How Geography Affects Your Roofing
Nov 14, 2019
There are many reasons why people choose to live in Florida and to live in the specific place where their home is located. Roofing typically is not among those reasons, and yet, geography can have a pronounced effect on your roof.
To help better prepare for roof repairs and, ultimately, roof replacement, you need to understand how climate, geography, and weather take a toll on your roof. Here are the basics of how geography and roofing interact.
Roofing Dangers In Coastal Areas
If your Florida home is located very close to the sea, which is not uncommon in a state surrounded on three sides by water!, then there are several special dangers that can affect your roofing.First, your shingles are more likely to be ripped off by a hurricane or to simply be bend back by strong sea breezes over the years. Second, the salty sea air can be detrimental to shingles over time – but especially to metal roofs since they can rust. This should obviously affect your choice of roofing material. Third, coastal zones tend to get hit with more rain than inland Florida does, which increases the risks of water damage.
If your Florida home is located very close to the sea, which is not uncommon in a state surrounded on three sides by water!, then there are several special dangers that can affect your roofing.First, your shingles are more likely to be ripped off by a hurricane or to simply be bend back by strong sea breezes over the years. Second, the salty sea air can be detrimental to shingles over time – but especially to metal roofs since they can rust. This should obviously affect your choice of roofing material. Third, coastal zones tend to get hit with more rain than inland Florida does, which increases the risks of water damage.
Trees Or Lack Of Them Affect Roofs
Those who live in a wooded area or in the hills where they get a lot of shade often have roofs that suffer from fungus, mold, mildew, or algae build-up. This does not really damage the shingles, but it certainly makes them look bad. Cleaning it up with some bleach water may be the solution, but if you aren’t comfortable walking the rooftop, consider having a pro do the job for you.On the other hand, if your home is out in the open, with little shade, UV light and excessive heat can take their toll on shingles over the years.
Those who live in a wooded area or in the hills where they get a lot of shade often have roofs that suffer from fungus, mold, mildew, or algae build-up. This does not really damage the shingles, but it certainly makes them look bad. Cleaning it up with some bleach water may be the solution, but if you aren’t comfortable walking the rooftop, consider having a pro do the job for you.On the other hand, if your home is out in the open, with little shade, UV light and excessive heat can take their toll on shingles over the years.
Hilltop Homes Get More Wind Damage
The view from a hilltop is a great reason to build your home there, but hilltops are windy if anything. And the wind is one of the most common causes of roofing damage.Shingles may be blown off, dangling by a corner, loose though still in place, curled, bent, or broken off. Metal flashing is also often ripped out of place by strong Floridian wind storms – be they hurricanes, tornadoes, or just severe thunderstorms.
The view from a hilltop is a great reason to build your home there, but hilltops are windy if anything. And the wind is one of the most common causes of roofing damage.Shingles may be blown off, dangling by a corner, loose though still in place, curled, bent, or broken off. Metal flashing is also often ripped out of place by strong Floridian wind storms – be they hurricanes, tornadoes, or just severe thunderstorms.
Dangers To All Or None
There are some roof dangers that don’t affect homes in Florida, like ice dams or snow load collapse. And hail damage exists but isn’t too common.
Other types of roof damage, like roof leaks, problems resulting from poor installation, or an old, worn-down roof showing its age by having almost constant need of repairs can affect all homeowners.
By choosing top-rated shingles and a reliable, local roofing contractor, you can avert many potential problems and get longer service out of your roof before roof replacement becomes necessary. For prompt help with all roof repairs or re-roofing needs in Central Florida, contact Sheegog Contracting today!
