Roof Damage by Trees and How to Prevent It?
Homebuyers frequently look for properties with mature trees because they are attractive. Shade, foliage, and possibly fragrant blooms are all provided by these trees. However, older trees are not without their drawbacks. Unless you take action to avoid it, trees can affect the longevity of your roof and its shingles in a variety of ways.
Fortunately, efficient tree management is easy and inexpensive, and it may prevent almost all roof damage caused by trees. We'll go over the various ways that trees can harm shingles and how to avoid each sort of damage in this article. We'll also go over what to do if your tree (or a neighbor's tree) has already caused damage to your roof or fell on it. See upon which damage you need to call a roofing contractor.
Roof Damage Caused by Trees
Trees falling on roofs: If your tree is broken, unwell, or too weak to endure a windstorm, it is always possible that it will fall on your roof. Below, we'll go over how to tell if a tree is unstable.
Falling branches: Can tree branches cause roof damage? Yes, even little branches can scrape roofs in the same way as they can scratch windows. They may wind up damaging your shingles if they are blown off the tree by a storm. Several huge branches, like a fallen tree, may add excess weight to the roof or yet make dents when they hit it. In the winter, when the tree branches are thick with snow and ice, this harm is more likely.
Low-hanging branches: If tree branches aren't clipped, they can fall onto your roof. If these branches come into contact with the roof or brush up against it during a windstorm, the shingle's outer protective covering can be scratched away. Tree branches that hang overhanging a roof and potentially contact or abrade the tiles when the wind blows must be trimmed carefully.
Falling leaves and needles: Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall, causing a major mess on your roof. Furthermore, evergreen trees may drop their needles at any time of year. Is this tree debris harmful to your roof? If you let it collect, yes. Needles and leaves can block the gutters, causing serious roof damage. This material can encourage mold, moss, or algae growth by absorbing moisture, which can fadethe roof and shorten its lifespan.
What You Can Do to Prevent Tree-Related Roof Damage
Trim the tree branches that are too close to the roof: Trim too close tree branches to the roof. Overhanging branches should be removed by an arborist, who will be able to safeguard your roof while doing so. Alternatively, you can use the same tactics to protect your home and yard as you would while installing a roof. Moreover,if 25% of the tree needs to be removed it may be wiser to remove it totally. A tree that has been severely pruned is more prone to perish and topple over.
Prune young trees: Pruning is a useful tool for controlling tree growth. Young trees can be pruned such that only robust crotches develop, making them less likely to fall off in storms.
Clean up debris: As soon as possible after tree debris has fallen, remove it from the roof and gutters. You'll need to clear the gutters and roof every few months if you have a tree that dumps debris all the year round e.g. pine tree.
Remove unsteady trees: Unstable trees or extremely ill should be removed as soon as possible before they collapse into your roof. However, verify with your city's rules and an arborist first. Some tree species are endangered and cannot be felled. In some regions, removing trees with a specific trunk diameter is prohibited.
If damage already has happened to your roof by hanging tree branches call a roofing contractor in the city. We Elliott Roofing are located at OKC, Tulsa and serve in and around.