Anyone lucky enough to live in the lush Eastern part of Texas is likely familiar with The Piney Woods and the full-grown trees that line residential streets. Unfortunately, this beautiful greenery can cause a lot of tree damage to residential roofs as we saw in Houston and Tyler in the fall of 2021. Winter Storm Uri back in February had already killed a lot of trees making them brittle and susceptible to falling amid high winds.
Whether it’s the consequences of a recent storm or too much shade– trees can lead to costly roof repairs. To keep your costs down this holiday season, East Texas Roof Works is going to tell you everything you need to know about the relationship between damaged roofs and fallen trees so you can prepare, and hopefully avoid any issues.
Excessive Shade Causes Roof Mold & Mildew
Virtually every East Texas roofer has encountered roof damage caused by mold or mildew. Mold spores thrive in dark and damp areas aka roofs that are shaded by trees whose leaves collect the rain during every storm. If you’re lucky, mold and mildew will only cause cosmetic damage to your roof. If you’re less fortunate, the fungi may destroy asphalt shingles.
Pine Needles, Leaves, and Other Debris Clogs Gutters
Small bits of tree debris can damage your residential roof in a couple of different ways. First, they can clog up your home’s gutters and downspouts. This restricts the flow of water and can lead to pooling on the roof. Any water overflow will likely spill over the side of the gutter and onto the edge of your roof. When this happens, homeowners begin to see roof leaks and interior water damage. If your gutters get too heavy, they can also pull away from your roof and cause structural damage.
Second, branches and other tree debris accumulate on your roof and will begin to compose there. This natural process traps moisture on your roof and damages asphalt shingles. This decomposition will eventually spread throughout all layers of your East Texas roofing system and will likely cause interior damage in the end.
Overhanging Branches and Falling Trees
We’ve already talked about how tree debris can cause roof damage but falling tree branches will damage your roofing system a lot faster! Unfortunately, even healthy tree branches can break off during a severe storm so it’s important to trim branches away from your home. Even if a branch doesn’t break off and plummet through your roof, branches and twigs can scrape up against the protective granules on asphalt shingles which makes future roof leaks more likely. Branch movement can also damage soffits and fascia boards which will require a roofing expert’s knowledge and tools to repair.
If you’re planting trees and plants, think carefully about how it could impact your home’s structure in the future. Research how tall the trees grow, how likely they are to sprout up in other areas of your yard unplanned, and then plant them strategically. If you already have a lot of full-grown trees, East Texas Roof Works in Palestine, Texas can safely trim them away from your home. If you notice any trees nearing the end of their life cycle you may also want to consider having them removed altogether. Old trees are particularly liable to falling amid high winds.
East Texas Roofing– Tree Damage Roof Repair
Roofing Contractors In Rusk, Carthage, and Oak Wood
The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June through November, and then you have to combat the winter winds too. It stands to reason that a lot of East Texas homeowners will have to deal with tree damage and storm damage each year. Unfortunately, high winds and the resulting tree damage are just the start of your concerns when it comes to maintaining your East Texas Roof. If you want to keep your shingles prepped and sturdy in every season– call East Texas Roof Works today. We specialize in residential roof maintenance and repairs so you won’t have to worry about emergency roof repairs later down the line.
