your head. Without a good roof, the rest of your home will fall apart, so knowing what threats your roof faces is essential.
Today, we want to take a quick look at five of the biggest roof perils that you need to be aware of in the summer. The summertime poses some fairly big threats to your roof, and you need to know what they are.
5 Summertime Roof Perils to Be Aware Of
Below are the five biggest threats to your roof in the summertime that you need to keep a vigilant eye out for.1. Rodents & Insects
Animals of all sorts can cause serious damage to your roof, and even worse, get in your home and infest your whole space. Rodents, particularly rats, squirrels, and mice, have a tendency to chew holes through roofs and make homes inside of your attic. There are also many insects which may take up residence in or around your roof, including hornets, bees, termites, ants, and more. Always keep a vigilant eye out for these intruders so you can take care of them before they cause serious damage.2. Moss and Algae Growth
Moss and algae growth are particularly big problems in very moist climates. Algae, lichen, and moss often grow when there is excess moisture, and interestingly enough, they lead to an excessive buildup of moisture. Moss particularly grows in what resembles a carpet, which therefore absorbs a lot of moisture every time it rains. This can then lead to your roof leaking, to excess weight on the roof, and to a damaged roof. If you notice green or bluish growths on your shingles, chances are that you have an algae or moss problem.3. Excess Moisture & Poor Ventilation
Related to the above point, excess moisture in general is a serious threat to your roof. If your roof collects water, it will eventually make its way into the wood, and down into your attic. This can cause serious structural damage to your roof and to everything below. The best case scenario is that it causes a leak in your roof, and the worst case is that it causes serious rotting and a collapse of the whole structure. Related to this is poor ventilation, because if your attic is not well ventilated, all of that moisture can build up and start to seep into the building materials.
4. Storm Damage
Storm damage caused by powerful summer storms is always something to look out for. If you notice very heavy wind and rain at any point, you should always inspect the roof after to see if there are any damaged sections. Structural beams, the shingles, and the plywood underneath should all be inspected in whatever way possible to ensure that they are not damaged. Any damaged sections should be repaired.5. Cracked and Broken Shingles
The winter can be really brutal in some places, and those cold temperatures combined with extreme weather can cause damage to shingles. Shingles may be cracked or missing when you go to check in the spring or summer. Any and all damaged or missing shingles need to be repaired and replaced.Final Thoughts
If you keep a close eye on all of the factors we talked about above, keeping your roof in great condition should not be a big challenge.
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