Environmental Factors
How does normal weathering affect your roof?
The natural aging process begins as soon as the shingles are installed on your roof. Day after day, the shingles are exposed to the elements—sun, rain, heat and cold. Your roof never has a “good” day.
The sun’s rays are relentless and exposes your roof to ultraviolet radiation, which ages of the asphalt layers of the shingle quickly. If not for the protective layer of colored granules, roofing shingles would fail very quickly. Other factors such as moisture, pollution and physical effects (roof traffic, hail, snow loads, tree limbs, etc.) all contribute to the aging and degradation of your roofing shingles.
Weather Impacts
Seasonal and weather changes also play a role in the aging of asphalt roofing shingles. For example, in one day a roof reach 160°F from the intense heat of the summer sun. Then the rooftop temperature can drop to 60-100°F during a summer rain shower. Thermal shocks such as this cause the roof deck beneath to expand and contract, placing a strain on the shingles. Year after year this process is repeated, resulting in cyclic fatigue of the shingles.
Internal Effects from Weather
Internal factors can also negatively affect roofing shingles. Research has confirmed that an improperly ventilated air space inhibits air movement, and increasing moisture content in comparison with properly vented attic air spaces. Heat shortens the shingles’ life and moisture causes deck movement and/or deterioration, which ultimately affects the performance of shingles.
As you can see, the roofing environment is a hostile one with many factors influencing the longevity of your roofing shingles.
