Your roofing system is one of the most important components of your home. After all, it improves your home’s energy efficiency, its exterior appearance, resale value and provides crucial protection against debris. It also withstands the exterior elements on a daily basis. In fact, it has to perform all-year round, under torrential rain, heavy snow and the searing heat.
To ensure that your roofing system continues to perform at optimal levels for the years to come, it’s your responsibility as a homeowner to ensure that roof maintenance is regularly performed, and that roof repair is carried out as necessary. Remember that roofing problems will get worse if they’re left alone. One of the most damaging elements to your roofing system is debris.
Keep in mind that different kinds of debris can end up on your roofing system and build up over time if you don’t clean your roof on a regular basis. Some of the common debris you can find are leaves, tree branches and animal droppings.
In today’s blog, one of the trusted roof replacement companies in the area, Sanders Roofing & Exteriors, LLC, shares the most damaging kinds of debris to your roofing system. We’ll also share numerous ways to prevent or mitigate the risk of these kinds of damage.
Worst Kinds of Debris That Can Damage Your Roofing System
Keep in mind that your roof will protect you from all kinds of debris everyday. Here are some of the debris that will take a toll on your roof.
Tree Branches
According to professional roofers, tree branches are especially hazardous during storm events or high winds. In fact, strong winds are capable of tearing tree branches or entire trees away, causing these damaging objects to land on your roofing system. In turn, it can add a ton of weight to your roofing system if they accumulate, or it could even puncture your roof’s protective membrane or even tear the asphalt shingles off. This severe scale of damage can easily destabilize your roofing system. If left untreated, the damage can allow roof leaks in, leading to rapid roof deterioration, or complete failure.
This is why it’s important to have your roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor after severe weather events. Aside from checking for major signs of storm damage, they’ll also check subtle issues that could’ve been caused by the weather event.
Regardless, don’t think that you’re in the clear even if you’re experiencing calm weather since healthy trees can also damage your roofing system. In fact, trees that are close to your home, with branches overhanging your roof, can pose a serious threat to your shingles. Roofers state that leaves and other loose debris can easily sneak their way onto your gutters and gaps of your roofing system. Moreover, strong winds can cause the trees to bend and whip violently against your roofing system’s surface that causes friction and shingle damage. Make sure that you keep these branches away from your home by trimming the trees back regularly. This helps you avoid branches overhanging your home and possibly causing damage.
Hail Stones
Aside from tree branches, hailstones also pack a serious punch if they manage to find their way onto your roofing system. In fact, it’s difficult to prepare your home against hail storms since the scale of their impact on your roofing system heavily depends on the size of the hail stones and the velocity. While heavy hail might not rip off your shingles, it can punch a hole right through your roofing system, cause your shingles to crack and the protective granules to wear down or shed too much. In the end, this will rapidly shorten the lifespan of your roofing system.
Roof replacement companies also state that hail can break through the lining beneath your shingles without showing signs of damage. You’ll most likely learn about the damage once you notice water leaking through your roofing system. To avoid serious issues in the future, pay close attention to your roofing system after a hail storm and conduct a thorough roofing inspection once the situation has stabilized. You can conduct a roof repair or replacement, depending on your roofing contractor’s assessment.
Building Components
Building components can pose a serious threat to your roofing system when there are strong gusts of winds blowing, or other serious weather events like storms or hurricanes are occurring. These weather events are strong enough to tear off components of your home, along with other homes around you, which can also land on your roofing system and other parts of your home’s exterior, like the windows, doors, and siding. Some of the common items you’ll find blown off due to high winds are antennas, fences, posts, shutters, roof vents, nails, glass, lawn chairs, shingles and even some masonry. These components will not only pose a threat to your roofing system, but to your own safety as well, if they’re being thrown at high speeds. It can be difficult to prevent damage from building up on your roof during a severe weather event, especially with flying objects around. As such, the best option you can take after the event is to call on your trusted local roofing contractor to have your roof inspected and repaired accordingly.
What Else Can Be Done to Prevent Roofing Damage Caused By Debris?
While it’s difficult to damage-proof your roofing system, there are a few effective, and simple ways to safeguard your roofing system from debris. Of course, the number one method is to conduct regular roof maintenance, and here are the other two:
Gutter Maintenance and Cleaning
Keep in mind that your gutters can collect debris if you don’t clear or clean them out regularly. When this occurs, your gutters can get clogged, and water will overflow over the sides of your home, tarnishing your exterior and your foundation. During the winter months, a clogged gutter can also cause ice dams and moisture to back up on your roofing, adding weight to it, and stressing the structural support system. To avoid such issues, make sure that your gutters are cleaned regularly, and add gutter guards to protect them from debris buildup.
Roof Inspections
It’s also important to invest in a regular roof inspection routine since this will give you the chance to detect problems early on and ensure that your roof is safe from long-term damage. This also goes hand-in-hand with roof maintenance, so make sure that you consult your local roofing company to schedule an inspection and maintenance schedule that lines up with your needs.
Sanders Roofing & Exteriors, LLC, a family-owned company with over a decade of experience, offers a wide range of professional exterior services, including roof repair and gutter installation services. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (512) 590-0748 or fill out this form.