Sometimes when the weather is not ideal, you may have to step out and temporarily fix a leak. Depending on your location, you may have access to 24-hour repair services. In other cases, you may have to take steps to protect the roof from harsh weather.
Different from repair, sometimes the best way to get around storm damage in Utah is to have the right roof for the right weather. Many homeowners do not know to consider their locality and what the weather conditions there will mean for their roof.
The following are things to bear in mind when choosing roofs for different weather conditions:
Summer rain or snow
If you live in a place where it snows often, you may consider pitched roofs. These are the kinds of roofs you see as you get near a structure. This system is suitable for snow and rain as they will slide off the roof into the gutters and lower the risks of damaging the ceiling and the home foundation.
Many materials may be used in making pitched roofs such as wood shake, shingles, slate, metal or tile. Areas, where heavy snow accumulates, are better served by metal roofs because other material will damage due to extended contact with ice.
There will be other factors to consider such as the size of the building, but metal will generally be painted aluminum, steel, zinc, or copper. When you pick a pitched roofing system, be sure to think about durability. For instance, a number 30 felt will be perfect for metal and tile underlayment, but sometimes synthetic material may offer a longer life.
Strong winds or heavy rain
If you live in an area where strong winds often accompany heavy rainfall, you may consider a flat roof or a pitched one. If the roof is pitched, water will drain rapidly. The flipside is that strong winds can strip away the roofing material. Worse still, the roof could detach and uplift.
As for a flat roof, if it is installed properly, it will hold in strong winds. However, flat roofs are prone to leakage. They need annual inspections and proper maintenance to help your building survive. For heavy rains, the material of the roof will also make a vast difference.
With pitched roofs, shingles are ideal as they are water resistant. However, shingles have no waterproof properties, and so the roof has to have a steep slope. Metal may be a suitable pick as well. For flat roofing systems, PVC or TPO is good material options. They offer additional benefits such as soundproofing and insulation.
Summer storms or dry heat
Desert climates do well with flat or pitched roofs. However, one must consider the possibility of a thermal shock. This occurs when a sun-exposed roof becomes wet. The rain draws heat from the material, making it shrink. Rapid cooling can lead to cracking. When temperatures drop fast, the roofing system can receive severe stress.
Whatever the weather conditions in your locality, be sure to talk with your installers in depth. There are standard roofing materials. For example, sun and heat damage may affect organic roofs more than other roofing material, and so one has to make accommodations for regular maintenance.
