Your home’s roof is its first line of defence against the outside elements, and a well-built roof can usually take quite a beating before finally wearing down and springing a leak. Nevertheless, a roof can only withstand so much before beginning to show signs of damage. As a homeowner, it is good to be aware of the main factors that can lead to roof damage.
Few causes of roof damage are as follows:
1. Overhanging tree limbs
Overhanging tree limbs can lead to two major problems. The first is that leaves, sticks, and other tree debris can cause your roof to collect standing water and to form ice dams in the winter. They also snap off in strong winds and puncture holes through several layers of roofing material.
2. Wind
Strong wind gusts can wreak havoc, aside from flinging branches at your roof. Wind can also lift and loosen shingles, making it easier for rain to seep through your roof and cause water damage. Other roofing material such as nails can be loosened or torn away by the wind as well. One wind storm may cause only minor issues and damages, but the damage can pile on until your roof reaches an irreparable state.
3. Rain, snow, and hail
As hail strikes it can easily dislodge the mineral granules which cover asphalt shingles, making the shingles more susceptible to breaking down. Wood shingles can also be cracked and broken by strong hail.
Rain and snow, though not as immediately damaging as hail often is, can still wear away at a roof over time. Any sort of moisture will be particularly damaging for shingles that have lost their protective mineral coating.
4. Foregoing inspections and maintenance
On top of performing visual inspections once in a while on their own, homeowners should schedule regular professional inspections by a roofing contractor to make sure that their roof is still in good shape. These inspections can catch areas which require maintenance, and repairs can then be done before the damage becomes so extensive that the entire roof needs to be replaced.
5. Poor installation
A roof that is not properly installed in the first place is not going to hold up very well to wind, rain, snow, hail, debris, or any other factor that may weaken a roof over time. A poorly built roof will be much more susceptible to damage and won’t protect your home for as long as it’s meant to.
