How Trees Can Effect Your Roof

Trees are beautiful, they provide shade, and they can complement a yard. That said, when mature trees are not maintained, they can have a damaging impact on your roof.

Poorly maintained trees can:

• Fall on a home. Severe wind can cause weak or sick trees to fall, especially when soils are loose due to temperature swings.
• Drop branches onto a roof. Branches can scratch and dent shingles.
• Create low-hanging branches. If a tree stands close to a home, it can grow branches that droop over the roof. Over time, these can abrade and wear away at shingles.
• Create too much shade. Too much shade can prevent a roof from drying out following rain, leading to mold and rot.
• Provide opportunities for animal interference. If branches aren’t trimmed, they can give animals easy access to your roof. From there, the animals might create nests or gnaw on roofing components.

But it's not all bad. If a mature tree is properly maintained, it can benefits to your home as well.

Properly maintained trees provide:

• Wind protection. Mature trees with deep, resilient roots protect your home against heavy winds, particularly when they are upwind of the home.
• Ultraviolet ray protection. Trees that shade a home protect shingles against UV impacts, which gradually erode asphalt.
• Heat protection. Trees keep the full impact of the sun from hitting a roof. Heat is absorbed through shingles and radiated back into your home, raising the temperature at night.

To prevent these threats, it’s best to keep trees regularly maintained and trimmed—cut back at least six feet from a roof. 

Klaus Roofing of Ohio uses the hardiest roofing materials and tried-and-true techniques to install roofs. Our trained professionals have many years of experience providing Central Ohio homeowners with superior roofing services. If your roof has been damaged by trees, animals, or severe storms, contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate!