4 Tree Damages On Roofs And How To Repair Them

Trees add a lot to the beauty of your landscape, but they can cause a lot of damage to a roof. Knowing those damages can help you prevent them or at least repair them promptly if the tree does damage the roof.

1. Loose Shingles

Loose shingles are the results of tree branches scraping across the roof surface on windy days. The branches may not tear off the shingles completely. Instead, the shingles come loose and hang askew.

Repair is often simple. The problem branches are trimmed back, and the roofer nails the shingles back in place. Additional roofing adhesive may also be used to help secure the shingle.

2. Broken or Missing Shingles

A more severe version of the above damage is when the scraping tears or cracks the shingles on the roof. In some cases, the shingles may be torn off completely. These shingles can't be simply nailed back in place since the damages will lead to future leaks.

Instead, your roofer must remove all broken shingles. Then, shingles that match the color of the roof must be found. This is sometimes challenging as older shingle colors may be discontinued. Once a close match is found, the damaged shingles can be replaced. 

3. Punctures

More severe damage is also possible from trees. A broken branch can puncture the roof, punching through both shingles and the plywood decking beneath. Unlike missing shingles, this damage is severe and leads to immediate water intrusion into your home. It must be fixed immediately for this reason. 

If only one piece of decking is damaged, it can be patched or replaced, and then new shingles are laid over the top. If the damage affects more than one piece of decking or if the roof is older, then it may be a better option to replace the entire roof.

4. Moisture Damage

Even a well-trimmed tree with no branches that scrape the roof or weak branches that could break off may cause roof damage. Naturally dropped leaves and twigs can collect on the roof. These debris piles trap moisture and create small dams on the slope of the roof, which in turn can lead to water backflowing beneath the shingles and leaking into the attic. 

It can be difficult to prevent debris from collecting on the roof, so frequent roof cleaning is a necessity if debris buildup is an issue. Backflow may not damage shingles, but it can cause moisture rot to the decking beneath them. This will require the replacement of any affected decking boards.

Contact a residential roof repair service if you spot tree damage to your roof. 

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