Causes of Roof Damage
There are a variety of reasons why a roof may need to be repaired—or replaced. Over time, even the sturdiest of roofs can sustain damage from weather elements, or from wear and tear. Here are some things to look for:
- Hail damage—Hail may leave behind small dents in your asphalt shingles. The dents will be visible as both the granules and substrate have been damaged.
- Wind damage—High winds can cause shingles to curl or split, resulting in granule loss and exposing the substrate underneath.
- Missing shingles—The most obvious sign of missing shingles is bare spots on your roof where you spot the underlayment exposed.
- Cracked shingles—Shrinkage during cold weather can cause cracks in asphalt shingle roofs that compromise the integrity of the material. Cracked tiles also lead to leaks, which causes even more damage to your home if left unchecked.
- Flashing damage—Flashing is a metal strip that’s installed around areas like chimneys and vents to protect against water penetration through these vulnerable areas. They may become damaged from high winds or other weather events; poor installation; or age and general wear-and-tear over time. Flashing problems include: missing flashing; torn flashing; damaged flashing (bent or broken); loose nails; corroded metal strips.
Broken Branches and Debris
Your home’s roof is the first line of defense against the elements. Unfortunately, winter weather can be harsh on your roof, and even more so if you have a lot of trees around your home.
If you have trees near your home, it’s not uncommon for branches to break off and fall on your roof. This can lead to holes in the roof that are pretty obvious and will need to be repaired or replaced quickly. However, sometimes branches land in areas where they may not be as noticeable at first glance. If you miss these broken branches immediately after a storm, they can become a bigger problem as time goes by. Heavy snowfall can make smaller holes larger or cause them to form cracks over time if enough snow builds up on top of the hole.
Leaves and sticks also block gutters when they fall from nearby trees during the autumn months, which causes excessive water buildup on roofs during storms and melting periods following bouts of heavy snowfall. This added weight creates an additional strain on gutters and could cause them to collapse under pressure if too much debris builds up over time without being cleared out regularly.
Human Causes
Snow and ice removal: Professional roofers strongly discourage you from shoveling snow off your roof, as this can cause more damage than it’s worth. Also, since it’s very difficult to effectively remove ice from the roof without damaging it, the best idea is to practice preventative measures such as proper insulation and ventilation in your home.
Falling objects: Environmental causes are usually not to blame for this kind of damage, unless a tree branch falls on your home during a storm. Instead, falling objects are usually caused by human activity. The most common culprit is installing too much heavy equipment on the roof (air conditioning units or satellite dishes, for example), which makes it vulnerable to breaking down under too much weight over time.
Hail: Minnesota is no stranger to hailstorms, which means it’s important that you regularly inspect your roof after any major hailstorms. If your shingles look cracked or appear damaged in any way, then you should call in a professional immediately for repairs before more serious issues arise due to water leaks and other problems with compromised shingles.
If you’re looking to install a new roof on your house, then you should have a professional roofing contractor near Hudson WI, like North End Contracting, install a new roof for you.