Your roof may be one of the most expensive elements of your home. This makes it important for you to take the best possible care of it because damage will invariably cost a lot of money to fix. To be able to prevent this damage, you first need to know some of the top causes of roofing damage. When you have them in mind, the next step is to find a way to prevent them from occurring or at least lower the damage they’re likely to lead to. Have a look below to see a few of the top causes of roofing damage and prepare to secure your roof from their effects.
Aging Roofing Materials
The main culprit in this list of the top causes of roofing damage is aging roofing materials. Your roof, just like any other part of your home, is prone to wear and tear. This means that once it reaches the end of its lifespan, you have to brace yourself for various issues. The typical fix to this issue is to simply replace the entire roof. If you don’t, you may end up spending a lot of time and money on making fixes which are essentially just going to be band-aids. Avoid sinking your money down the drain by planning to replace your roof as soon as you possibly can once you realize it’s reached the end of its lifespan.
If the issue that you have with aging roofing materials is for a spot that was repaired with aged materials, you can get away with replacing that specific area with better materials. Keep in mind that this may need to be done by a professional roofer so that the variation between roofing material age isn’t particularly noticeable. It should also be done well enough to eliminate potential weak spots that will lead to a new issue sooner rather than later.
High Winds
Another one of the top causes of roofing damage is high winds. If you live in an area that’s prone to getting high winds regularly, it’s a good idea for you to look into preventative measures. Good roofers may know a few solutions that you can rely on, so be sure to ask. In this case, it would be a good idea to also find out from your neighbors what solutions they’ve known to work. This way, you can get adequate information on the protection measures to rely on for the safety and longevity of your own roof.
Since high winds can rip off bits and pieces of the roof, it follows that one of the best solutions, in this case, is to choose a good material. It will be a reasonable expenditure for you to get a costlier roofing material that will withstand the high winds better and call for fewer fixes to be done over time. Remember that the roof should also be installed by a professional in order to give it a good chance at longevity.
Hail Storms
If you live in an area that’s known for frequent hail storms, note that this is another one of the top causes of roofing damage. That said, look into sturdy roofing that can weather hail storms without ending up in bits and pieces. It should also be a roof that won’t transmit all the noise from a typical hail storm into your home. As you can imagine, this could make for an extremely uncomfortable time for you at home. A reliable local roofer will be your best source of advice on the right roof for your home.
The more experience the roofer has in the area where you live, the better off you’ll be in their hands. This is a result of them having installed and maintained a good number of roofs in your area. Doing this for some time must have given them valuable insights into how various roofing types and materials weather the climate of the area your home is in. Talk to a few and you should get an accurate depiction of the best quality of roofing to get for your home that’s going to be a good investment.
Rapid Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Roofing in areas that undergo rapid freeze-thaw cycles is prone to a lot of damage. This is because freezing and thawing involve water contracting and expanding as the weather changes. The water will contract and expand along with any material that it happens to have made its way into. With the roof bearing the brunt of the weather as it changes throughout the year, it’s easy to see why this is one of the top causes of roofing damage. A good roofing service in your area should be well aware of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the roofing that they work on. This is why it’s a good idea to follow their recommendations if you want to install a new, hardy roof.
You’ll find that the best material to weather this type of damage is a metal roof. This is due to a few features of metal roofing, the first one being that it cools and warms pretty fast, so it may be better placed to handle rapid changes in temperature. Thanks to this, a metal roof may have an easier time shedding any snow that accumulates on it. With minimal or no water trapped in its elements, it can weather freezing temperatures for years with a very negligible effect on its state.
Improper Installation
As mentioned, one of the top causes of roofing damage is improper installation. This can lead to issues with the roof that will leave it in need of repairs soon after it’s installed. This makes it a great idea to work with professional roofing companies that have a team of trained and experienced professionals. The best companies will have the relevant licenses and will typically be confident enough in their services to offer a warranty. As such, it’s safe to consider it a red flag if a roofing company says that they don’t offer any warranties or guarantees.
A good roofing company will know the most common issues that roofs are bound to face. They should have a working formula to lower the chances of these issues being faced by the roofs that they install. This is because they understand that their work is their biggest and most important portfolio. In this case, a string of failed roofing does nothing at all for the reputation of a company that wants to stay in business. That said, thoroughly vet the quality of the roofing company that you get to install your home’s roof. Interview them and check their reviews as these can give you an unbiased view of the company in question.
Fallen Trees
Fallen trees are yet another one among the top causes of roofing damage. This is the reason why professionals will always advise you to trim any trees that grow too close to your home or that overhang the roof. During events of strong winds and driving rain, these trees can be turned into projectiles that give the wind more power to damage your home and roof. If there are any trees that you feel could pose a risk to the safety of your property, it’s best to deal with them as soon as possible.
If there are old or weakened trees near your house, call a tree service to help you remove it the right way. This is going to lower the odds of the tree failing at a time when you least expect it to and damaging your home and roof. Since roof repairing can take a lot of your time and money, there’s no reason why you should delay dealing with a tree that’s a safety hazard to your home in any way.
Squirrels and Other Pests
Pests like squirrels and others also make this list of the top causes of roofing damage. This is because, while their intention is to seek shelter, they damage your own in an effort to create theirs. These pests and rodents will typically collect debris to construct their homes on your roof. Apart from being an eyesore that makes your home appear neglected, these nests and other structures hinder the flow of water over your roof. They may slow it down or stop it entirely, and this can lead to the affected areas of your roof rotting and getting damaged.
This collection of dirt and debris will also often find its way into your gutters in the event that a strong weather event dislodges it. When this happens, the issue is transferred to your gutters, driveway, and foundation. Clearly, this is a serious issue for roofing that most residential roofers are well aware of. That said ask them to share tips and tricks with you on how to secure your roof from these pests.
Algae and Moss
Another one of the top causes of roofing damage that’s also a major eyesore and detraction from your home’s curbside appeal is moss and algae. Since these thrive in moist spots, it’s clear that they may be an extension of the damage that pests and rodents can do to your home’s roof. A metal roof is one of the best roofs for climates in which, even without the help of debris on the roof, are prone to wet and humid conditions for extended periods of time. This is why your first call, if you decide to install a new roof in such an area, should be to a reputable metal roofing service.
Clogged Gutters and Downspouts
As mentioned elsewhere, your gutters and downpipes are an extension of your roof and any issues that these have may affect your roof negatively. This is why, when maintaining your roof, you must include all of its parts and elements. If your gutters or downspouts are damaged, it’s a good idea for you to have them repaired as soon as is possible. These are among the top causes of roofing damage that may be easy to miss as a lot of focus is on the roof itself. Let your roofing contractors know that you need to ensure that your entire roof is in good shape so that they don’t forget about these other parts. When these elements function as efficiently as they should, you can be sure that your entire home will benefit from the collective protection that they offer.
Walking on the Roof
Finally, the most obvious item in this list of top causes of roofing damage is walking on the roof. Granted, sometimes you may actually be fixing or maintaining the roof by doing something like sweeping it, but if you’re not careful, you may cause a lot more damage. This is why it’s best to entrust all your roofing needs to good roofing repair companies. Their professionals are trained well on how to carry out various functions on the roof in order to keep the risk of damage to a minimum. This means that, on top of staying safe, you can get a better outcome by simply letting a professional do the job.
These top causes of roofing damage should alert you to some of the risks that your roof faces. As a result of this, you should be able to keep your roof in good shape as you’re aware of what to avoid and what to do. In the end, you may still need to get your roof repaired or replaced entirely. Regardless of this, it’s a good idea to do all that you can do, including having a professional inspect your roof frequently, to keep it in great shape for as long as is reasonably possible. This may make your home’s roof the envy of the neighborhood and your source of pride and joy as a homeowner!