We all know that the roof is a key component of any building and it is essential to the overall integrity and beauty of your home. And naturally, we want to preserve it in any way we can. One surprising source of roof damage, however, are trees. To keep your roof in the best possible shape and to reduce the impact the trees in your landscape have on your roof, be mindful of these dangers:
Dangling and overhanging limbs
Obviously, a large tree leaning over your home or a giant branch from an old oak tree reaching across your home is a threat to your roof and your home in general. You run the very real risk of limbs breaking due to age and weight or being snapped off during a storm. In bad weather or when a tree starts to die the entire thing can fall over, crushing anything in its path- including your roof. In order to avoid this, be sure to keep limbs cut back away from your home as much as you can and have weakened or dying trees removed as soon as possible to avoid major roof damage!
Clogged gutters and downspouts
Leaves, sticks, twigs, moss, and dead plant matter can quickly accumulate in your gutters. Sometimes with a lot of trees around your home and bad winds or rains, enough leaf material can fall that your gutters can clog up in a single day. When they are clogged, your guttered are basically useless and cannot drain water away from your home. This can allow water too pool on the roof and seep into your home where it can do massive amounts of damage very quickly. Gutter guards can help a lot but there is no replacement for good ole routine cleanouts every week to keep guttered clear.
Leaves and needles and debris
Leaf material and other bits and pieces of the trees that fall can clog your cutters, but they can also directly affect your roof and can lead to significant damage. Dead plants will decompose as moisture is trapped in the accumulating leaf litter. This can cause rot and decay of your roofing shingles and if it progresses the decay can spread into the deeper components of your roofing system. Left alone for too long, your entire roof can be compromised as the decay spreads and the weight of the accumulating leaf debris gets heavier and heavier with every storm. This ultimately causes severe roof damage.
Too much shade in the yard
Trees are wonderful in a landscape and many homeowners love large shady trees. However, too much of a good thing is a bad thing and this is true for shade as well. Too many large trees around your home will shield fallen mold spore from the UV light of the sun. This allows them to grow rapidly and spread, which can cause problems with the structural integrity of your roof. Roofs that stay too damp and shady because of the trees are at a higher risk for experiencing roof damage caused by mold and mildew. Thinning the trees or removing some of them is the only way to remedy this problem.
Critter and pest infestations
Most people understand that trees are part of nature but this means that animals will be living in them and the closer the trees are to our home the closer the animals are as well. Birds, squirrels, bugs, all have trees as their chosen abode. If they can easily get from their home to your home they may decide to move in because your home offers more food and shelter choices for them. Pests can chew their way into your roofing system and cause damage both to the exterior and interior of your home. This is why keeping branches away from the home is something that must be done.
Trees in danger of falling over
While not a common occurrence thankfully, a fallen tree is without a doubt the most damaging and disastrous. This type of roof damage can be catastrophic so it is essential to keep an eye on the health and integrity of trees that are close enough to hit your home if they were to fall. If the tree begins to sag, lean, or shows signs of disease or an insect infestation, it’s wise to look into having it removed altogether. It is a pain can be expensive but it better than the alternative to be sure and will be the best choice to protect your home and your family.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about how to avoid rood damage from the trees in your yard and to find out what you need to do to stay on top of roof maintenance, give us a call today at Stay Dry Roofing. Our team of roofing experts can help you with all of your roofing needs. We can help with design and new installation projects, roof replacements, storm clean up and repairs, roof inspections, and basic maintenance and repair work. No job is too big or too small for the Stay Dry Roofing team!
Whether you have a commercial or residential property we can take care of you and roofing system. Call now for a consultation appointment or an on-site evaluation and estimate. You don’t have to go at it alone. Call the roofing experts of Indianapolis that residents and businesses owners have trusted for years- see the difference for yourself!