What type of events can 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 it is not maintained correctly. To ensure trees don't damage your roof, it is essential to regularly check trees 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 gradually warp the shingles as they grow larger and tighter around them, trapping moisture beneath and leading to water damage. 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. Strong winds 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 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 damage your roof, resulting in ice dams that prevent water from draining properly. This can result in leaks and the formation of dangerous ice slides when the ice melts. To reduce the risk of ice and snow affecting your shingles, take preventive measures such as installing a sound roof drainage system or inspecting your gutters before winter hits. Doing so can help keep your roof free of ice and snow buildup.

Hail. If a hail storm passes through, it might appear that the damage to your roof is only cosmetic, but hail can cause severe 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 a hail damage roof inspection done by a professional roofer. An expert eye can detect hail damage even when homeowners miss it. 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 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 essential for preventing fallen branches from causing costly damage.

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, which may lead to missing shingles, leaks, or gutter damage. It is essential to attribute 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 cause wind damage to roof shingles. This occurs when the factory-applied adhesive fails under wind load, causing the shingle to lift from the roof and expose more of its surface to wind and rain. If exposed to wind over an extended period, the wind can flip, 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, such as eaves, hips, and ridges. Partially damaged shingles should be replaced immediately to avoid further property damage in case of strong wind gusts.

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