Insulate the Attic
“
Insulation in the attic
is very important,” Feller says, to protect your roof from trapped heat within your home. Laying insulation on the attic floor keeps your house cooler. But to protect the roof itself, it’s more important to insulate the underside of the roof decking. She suggests spray foam for this.
Spray foam stops heat from moving through the roof decking to the roofing material. Additionally, it helps keep both the attic and the entire house at a lower temperature.
Nonetheless, Feller highlights a significant drawback of spray foam: It complicates the detection of leaks. Water usually follows a path through the insulation and roofing deck, so the spot where it ultimately drops into the attic might be quite distant from the real leakage point.
Ventilate the Attic
Each attic requires proper ventilation to stop excess warmth from accumulating and causing issues. Usually, this can be achieved through basic natural air circulation.
ventilation
The system comprises intake vents located at the bottom part of the attic, typically in the soffits, along with exhaust vents positioned at the topmost section, generally near the ridge.
Fresh air enters via the intake vents, then ascends, heats up, and escapes through the exhaust vents. According to Feller, this natural airflow is sufficient to maintain a cooler temperature in the attic and under the roofing material.
Steep-sloped roofs might not have enough vertical space for effective natural convection and could advantageously use active ventilation instead. Installing one or multiple exhaust fans within the roof structure or positioned in the gables can enhance air movement significantly.
Keep the Vents Clear
Simply putting in attic vents isn’t sufficient; you have to ensure that air flows through them. Homeowners often install vents but neglect to guarantee proper airflow.
soffits,
Then obstruct them when putting in insulation on the floor. Feller suggests, “Simply crawl out there and open up the vents.” She notes this task is not only scorching, tiring, and messy, but also necessary for ensuring proper airflow.
When you’re up there at the attic’s far end, it’s wise to put in place
baffles
Above the soffit vents, install them using staples to attach either cardboard or styrene material to the bottom side of the roof structure. Ensure one edge shields the vent from drifting insulation. These installations facilitate airflow towards the roof vents efficiently.
Paint the Roof
This was an unlikely proposal I made during our discussion, and I anticipated Feller would reject it. However, she approved of it as a sound concept. An elastic material that is white in color.
roof
The coating reflects sunlight and effectively maintains a cooler roof, as long as you apply several layers of it.
right product
.
The issue? “It looks unsightly on a pitched roof,” she explains. “Although you can color it to improve its appearance, it shouldn’t be too dark.”
Beiges and soft tones on the rooftop might complement certain design concepts, though they aren’t widely applicable. Should your roof have a shallow pitch and remain largely unseen from below, the choice of hue becomes less critical; hence, an elastomeric coating could serve as an ideal solution.
Create Shade Using Solar Panels
Consider planting several quick-growing trees near your home; after about a decade, they’ll shield your roof from sunlight. However, most individuals require a faster fix for this issue.
solar panels
provide one.
In order to produce electricity, rooftop solar panels must be oriented towards the sun, which also happens to be the section needing the greatest safeguarding. These panels capture much of the thermal energy that would typically penetrate the roofing material and enter the attic space, converting this warmth into electrical power that you can either utilize yourself or supply back to the utility provider. This arrangement benefits not only you but also your roof structure as well as the overall power network.
FAQs
What signs indicate that a roof has sustained damage due to high temperatures?
Heat-damaged roofs frequently exhibit curled or warped shingles. These may appear bent with a concave form, or their edges might lift upwards when the tar melts and alters the shingle’s structure under high temperatures. Additionally, inspect your gutters and runoff from downspouts following rainfall; finding roofing granules here indicates an aged roof, which—if occurring prematurely—might point to heat damage. Furthermore, blisters, bulges, and fissures can emerge on shingles subjected to severe heat or insufficiently ventilated attics.
Do I need to hire a roof inspector after a period of high heat?
It’s a good idea to have your roof inspected every few years anyway, but it may be particularly wise after a period of high heat. This will depend on your typical local climate, as well as the material and age of your roof. Asphalt shingle roofs are most susceptible to heat damage, so if you have an aging asphalt roof, it would be a good idea to hire a roof inspector after a spell of intense high temperatures.
About the Expert
-
Ami Feller is the founder and owner of
Roofer Chicks
, a comprehensive roofing company located in New Braunfels, Texas, and among the few all-women roofing teams across the United States. Besides this, Ami serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity, has received coverage in numerous magazines and journals, and stands as a respected authority in her field.
