How does Singapore’s heat affect your roof?
As Singaporeans, we are all too familiar with the heat and humidity that comes with living in this tropical country. While it’s great for our skin, it can be tough on our homes – especially our roofs! Heat exposure is one of the biggest threats to roofing materials and can cause them to age prematurely or even fail completely.
Heat exposure wears the material down
Some of the top factors of wearing your roof material down are high heat exposure at a constant rate from the sun. In the long run, this continuous heat exposure results in vulnerability to your roof shingles. Especially when persistent highs of 35 degrees Celsius from the sun shines down directly on your shingled roof, the heat absorbed into it leads to increased vulnerability of your roof over the years. This is mostly caused by the protective oils of your roof shingles drying out, leading to brittleness that weakens the lifespan of your roof.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun reduces your roof’s lifespan
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are one of the most damaging natural elements to roofing materials. UV rays break down the asphalt in shingles, causing them to become dry and brittle. They can also fade and deteriorate other roofing materials like wood, metal, or slate. In a tropical climate like Singapore, we experience the threat of UV rays all year round even on cloudy days, as sunlight is able to penetrate your roofs through clouds even on overcast days. This means that your roof is constantly exposed to UV rays and slowly breaking down over time, causing your roof’s shingles to buckle, peel, and split as time passes.
Thermal shock affects the structural integrity
Thermal shock occurs when your roof experiences abrupt changes in temperature. As temperatures rise in the hot summer afternoon and quickly cool when the evening sets in, thermal shock arises when roofing materials expand and contract in this short amount of time. The sudden flux in temperature creates tension and a shorter lifespan for the roofing materials, resulting in the weakening of your roof’s structural integrity that could pose the threat of a warped or split roof.
Singapore’s humidity may accelerate mould growth on your roof
In our island home of Singapore, the constant presence of high humidity also plays a part in the deterioration of your roof materials. When there is an excessive amount of moisture in the air, it can lead to mould or mildew growth on organic materials like wood and asphalt shingles. Not only does this affect the aesthetic value of your home, but it can also cause long-term damage to your roof by deteriorating the materials and causing them to rot. Hence, it is important to be mindful of the heat and humidity exposure that your roof faces on a daily basis in Singapore.
What are the best ways to protect your roof from Singapore’s heat?
Fortunately, there are some measures that you can take to protect your roof from the harsh heat exposure, high temperatures, and humidity in Singapore. Below, we explore several ways that you can take to ensure ease of mind living under a healthy roof!
Add a layer of insulation to your roof
One way to reduce heat exposure and protect your roof is to add a layer of insulation. This helps to reflect the heat away from your roof and keeps the temperature inside your home cooler. In addition, insulation also helps to keep the heat from escaping, which can save you money on energy bills. Most Singaporean houses have a large space under the roof and above their ceilings that serve as an attic space. By installing insulation there, high and low temperatures are regulated by reducing heat from travelling through your roof shingles too often, thus minimising the strain on your roof shingles.
Provide ample shade to your roofs from the sun through roof coating
Dark-coloured materials absorb more heat than light-coloured materials. This means that if you are looking to replace your roof or build a new home, you should consider using lighter coloured shingles or roofing materials. This will help to reflect the heat away from your roof and keep your home cooler. In a hot and humid climate like Singapore, the act of deflecting sunlight proves beneficial in the long run for warmer weather. Light-coloured shingles also serve a dual purpose of keeping your house cooler by reflecting heat away from your house.
With their expertise and experience, they can help you choose the right materials and products that will suit your roofing needs. They can also give you tips on how to properly maintain your roof to ensure its longevity.
Ventilation is a key element
Roof ventilation is important to extend the lifespan of your roof. Not only does it reduce energy costs, but it also aids in reducing indoor temperatures, introducing a less humid climate within the comforts of your own home. As the temperature slowly rises on the outside in the daytime, a properly vented roof allows for heat to escape from within the house to outside, keeping the interior cool for you and prolonging the lifespan of your roof shingles. This also saves you energy costs as you would not need to turn on the air conditioner with cooler temperatures in your house!
Click here to know more about how NASAX can help you to protect your roof from Singapore’s heat
Discover how you can protect your roof!
There are many ways that you can take to protect your roof from the harsh heat and humidity exposure in Singapore. By taking measures to add insulation, utilising light-coloured materials, ventilating your roof, or providing shading through roof coating, you can ensure that your roof lasts for a longer period of time! Of course, nothing beats having a professional come down to your house to do a thorough and proper analysis of your roof to determine exactly what your roof needs.
