If you’re a responsible homeowner, you know the importance of protecting your roof from weather elements and maintaining it. However, did you know that trees can be problematic for roofs and can play a part in speeding up damage to your roof leading to frequent roof repairs and a sooner roof replacement? Let’s know how trees damage your roof and what you can do about it.
Roof Damage Caused By Trees
Clogged Gutters
The most common problem with trees near your house is that leaves, twigs, and others will accumulate on your roof and will clog the gutters and downspouts. Sometimes, the leaves and twigs fall more quickly due to winds and storms and fill the gutters leaving no room for water to drain when it rains.
So, when it does rain, water stands on the shallow parts of the roof. With enough time on the roof, water will seep into the shingles and the materials under it leading to all kinds of problems that moisture will create.
Water will cause damage to the shingles and they will become loose or curled. Once they do, more water will find its way into the roof. Moisture inside the roof will also result in mold growth which is a problem in itself.
Shingle Damage Due To Large Branches Falling On The Roof
When a tree is close to a house and its branches lean near the roof, it can fall on the roof with time because of age or forced by a storm. The large branches carry weight and when they impact the roof, the shingles in that area are cracked. Some cracked shingles can even become loose and fall down or easily ripped away by wind.
With that, a lot of space on your roof welcomes water into the roof that causes various kinds of damage. In severe cases, it can even rot the decking, which means the entire roof becomes dangerous and there arises a risk of the roof falling down.
Tree Falling On The Roof
This is an obvious roof damage caused by trees and also the most dangerous one. Usually, this is caused by storms. Gusty winds uproot a tree which then falls over the roof leading to structural damage to your roof.
Trees that are diseased or infested become more vulnerable to falling during storms. As they become weak, they can’t even withstand mild storms which most healthy trees can. Apart from that, dying trees can fall over your roof without any external force (storms) as well.
So, make sure the trees near your house are healthy. Inspect them yourself and get them checked by an arborist every now and then. Any ignorance, in this case, can result in severe damage to your roof. In rare cases, it can even take someone’s life. So, there is no room for mistakes.
Fruits Or Nuts Droppings
Trees that grow fruits or nuts are useful, but they can become a headache and a lot more if these fruits or nuts fall on your roof. Some droppings directly on shingles can crack them, create small holes in them, or lead to loss of granules on the shingles.
Moreover, even if the fruits or nuts don’t damage the shingles upon impact, they can attract animals and birds to your roof. Once drawn to your roof, they will try to take shelter in your chimney, attic, or any other place causing more damage to your roof and other parts of your house.
Birds And Critters Damaging The Shingles And Other Exterior Parts Of Your House
It’s explained above that fruits and nuts dropped on your roof can lead critters to your roof. However, even if a tree is near your house regardless of the fact that it’s fruit or nut-bearing, critters and birds will reach it and with that, they will also look for shelter.
As your home will be the nearest place, they will go from the tree to the roof of your house and find any opening to enter the attic. If they don’t find any opening, they will chew the shingles or other exterior parts of your house to reach a warm part of your house. Sometimes, this can lead to damaged or missing shingles and damaged sheathing.
As they damage the roof, it becomes easier for water to infiltrate the roof and cause all kinds of damage.
Tree Shade Increases Moisture In Your Roof
A great thing about trees is that they provide shade, but these benefits can turn against your roof and house. Too much shade is a recipe for disaster when it comes to roofs.
If all or most parts of the roof don’t receive direct sunlight, the roof doesn’t dry up quickly and moisture remains for a longer time on the roof. This encourages mold growth that can push shingles out or cause any other kind of damage to shingles. Moreover, the shingles will become more vulnerable to damage in the event of a storm.
Moreover, some minor issues and moisture problems are solved automatically when the roof is exposed to sunlight. But due to shade, even the smallest problems will turn bigger and scarier.
In shaded houses, mold can even spread to the siding, ceiling, walls, and structural elements of your house causing a serious problem.
Low-Hanging Branches Compromising The Protective Layer Of Shingles
Shingles have granules on them that make them durable. However, when there is a tree near your house with low-hanging branches, they will keep rubbing against the shingles removing granules off the shingles and making the shingles more vulnerable to moisture damage. Moreover, this will intensify the damage because the branches might be giving the roof shade not allowing moisture to dry up easily.
How To Reduce Or Prevent Roof Damage Caused By Trees?
Cut Down Trees Near Your House
To break free of all the problems associated with trees too close to your house inflicting damage to your roof, you can simply cut down trees that are problematic and near your house. However, if you don’t want to remove the tree as it’s healthy or the state laws don’t allow you, then you should try the following tips.
Clean The Roof Regularly
Small branches, leaves, and debris clog the gutters, so you should create a schedule for cleaning your roof every week or month to remedy this problem. If there is a rainy season or a storm forecast, clean your roof and trim trees near it to protect your roof.
Prune Trees
You can prevent many problems by pruning trees that are near your house. If any branch is near your house, cut it down.
Inspect Trees
Make sure your tree is healthy to eliminate the risk of the tree falling on your roof. Inspect trees regularly to ensure they are not diseased or infested.
Keep Critters Away
To keep critters and birds from reaching your house or roof and causing damage, trim the tree branches that are close to your roof. This will also stop the fruits or nuts of the trees from falling directly on the roof leading to damage and attracting animals and birds.
Conclusion
Trees near houses look beautiful, but they come with responsibility. To avoid damage to your roof caused by trees, look for the signs and remove or trim tree branches regularly. Plus, hire a roofing contractor Akron who can inspect your roof and perform timely repairs.
