3 Ways to Protect Your Roof From Heat Damage

Given that daily temperatures in Queensland average up to 30°C throughout the year, it may surprise you that many roofs in the state aren’t built to withstand high heat. Harsh sun rays and hot weather can have a wide array of adverse effects on your roof, from cracking the tiles to bleaching and damaging the coating.

Thankfully, there are several ways to protect your roof from high heat and keep it in great condition for years to come. Here are three you should try.

1. Get your roof cleaned

While it may sound surprising, keeping your roof clean throughout the year will go a long way in protecting it from heat damage.  

Many homeowners face algae growth on their roofs. Algae spores make their way onto rooftops through rain and wind, and if the problem is not tackled early, they can quickly grow out of control. Roof algae are typically black in colour, and it can leave stains even after it dies.

Alongside giving your home an unsightly and unclean appearance, these black algae absorb a lot more sunlight than your roof typically would. In turn, this makes your roof far more susceptible to cracking, warping, and other forms of heat damage. Thankfully, professional cleaners can make light work of algae, removing it with specialist pressure washing equipment before it harms your roof tiles.

2. Paint your roof 

Fancy giving your home’s exterior a new, revamped appearance? If so, consider painting your roof a lighter colour or using our Supa Cool product. Alongside brightening and modernising your curb appeal, it can also protect you from heat damage.

While black and dark tones absorb more sunlight (and therefore, more heat), on the opposite end of the spectrum, white reflects heat. As such, a lighter roof paint can drastically reduce how hot your roof gets—particularly if you have metal roofing, which conducts even more heat than other materials.

As well as being durable, Supa Cool has the inbuilt flexibility to cope with rapidly changing roof surface temperatures throughout the day. Supa Cool is our heat reflecting roof membrane coating system. Specially engineered pigments used in Supa Cool cut down the amount of light absorbed by the roof surface by reflecting infrared light back into the atmosphere instead of converting it to heat. Less heat means a cooler home.

All in all, a cooler roof means less risk of heat damage, and you’ll never have to worry about a white roof getting colour-bleached by the sun. As an added bonus, this will also keep the interior of your house cooler, reducing your need for expensive air conditioning.

3. Be proactive about repairs

Naturally, even if you reduce your risk of heat damage with white paint and regular cleaning, it’s hard to eliminate that risk entirely. That’s why proactive maintenance and repairs are so important.

The quicker you spot and repair early signs of heat damage, the less likely you are to face serious complications. A professional roofing repair company will be able to replace any decayed or cracked tiles on your roof before they lead to leaks, structural weakening and other consequences.

If you have sheet roofing, a repair team can secure and tighten the screws and bolts to help correct warping caused by heat damage. They may also be able to repair cracks and other small, targeted areas of damage without the need to replace your whole roof.

While many homeowners tend to avoid spending money on roof repairs, the truth is that they’ll save you a lot of money in the long run. If you ignore heat damage until it’s too late, not only will you run the risk of needing to replace your roof completely, but also the rest of your house could face costly damage as a result. 

If you’re ready to protect your roof from the beautiful but harsh Australian sun, get in touch with us at Homestyle Roof Painters. Our experienced team can provide expert, tailored cleaning, painting, and repair services in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and Caboolture, helping to extend the lifespan of your roof for years to come.