Roof Tree Damage: Causes, Solutions, and Preventive Measures

Trees are essential to our ecosystem and serve several purposes for property owners, including aesthetics, fresh air, and shade. This makes it expected to see home buyers look out for properties with grown trees. Despite their several cons, mature trees aren’t good news for your home structure, as they can be detrimental to your roof and shingles’ lifespan. They can cause roof tree damage, depending on how close they are to your building and how you manage them. 

There’s no need to panic if you already have a property with mature trees. In this article, we will discuss the possible damage trees can cause, ways to prevent them from damaging your shingles, how much distance to maintain between your roof and tree branches, and what to do if a tree branch falls on your roof.

Are Tree Branches Dangerous for Your Roof?

Tree branches close to your home pose a threat to your roof’s safety and can cause destruction to your roof. Branches of trees can damage your roof and jeopardize your home’s safety in the following ways:

• Physical damage: When branches overhang, they can scrape your shingles, causing them to deteriorate quickly. Heavy branches may snap and fall on the roof in some scenarios, leading to structural damage. 
• Moisture problems: Mold and mildew growth are another consequence of having trees close to your roof. Branches resting on your roof tend to trap moisture, which causes these growths. In addition to mold and mildew growth, continuous exposure to moisture can cause leaks due to deterioration.
• Debris accumulation: Fallen twigs, leaves, and other debris from trees can build up over time on the roof surface and gutters, leading to poor water drainage and exposing your shingles to leaks.
• Animal access: Branches hanging over your roof give animals access to your roof as they serve as a bridge. Examples of such animals are raccoons and squirrels. This development exposes your roof to attack and damage.

What to Do If You Have Overhanging Tree Branches 

1. Examine the situation: Without climbing your roof, you can assess the situation to see how close the branches are to your roof. We do not recommend climbing because it puts you in a dangerous position, especially if you aren’t adequately protected.
2. Hire a professional: Call a professional tree service to take off the branches safely. They are well-skilled and equipped to remove the branches without further damaging your roof.
3. Assess the roof for damage: After successfully removing the branches, get a professional roofing contractor to check the state of your roof and look out for roof tree damage.

What to Do If Tree Branches Fall on Your Roof

1. Evacuate the building: A tree falling on your roof puts a significant amount of weight on your roof and can pierce through your roof. When this happens, your home is no longer safe, as it can lead to your home’s collapse, among other risks. Hence, in a situation like this, we recommend that you and your family evacuate your home until a professional comes to assess the situation and certify it is safe to return.
2. Call your insurance company: Calling your insurance company is the next thing to do, as they might want to send a representative to carry out some investigation. In addition, they will tell you how to make your claim. Also, locate and document every damage to your home and property, including roofing, windows, plumbing, doors, siding, furniture, and HVAC equipment. 
3. Call an arborist and a roofer: You may need to call in an arborist to safely remove the tree and a roofer to repair any damage to your roof. However, ensure you communicate with your insurer before agreeing to their services or making any payments. Failure to do so might make your insurer decline to cover the cost. If they decide to cover the cost after talking to them, ensure you secure their receipts.
4. Repair damage: After sorting out insurance, you may need an expert to fix your roof. The arborist may suggest extracting the rest of the tree as a preventive measure. 

How to Prevent Roof Damage from Trees

1. Prune the mature tree: If you notice any tree branch close to your roof, trim it. However, we recommend consulting an arborist before getting rid of the overhanging branch because they know how best to achieve the task without harming your property. An alternative is to adopt the procedures you followed to protect your property during your roof installation. Removing the whole tree might be a better action if you need to trim above 25% of the tree to prevent roof tree damage.
2. Prune young trees: Pruning is a method to control a tree’s growth. Pruning young trees will reduce the likelihood of their branches breaking off in storms because pruned trees develop robust crotches.
3. Clean up debris: Clean your roof by removing tree debris, such as leaves and twigs, as soon as possible. If the tree close to your building sheds regularly, you might have to make cleaning your gutter a monthly affair.
4. Cut down shaky trees: Cut down any tree that is unstable or in bad condition before it gets a chance to collapse on your roof, causing severe damage. Again, we recommend checking with an arborist first.

How Far Should Tree Branches Be from Your Roof?

Maintaining a safe distance between your roof and tree branches is essential for minimizing the risk of roof hazards and damage. The following guidelines will help you:

• Observe minimum clearance: Trimming your tree branches to observe the minimum distance between your roof and the tree is vital. The ideal distance is 6–10 feet. Maintaining this distance helps avert physical contact of the tree to your roof, reducing the risk of branches breaking off during a storm and landing on your roof.
• Trim regularly: Regularly trimming your roof will prevent the branches from growing near your roof. Therefore, you should do professional maintenance on your tree at least once a year to make sure its branches remain at a safe distance.
• Consider the tree’s health: Make sure the tree’s health is in good condition when trimming its branches. Excessive trimming can affect the tree’s health. Hence, hiring a professional for the job is essential.

Tree Damage Preventive Measures 

1. Install gutter guards: Installing gutter guards will prevent your gutters from getting clogged by tree debris, ensure adequate water drainage, and lower the risk of water roof damage.
2. Regular inspection of the roof: Schedule roof inspections with a trusted roofing company to detect roof problems early and fix them to ensure your roof’s optimum functionality.
3. Tree arrangement: Consider the siting proximity to your home and the maturity size of trees when planting them. Ensure you plant them at a distance safe enough to prevent overhanging tree branch issues.

Conclusion

Having trees in your home is great, as they have some benefits. However, they can threaten your roof’s safety if the proximity is close. Thankfully, you’ve read this article and now know how trees can ruin your roof and how you can prevent it. You also know the steps to take in case of a fallen tree branch on your roof.

The best approach to avoiding roof damage is practicing proper tree management. Consult an arborist to know how to manage the trees on your property and which ones are at an unsafe distance and need trimming or removal. Additionally, practice a good roof maintenance culture by cleaning your gutters regularly and trimming off overhanging tree branches. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do roofs get damaged?

Roof shingles protect your roof from the elements. However, they become damaged over time due to UV rays, hail, wind, and wear and tear. Curled, missing, and damaged shingles expose your roof to water damage and related problems.

What is the best roof under a tree?

Rubber roofs are ideal for locations with trees because they are durable and can withstand high winds, tree branches, and other debris from the storm, reducing the possibility of roof damage. They are unlikely to crack like tile roofing and can tolerate flying debris and hail better than metal roofs.