Un-shading the Shaded: How Trees Can Damage Your Roofing System in Dallas, TX?

The foliage and the trees in our front yard – well, no one can deny that they look majestic and they add a certain value to the aesthetic appeal of our homes. They act as windbreakers, prevent soil erosion, provide shade to our homes under the scorching sun of Texas, and some varieties of it – they even provide us with fruit and food. But the misplaced trees, trees that are not meant to be at a specific location, can also cause damage to our properties.
Since we are associated with the industry of professional roofing in Dallas, TX, our focus would be to discuss the damages that are inflicted by trees on a home’s roofing system. This blog has been created to help our readers in understanding:

• How trees can damage your roofing system?
• What you can do to prevent or minimize the damages caused by trees to your roofing system?

Please Note: The information contained in this blog is based on our experiences and professional knowledge that we have accumulated down the years, serving as roofers in Dallas, TX. As such, we are experienced enough to know that every individual case varies and scenarios presented in this blog may be a lot different to the situation that you may be facing. Therefore, we will suggest that you consult a roofing professional in your area before reaching any conclusion.

How Trees Can Damage Your Roofing System?

The trees and foliage in your yard can damage the roofing system in the following ways:

By Physically Damaging the Roof

Trees, no matter how strong they are, they can be susceptible to atrocities of harsh climate – for example a heavy snow, lightning or a windstorm. Such natural forces can cause the branches, limbs and sometimes even the whole tree to fall on your roof causing a significant damage to it. A tree may further be weakened by structural defects and various types of diseases. Sometimes, the physical damage to a roofing system may be minor, resulting in removal of shingles. But if left unaddressed, the removed shingles can expose the roofing system to UV degradation and water leaks which decreases the life of the roofing system in the long run.
Homeowners should remember that it’s not just old trees that may carry a potential risk but sometimes even the branches of healthier trees can easily break off.
What You Can Do: In case of any such damage, immediately call a tree removal service and make sure you relocate your family to a safer place. Next contact certified roofers in Dallas TX to get an estimate for the roof repair job. The contractor will also help determine the extent of damage. Make sure that you consult multiple services before choosing the option that suits you best. As a preventive measure, you can consult an arborist and help identify trees that may potentially carry a risk for property damage. Execute an action plan accordingly.    

By Causing Acidic Deterioration of the Roofing Material

Some trees and plant leaves are acidic in nature. For example, if there is a beech tree in your yard or an oak tree, their leaves are bound to be highly acidic in nature. When these leaves fall on your rooftop—provided they are not brushed off—can transform into heaps. With the passage of time, these leaves start rotting and their acidic nature causes chemical deterioration of the roofing material. Starting from the granules of the shingles, the rot can make its way to the actual roof membrane, spread to other shingles, and slowly deteriorate the life of your roofing system.
What You Can Do: Regularly clean the pile of leaves that have accumulated on your rooftop. You can also contact a tree trimming service for cutting down the overhanging branches on your rooftop to prevent leaves from falling onto the rooftop. In case if you observe signs of any acidic deterioration, call experienced roofers in Dallas, TX and let them carry out a thorough inspection. Ask them to replace any damaged shingle and reseal any gap that has appeared between the shingles.

By Allowing Water to Pool on the Rooftop

The shed off leaves and the broken branches can often clog the roofing gutters, which causes rain water to pool on the rooftops. Furthermore, the tree debris lying on your rooftop serves as an additional reservoir of moisture entrapment. If the water remains pooled for a long time, it can make its way through any possible gaps between the shingles and start damaging your roofing system. Roof leakages become a problem and it can all add up to develop into a massive nuisance, all the while decreasing the life of your roofing system.
What You Can Do: Make a habit of cleaning your gutters, especially before the rainy season. Call certified roofers in Dallas, TX and let them address any signs or causes of possible roof leakages. If you maintain a proactive approach, you can stop minor issues from developing into a major one.

By Promoting the Growth of Mold

We have already discussed how water and moisture may pool on your rooftop, so it is only natural, that we proceed with the conversation by discussing the growth of mold, which is a consequence of entrapped moisture. Mold can rot your roofing system, erode the granular shingles and eventually cause your roofing system to weaken.
What You Can Do: Immediately call a company that provides professional roofing in Dallas, TX. Work with them and identify any signs of mold growth. Once identified, explore the possible causes and replace the shingles where necessary.

Other Damages

Sometimes, plants may start growing over a roof due to increased pollination. Where the vegetation may look good in some cases, these plants have sprouting roots that can penetrate right through a roofing system and cause a physical puncture. Blackberry bushes are a good example of such plants. Sometimes, even the climbing vines can make their way to the top of a roof and penetrate the membrane causing a dislocation of roofing shingles. Such plants also offer the way for insect and rodent infestation, all of which can damage the integrity of a roofing system.
What You Can Do: Regularly trim the plants and remove any shrubs if you find them growing over the roof top. Call professional roofers in Dallas, TX to replace the damaged shingles and seal the membrane punctures.

Roofers in Dallas, TX

Anderson Industrial Roofing has been serving the domestic households and commercial properties for the last 25 years, by providing certified and experienced roofers in Dallas, TX. For a free estimate, you can contact us here.