What Makes a Roof Suitable for the Gulf Coast Climate?
By Stacy MelleteRoof replacement in Clearwater Florida is nothing to scoff at so it’s natural for homeowners to seek out the best option available to them. Ask any roofing expert and they’ll tell you to pick a roofing material that would suit your home’s needs, but what does this mean for someone living in the Gulf Coast?
Unlike other parts of the United States, the Gulf Coast has a relatively harsh climate. Hurricanes occur frequently, meaning roofs are in for a lot of beating. If you’re living in the area then, you’re going to need a roof that can endure whatever the elements will bring.
This means getting a roof built for endurance boasting of the following features:
Water Resistance
Leaks cause problems for residential roofs in Clearwater FL everywhere but more so in areas that see a lot of rain like the Gulf Coast. As such, a roof for a home in the area must tough enough to not just weather through any kind of downpour but also withstand the effects of moisture exposure like rot, mold, and rust.
Wind Resistance
Hurricanes bring winds strong enough to easily knock off a roof panel or two. Typically, this means getting a roof with heft to keep it in place but more than just heavy roofing material, you should look for roofing material rated to withstand high winds.
Proper installation also factors into improving a roof’s wind resistance as it ensures roofing material is securely fastened.
Heat Resistance
While the Gulf Coast sees a lot of rain, it also has more than its fair share of sunny days. And when the sun is out, it’s really out, which means it can get very hot in the area. You need a roof then with high heat resistance, one that won’t crack, bend, or warp when the temperature rises.
Other Important Features
Some residential roofs in Clearwater FL require too much maintenance to stay functional, and you can’t have something like that in an area with a harsh climate. Aside from convenience, another benefit a low-maintenance roofing material brings is savings. Each task comes at a price, after all, so the less you have to carry out means the less you have to spend. Should roofing problems crop up (as they generally do eventually), you’ll also find that roofing material that’s easy to repair will be an advantage.
Given these criteria, what roofing options then are best for the Gulf Coast area? Head on over to Part 2 of this blog series to learn more about one of them – stone-coated roofing.