Events that cause roof damage

Everyday events that can damage your roof

Trees. Taking care of trees around your home not only gives your outdoor area aesthetic appeal, but can also benefit its safety in the long run. Unfortunately, a healthy tree can sometimes pose a risk to your roof if trees are not properly maintained. To make sure trees don't damage your roof, it is important to check trees regularly for any branches that need trimming, and keep an eye out for trees that may be leaning too far from the ground - this could spell trouble as trees may end up uprooting themselves and crashing into the house without warning, causing roof damage.

Vines. Vines may look nice growing along your roof, but they can cause permanent damage if not properly managed. Their twining tendrils will gradually warp the shingles as they grow larger and tighter around them, trapping moisture underneath and leading to water damage beneath them. To prevent vines from damaging a home's exterior, it is best to remove vines that reach the roof permanently and ensure they never regrow. Taking proper precautions today will save you costly repairs in the future!

Wind. Heavy wind can be strong enough to loosen, or even completely tear off, your roof shingles. When wind damage occurs, your home is no longer fully protected from the elements. Leaks and further weather damage will quickly follow if wind damage goes unaddressed. To keep your roof shingles in place and your home safe, you should make sure to check your roof routinely for wind damage—or any missing shingles—that might have occurred. This way you can save yourself a lot of time and money in potential repairs by quickly addressing wind related damage as soon as it appears.

Ice and Snow. Winter can be an especially detrimental time to your roof's health. Snow and ice build-up on the shingles can cause damage to your roof, resulting in ice dams that stop water from properly draining. This can result in leaks and the formation of dangerous ice slides when the ice melts. To decrease the risk of ice and snow affecting your shingles, take preventative measures such as installing a good roof drainage system or inspecting your gutters before winter hits - doing so can help keep your roof free of ice and snow build-up.

Hail. If a hail storm passes through, it might appear that the damage to your roof is only cosmetic, but hail can cause serious damage that won't be easily visible from the ground. Pressure from hailstones can dent and crack your shingles, leaving them susceptible to further deterioration over time—including wind and water damage that could put your home at risk of roof leaks and other roof repairs. To make sure hail damage isn’t negatively impacting your roof’s integrity, it is essential to have hail damage roof inspection done by a professional roofer. An expert eye can detect hail damage even when homeowners miss it with an untrained one. We'll cover this item in a separate article.

Damage from fallen trees and branches

Trees have immense aesthetic and practical value in the Midwest, providing delightful shade coverage and abating extreme temperatures throughout the region. However, fallen tree branches can cause extensive damage to roofing systems if they are too close by - it is suggested that a branch should be at least 10 feet away from a roofing system in order to reduce the risk of fallen debris causing damage. For larger trees, it's best to leave 25 feet between them and your home or business - while this may take away from some of the natural beauty that trees grace us with, it is important in preventing fallen branches from causing costly damages.

Signs of wind damage

High winds can cause severe damage to your roof. Weak spots like the corners, edges and ridge line of the roof are especially vulnerable to wind damage and may incur missing shingles, leaks or gutter destruction. It is important to be able to associate wind-related damage correctly. Improper care could leave critical aspects of a damaged roof unaddressed, leading eventually to more extensive deterioration of the structure. Don't take chances - wind damage can devastate your home - it's best to err on the side of caution and get an experienced storm damage evaluation as soon as you notice any issues with your roof.

Wind-damaged shingles aren't always obvious

High wind events can result in wind damage on roof shingles. This occurs when the factory-applied adhesive fails under the wind force and the shingle starts to lift from the roof, exposing more of its surface to wind and rain. If exposed to wind over an extended period of time, the wind can flip and crease or even tear a shingle completely apart. These effects are most severe in areas of the roof that are highly vulnerable to high wind forces, like eaves, hips and ridges. Partially damaged shingles should be replaced immediately, so as to avoid further property damage in case of strong wind gusts.

It's important to remain vigilant with your roofing system following an extreme wind event, as wind damage can be damaging in the long-term if not addressed. Sealed-down shingles that are feeling the effects of wind damage should have some evidence that the event occurred, such as tearing, creasing, missing pieces or folding. However, if a shingle does not adhere but there is no evidence of wind damage present, then it's likely just a minor issue. In this case you should contact a local roofing company for an inspection just to check that your roofing system remains structurally sound and any minor issues are identified before they develop into greater problems.