Your roof is tasked with protecting your home so it takes on the brunt of the abuse that elements bring throughout the year. Roofs are generally built to last but roofing materials are typically designed to specifically address certain weather conditions. In the case of a humid continental climate, that means putting up with large differences in seasonal temperatures characterized by oppressive humidity during summer and bitter coldness when it’s winter.
The Importance of Adaptability
Unless you’re living in the polar regions, it’s natural for your home to deal with different kinds of weather. A humid continental climate sets itself apart from the rest by bringing extreme versions of two different weather conditions. Add in the fact that weather events are becoming increasingly erratic and your roof is in for a bigger challenge. That is unless you’re using roofing material that can easily adapt to dramatic shifts in temperature, allowing it to temper the effects of a humid continental climate to keep damage at bay as much as possible.
Effects on Roofing Systems
Aside from the hot and often-humid summers and severely cold winters, an area with a humid continental climate brings also usually deals with spring seasons marked by thunderstorms and tornadoes. This means strong winds that have the tendency to pull off roofs and a great amount of rain that increases risks for leaks so it is best to get a roof that can handle these problems well.
Flat roofs, for instance, can be torn off by high winds so sloped roofing might be the better option for you. It will still be threatened by strong winds and massive rains but a sloped roof has lower risks of succumbing to the elements because of how it is constructed and the materials it uses. If a sloped roof also has a wide overhang and a reliable gutter system, added protection is provided for walls and siding as well.
Your roof goes through a lot. Help it fare better by choosing the right roofing materials for a humid continental climate. Head on over to the next part to learn more.
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