5 Tips to Prevent Roof Damage by Trees

It’s common to see roof damage caused by trees after a large storm or, in some parts of the country, tornados. Unfortunately, in cases of severe weather, it isn’t always possible to prevent roof damage by trees. However, there are easy steps that homeowners can take to prevent roof damage caused by fallen branches, pine needles, and leaves. There are great benefits to having trees around your home, but it’s important that homeowners understand the maintenance that is required to extend the life of your roof. Signature Exteriors has put together this guide to provide homeowners 5 tips to prevent tree damage to your roof while still enjoying the benefits of having them around your home.

Benefits of Trees Around Your Home

• Blocking Wind: One major benefit of having large, mature trees around your home is that they help protect your roof from high winds. High winds can cause damage to your roof shingles which is a
  common cause of roof leaks.
• Ultraviolet (UVA) Protection: Large, mature trees also provide shade for your roof, which will help reduce the UV light hitting your home. UV light is known to shorten the lifespan of most roofing materials.
• Reduce Air Conditioning Costs: Shingles on a roof absorb heat from the sun throughout the day and radiate that heat back into your home. The shade that tree’s around your home provide can help lower the temperature in your home. Did you know the United States Department of Agriculture reports that the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours per day?

5 Tips to Prevent Roof Damage Caused by Trees

1. Trim the Trees: Trim all branches that are too close to your roof. If you are not comfortable doing so, call a tree expert, an arborist, to take care of it for you. It may be ideal to bring on a professional as they will take all necessary precautions to protect your roof while they perform the tree trimming. If you find that you have to trim 25% or more from the tree, it is worth looking into having it removed. A tree that experiences this amount of trimming is likely to die and fall, possibly onto your roof.
2. Placement of Trees: If you are looking to plant trees or remove the ones that you think may cause a danger to your home, it is recommended that trees be at least 15 to 20 feet from your home. Smaller trees should be at least 15 feet from your home while larger trees should be at least 20 feet from your home.
3. Prune Young Trees: It is a good idea to prune the young trees around your home to help control tree growth. By performing regular pruning on these young trees, you can create strong crotches (junction between the tree branch and trunk) that will make it less likely to break off in storms.
4. Clean Your Roof and Gutters: Remove debris as soon as you see it accumulating on your roof or in your gutters. If you have trees that drop debris all year long, we recommend that you perform roof and gutter maintenance every few months. Gutter guards are also a great option to help keep your gutters clear and in working order. Ask us about recommended gutter guards that work best in your local region. In the Charlotte area, we recommend products such as LeaFree Gutter Guard or Gutter Rx Gutter Guard.
5. Cut Down Unstable Trees: If you aren’t sure if a tree is stable, bring in an arborist to provide you with their recommendations. If you plan to remove the trees yourself, use caution and recommended safety precautions. Always check your local city bylaws as some tree species are protected and cannot be cut down, other bylaws prohibit removed trees with a certain trunk diameter.

We mentioned earlier that roof damage caused by trees is not always preventable. Unfortunately, with high winds, heavy rains, or snowfall, even well-maintained trees can fall on your home and damage your roof.

Assess the Roof Damage: While you wait on professional help, survey the area yourself. Take photos of all damage from the interior to the exterior of your home and provide them to your insurance company. Use caution, a fallen tree can pull down an electrical line or cause damage to plumbing and gas lines. If you notice any water leaks, sparks, or smell of gas, get out of the home immediately and to a safe place. You will want to call both 911 to report the issue and your utility provider to ask them to shut off the service to your home until the damage is repaired by a professional.

Call a Roofer and Tree Removal Specialist: Your insurance carrier may request you bring in professionals. You may need a tree removal company to remove the tree safely and a roofer to tarp the area to prevent any further interior damage. It is your best bet to reach out to a roofing company that has expertise with roof damage insurance claims, like Signature Exteriors.