The roof is one of the most important elements of a house. The roof and its complete system protects against the elements, keeps the home safe, helps regulate interior temperatures, and so much more! Surprisingly, many homeowners do not fully understand how to properly care for it to prevent damage.
There are items around the home that can also harm a roof.
Climate and weather patterns often play a huge role in roofing damage. Maintaining your property and roof will help prevent damage to your roofing system. We’re going through four common causes of roofing damage and what you can do to ward it off.
4 Common Causes of Roofing Damage
1. The Sun & Excessive Heat
Arizona sees approximately 300 days of sunshine a year and temperatures reaching well over 110 degrees during the peak summer days. With the sun beating down daily, your roof absorbs the UV rays which can be harmful to your roofing material. Direct sunlight can cause discoloration and the excessive heat will promote crumbling, cracking, and deterioration. As a result, the entire roofing system is susceptible to considerable damage.
Catching any sun damage early and making necessary repairs will help prevent major damage. Also, depending on your roofing material, you can add a layer of protective coating to deflect UV rays. Call a local roofing company to see if your roof has UV or heat damage and what the best solution is for prevention.
2. Storms
Strong winds and heavy rain can cause considerable damage to a roof. The winds can lift the materials off of the roofing system leaving open areas of the underlayment vulnerable to further damage. Rain from the storm can easily find its way to these vulnerable areas and a leak can be produced. Heavy rains can also cause gutters to back up and water will pool on top of your roof. Standing water creates an even worse situation for your roof and significant damage to the entire system.
When a strong storm comes through, performing a simple inspection of the roof can help catch this damage early, especially before another storm happens. Standard preventative maintenance and regular inspection will help prevent excessive damage from a storm.
3. Trees
Many homeowners don’t consider their trees to be a common source of roofing damage, but they can actually harm the roof in many ways. Rotten trees are easily blown over with a little bit of wind and can easily collapse on a roof. Limbs and branches can fall on your roof, puncturing the materials. This can cause extensive damage, especially if water finds its way under the roofing material to the layers below.
To help limit damage from the trees around a home, hire a tree trimming company to inspect the trees and perform necessary trims. Doing so will not only keep the branches from puncturing the roof, but also little twigs will not clog drains and gutters.
4. Moss or Algae Growth
Arizona’s climate can be the perfect mixture of elements to promote moss or algae growth on your roof. When it rains and water is left on a roofing system, it can cause algae or moss growth on the shaded side of your home or where trees cover it. Both of these developments can stain the roofing material and slowly cause additional damage to the structure with rot.
Removing algae or moss as soon as it is identified is going to be the best option to prevent any damage to the roof. Be sure to contact a professional as specialized equipment and safety measures are needed to clean the roof.
Prevention is Key
Common components of your property can cause significant damage to your roofing system. While some items you can control, there are other things, such as rain and wind, that are more difficult to prevent the damage they cause. Regardless of the cause, preventative maintenance is often key to prohibit damage.
Luckily, Craven Construction is your East Valley trusted roofing company! We are available to assess your entire roofing system and provide you with the best preventative measures. If your roof already has damage, call our office to schedule a FREE estimate. Our team is highly skilled and trained along with being licensed and insured for your added peace of mind.
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About Craven Construction
Craven Construction is dedicated to providing our customers with honest and reliable roofing services. With over two decades of residential and commercial experience, we are here to serve you and all of your roofing needs.
Our team of experienced roofers is licensed and knowledgeable in working with all types of roofing. We offer high quality roofing services and are capable of getting your project completed in a timely, efficient manner.