Trees can be quite beautiful to the landscape of a yard. They also provide shade and a nice habitat where birds can nest–sometimes, they can even serve as the foundation for an awesome treehouse for your kids. However, trees can also cause destruction to your home if you aren’t careful. They can cause clogged gutters, critter infestations, and can create serious damage from dropping limbs.
Finding the balance between a tree’s benefits and downsides is important to keeping your home safe. Let’s take a look at four problems trees create for your roof.
Limb Damage
When we think of tree damage, the worst scenario we can imagine is a tree falling on our house. Yet, we may want to look more closely at the limbs themselves. Even a small limb can cause harm to a roof, which is why it’s best to focus on all the components of the tree with your maintenance. Winter in particular can be an especially heightened time for limb loss, due to extreme weather conditions. Excess weight from ice and pressure from high winds can cause weak branches to snap off. To avoid major damage, be sure to remove dead trees as soon as possible and keep limbs trimmed back.
Clogged Gutters
When fall comes around, we all realize just how easily leaves can clog our gutters. A single windy day can overload our roof with a flurry of debris. If leaf litter is left unabated, the organic material can begin to trap moisture and start to decompose. Decomposition can lead to the deterioration of your roof as well. As tree material accumulates, the weight and pressure on the edge of your roof and increase cause serious damage. So, be sure to clean your gutters routinely.
Too Much Shade
Shade can be wonderful in the warm months, creating a nice cool escape from the sun. Too much shade, however, can actually be detrimental to your house. Mold and mildew thrive in the shade, because they are protected from UV rays. Under such conditions, mold can progress throughout the roofing, eating away at its structural integrity. A lack of sunlight can also cause moisture retention, which will further the progression of mold and mildew. To nip the problem in the bud, just trim back your trees when necessary.
Pest Infestation
While we love to see the cute woodland creatures living in our yards, it’s certainly less charming to find them in our homes. When your home is closely neighboring their home, also known as a nearby tree, critters may decide to make the jump and move on in. Animals can cause excessive destruction to homes by chewing through multiple types of building materials, including shingles. Similarl to the problem of shade, you can solve the pest problem by keeping tree limbs trimmed and away from your home.
Contact Us
Perhaps you’ve had some issues with your roof and gutters, and these issues may have been caused by trees. Five Points Roofing is here to help! With years of experience and an expert team of roofers, we can solve all your roofing problems. Contact us today to receive a professional consultation.
