As southwest Florida endures extended drought conditions, Bradenton roofing companies are on the lookout for related damage.
Our Florida weather has a hard-won reputation for heat and humidity, heavy rains and (sometimes) raging winds. And with those conditions, homeowners tend to have two primary worries when it comes to their roofs: leaks and insulation.
Of course, as professional Bradenton roofing contractors, we understand that the local weather has even more threats up its sleeve. And drought conditions are a significant risk that too many people overlook.
As Bradenton and Sarasota continue to endure a drought that is taxing our inland waterways and turning our lush landscapes into fire hazards, we wanted to take this opportunity to talk a little more about what your roof is going through in these conditions.
Why Bradenton Roofs are Vulnerable to Droughts
There’s nothing wrong with worrying about leaks. It’s true, they’re a major source of home damage. And it’s also true that, even though it’s dry now, the Florida rains will no doubt return, and return with a vengeance.
That being said, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of, “Well, at least when it’s dry, I don’t have to worry about my roof.”
Homeowners focus so much on making their roofs waterproof that they fail to recognize the other ways they need to worry about the elements. Ask any roofing contractor in Bradenton or Sarasota and they’ll tell you straight up: These dry spells do damage, too.
How Do Droughts Damage Bradenton Roofs
While we look up and see gorgeous blue skies, our roofs are having a different experience. Droughts aren’t just about a lack of rain; it’s lack of moisture. Without our typical levels of humidity in the air, the various components of our roof are at risk.
Roofing materials: First and foremost, your roofing material suffers in this dry air—especially if you’ve got asphalt shingles. This popular material is fantastic at interacting with Florida moisture. In fact, humidity and shingles almost have a symbiotic relationship—so much so that when you take the humidity away, the shingles begin to degrade. And that’s not just shortening their lifespan in the long-run; drought causes shingles to shrink, shift, curl and even crack. Those are big problems, no matter the weather.
Crumbling mastic and sealants: Under and around your roofing materials, mastic and silicone sealants ensure a tight seal around any joints, flashing, and other roofing features. But in a drought, these materials totally lose their vital flexibility and become brittle instead. Have you ever seen old caulk that’s starting to crack and shrink away from its seams? That’s could be currently happening on your roof.
Shifting foundations: Florida’s natural sandy surface makes for a tricky building base in the best of times. A drought can make this surface unusually dry, causing it to shift in ways your home wasn’t built for. A shifting home immediately makes for a vulnerable roof.
The Ultimate Threat: Florida’s Big Weather Shifts
The real reason we overlook drought damage is that, unlike a major leak, we don’t notice it happening. At least, not right away…
When you run a roofing company in Bradenton, you get used to people saying, “My roof was fine, and then it started raining and boom! A leak!” Let me tell you, that leak was building this whole time. If we had some mild rain year-round, a lot of roofs would actually be a lot better off.
But that’s not Florida. Our roofs that are currently shrinking and cracking during this drought will soon be exposed to our typical summer deluge. Not only will that uncover all the damage that’s happened over recent months, but it will exacerbate it. Dry, shrunken materials will suddenly absorb moisture and swell. Things will swing all the way back in the other direction.
This is why regular roof inspections in Bradenton are so vital. Dry weather is not safe weather. As beautiful as this area is, we put our roofs through a lot–even when the skies are blue.
