Maintaining your roofing shingles, especially under diverse climate conditions like those in Kerala, can be challenging. However, with a little knowledge and routine care, you can keep your roof looking great and performing well for years. Hard to believe? But it’s true! This guide makes it much easier to maintain and keep your roofing shingles in top condition.
As you may already know, Kerala is not only famous for its lush landscapes and coastal beaches but also its heavy rainfall and intense summers. These extreme weather conditions make it essential for roofing shingles to be both durable and visually appealing. That’s why regular roof maintenance is crucial. One of the main reasons for maintaining your roofing shingles is to prevent wear and tear.
Kerala’s heavy monsoon rains and high humidity during summer can take a toll on your roof, gradually causing damage over time. Understanding how these factors affect your shingles and learning preventive measures can help keep your roofing strong and aesthetically pleasing for years.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about maintaining your roofing shingles—from effective cleaning techniques to essential preventive measures—so you can ensure your roof remains in excellent shape.
Roofing shingles are one of the go-to options for many homeowners in Kerala. One of the core reasons why roofing shingles are so popular is their high affordability, durability, performance, and visual appeal. However, Kerala’s unique climate can be tough on shingle roofs.
Below are some key factors that affect roofing shingles in Kerala:
In monsoon, Kerala experiences abundant rainfall, which often leads to flooding. This heavy rainfall often lasts for months, and with constant exposure to moisture, your shingles can weaken, ultimately leading them to loosen, curl, or even break. What’s more, if water seeps between the shingles by any chance, it can lead to moisture buildup, resulting in leaks and mould.
Kerala’s year-round humidity can cause shingles to retain moisture, which could end in algae or moss growth, resulting in an unappealing appearance. If these green patches are left for a long period, it could damage the roofing surface, leading to more complex roofing issues.
Many houses in Kerala are located near coastal areas; thus, there is high exposure to salty and humid air. According to the report online, salt can be corrosive and speed up shingles’ wear and tear; it weakens the protective layers of shingles, which causes them to become brittle and easily breakable under external pressure.
Besides, long exposure to UV rays and intense heat can easily cause shingles to dry out, which means their colour can fade over some time quickly, thus making them look grimy. Not to forget, this can even lead to leaks and further damage during the rainy season.
In the rainy season, Kerala also experiences occasional storms and strong winds; because of this, your roofing shingles get loosened up, or in some cases, shingles are lifted or moved out of their original place, which could cause water to sweep inside the house.
Understanding these factors can help homeowners proactively maintain their shingle roofs and ensure their longevity in Kerala’s challenging climate.
By now, you likely understand why roofing maintenance is crucial, especially in Kerala, where extreme climate conditions—high humidity, heavy monsoon rains, strong winds, and intense sunlight—can cause shingles to degrade faster. To help you avoid potential issues, here are some key signs that indicate your roofing shingles need repair or replacement, along with tips on identifying core roofing problems quickly and easily.
Why: Kerala undergoes extreme weather conditions in both monsoon and summers. There is a high chance of your roofing shingles being damaged under these conditions, especially during the rainy season. So, after the prolonged rain, inspect your roofing shingles and see if there is any sign of roofing damage or if there are any roofing shingles that end up being curled, missing, or lifted.
Solution: The best way to identify this issue is to first look for any signs of water damage, including dark spots, soft areas or stains on the ceiling indoors; all of these areas are more prone to damage during heavy rain.
Why: Kerala is prone to intense summers, and this high humidity is the perfect condition for moss and algae to thrive. These organisms often survive under high humidity, causing your roofing shingle to become vulnerable and fragile.
Solution: Inspect your roofing shingles for green, black, or dark patches. If you notice any signs of algae or moss, clean the affected areas using a mixture of water and bleach or a specialized mould detergent. Additionally, consider installing zinc or copper strips along the roofline to prevent future algae growth.
Why: Kerala also experiences heavy winds or torrential rain, which causes your roofing shingles to crack or loosen. Broken or missing shingles expose your roofing to further damage caused by heavy rain or wind.
Solution: Just after any storm, inspecting your roofing is highly recommended. Check out for any damages that could be caused by extreme weather, and if you see any that are damaged, replace them as soon as possible to avoid leaks.
Why: Over time, due to long exposure to the sun, your granules start loosing and cause shingles colours to fade. Some additional damages the sun’s rays could cause are shingles drying out or becoming brittle. When your roofing shingles become brittle, they are also more susceptible to external damage caused due to pressure.
Solution: To solve this, regularly check any signs of fading or brittleness by gently pressing a few shingles. If you feel your shingles have become dry or brittle, you may need to replace them.
So these were the maintenance tips for roofing shingles in Kerala. Being proactive is the key and with regular checks, you can avoid costly repairs and keep the beauty and strength of your roof even when you are up against weather that is typically only seen in Kerala.
To ensure the longevity of roofing shingles, it is important to maintain them properly despite adverse climatic conditions in Kerala. Regular inspections, timely repairs, and preventive measures can help protect your roof from damage caused by heavy monsoon rains, high humidity, strong winds, and intense sunlight. By staying proactive, homeowners can avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of their roofing shingles.
To make sure the roof is safe and endurable, choosing high-grade roofing shingles is a must. CertainTeed India, the leading roofing shingles manufacturer in India, offers a wide range of shingles that are weather- and water-resistant, specially designed to withstand extreme weather in Kerala. Besides, investing in premium-grade roofing materials would not only prolong the roof’s lifespan but also enhance the overall aesthetics of your home over the years—essentially serving as a roofing upgrade for your home.
Maintenance is crucial for roofing shingles; because of heavy rain and strong sunlight in Kerala, roofing shingles wear down very quickly. Without proper care and maintenance, they may crack, loosen up, warp, or curl, allowing room for water to come inside. Regular inspection will allow you to spot these small issues early on and help you fix them before they become big, costly repairs.
Roofing maintenance includes thorough inspection of shingles, gutter cleaning, moss, algae removal, branch trimming, and checking for and fixing any leaks.
During roofing inspection, it’s important to check out certain things like missing shingles, cracked or curled shingles, dark green patches for algae and moss, condition of the gutter, and any leakage sign, like water stains or dark spots on the ceiling or walls.
If you live in Kerala, you should waterproof your roofing, especially before the monsoon season. Because waterproofing helps protect your roofing from heavy rainfall during monsoon and reduces the risk of leaks. All of this will help extend the lifespan of roofing shingles.
If you take care of your roofing shingles properly and follow essential maintenance tips for roofing shingles, your roof can last up to 25 years. TYour shingles can last for more years if high-quality shingles are used, along with choosing the correct shingle colour according to the climate condition, as lighter shade shingles will absorb less heat than darker shade shingles.
Address
Saint-Gobain Grindwell Norton Limited Devanahalli Road, Via. Old Madras Road,
Bangalore – 560 049. India.
Contact Info:
Email: certainteed-india@saint-gobain.com
Phone: +91 (80) 4697 8623
24 X 7 contact # +91 98801 71107
Fax: +91 (0) 80 46978646