What Can Damage Your Roof?

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house. Without it, you would not be able to live comfortably during hot summers and cold winters. This is why it’s a great idea to maintain your roof and know what potential factors can damage it. Below you will find a list of ten things that can damage your roof or shorten its lifespan. If you have experienced damage to your roof and need a roof repair or roof replacement in Salisbury MD, give us a call at (410) 677-4975 or email us at office@gandbrosroofing.com.

1. Tree Branches: Low Tree branches hanging over the roof can break and fall with heavy ice, excessive winds, or snow accumulation. To prevent tree branches from breaking off, inspect the trees that are around your house and trim any branches that seem like a problem.
2. Roof Debris: Debris buildup on your roof can also be very problematic, especially around chimneys, dormers, or valleys. Sticks, leaves, acorns, and pines can pile up causing potential leaks or causing your shingles to deteriorate.
3. Critters: Animals such as nesting birds, raccoons, bats, woodpeckers, squirrels, and mice can all contribute to dismantling your roof. The insects under your shingles and fascia boards are sought after by woodpeckers and your vent covers and shingles can be torn off by raccoons looking for a way inside.
4. Downspouts/Gutters: Gutters and downspouts are made to keep water flowing away from your roof. If the gutters are filled with debris, the water can start to accumulate or the debris can cause the downspouts to clog. Over time, this could cause leaks, the structure to rot, or the gutter and downspout to fall off. If you would like more tips on how to clean your gutters go to Why Gutter Maintenance is Important.
5. Strong Rain: Excessive rain or hail can damage or weaken the protective mineral coating on your asphalt shingles. This could also open problems with UV rays and moisture. Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done to prevent rain damage to your roof but it’s recommended to routinely inspect your roof.
6. Snow/Ice: Here in Salisbury MD, we don’t have major ice problems like in other places. Yet we still need to be concerned about ice or snow on our roof. Excessive snow or ice around your eaves, valleys, or dormers might allow water to seep through the shingle and plywood into your house.
7. Strong Wind: This is the most common thing that will damage and shorten your roof’s lifespan. Strong winds can cause your shingles to lift up and even blow them off. Once the wind lifts the shingles, they lose the seal that holds the shingles down.
8. Heat Damage: Unfortunately our beautiful sun can also damage the roof. If there is excessive heat for a prolonged amount of time, it can dry your shingles out. When shingles are dry, they are prone to cracking and causing leaks.
9. Moisture: While each of these issues can create problems that damage your roof, you may have noticed one main thing they all have in common. All these things allow water or moisture in and that is the biggest culprit in causing harm to your roof. If you can take care of everything else before or as they happen, then you can prevent water and moisture from destroying and damaging your roof.
10. Flashing: Roof flashing refers to a thin strip of material used for weather-proofing your roof around vents, chimneys, and along the edges. If your flashing becomes damaged, it can allow water to seep underneath that area and into your home. Over time and weather wearing, the compound used to seal the flashing can become lose or dry out which can cause water damage

If you believe that your roof is showing any signs of damage or would like a free roof inspection, contact G and Bros Roofing LLC at (410) 677-4975 or email us at office@gandbrosroofing.com. We are a local roofing company located in Salisbury MD and service the surrounding areas, such as Fruitland, Ocean Pines, Ocean City, and Rehoboth Beach.