6 leading causes of roof damage (and how to prevent them)
A vast majority of roofing damage is preventable.
Many homeowners and business owners assume roof damage is inevitable, especially during severe weather. While hail is notorious for causing more than its fair share of headaches for both owners and adjusters, there are far more instances where preventive maintenance could limit, if not altogether prevent unnecessary roofing damage.
There are six main causes of roof damage. While you can’t prevent all six of these from occurring, you can limit the effect most, if not all of them have on your roof’s overall health.
Wind
One of the leading causes of roofing damage is high wind. If your roof is not properly secured to the joists and walls, it will experience wind lift due to wind gusts and cause structural separation. A regular roof maintenance program will help you identify and secure any exposed roofing material that may be susceptible to wind lift.
Roof debris
This is more than just a neighbor’s random Frisbee stuck in a gutter. Roof debris can be vegetation that’s either blow onto the roof or grown onto the roof surface itself from a nearby tree or ivy. Vegetation that is left on your roof can begin rooting into your roofing surface and cause significant damage through penetrating the roofing membrane.
Ice/Snow
Ice and snow that dams up your roof vents, joints, and gutters can cause long-term damage to your roof. The added weight of snow and ice puts pressure on your roof deck that can begin to buckle and bend. The easiest way to prevent ice damming is to remove any debris or inefficient gutter equipment.
Severe weather
Hail is the taxes of the roofing world: at some point you’re gonna get hit with it, and it’s going to cost a lot. While that may be true, you can also “audit” your roof on a regular basis to ensure the potential damage is minimal. If your roof suffers hail damage this summer, your first call should be to R&A Contracting for our FREE on-site inspection.
Poor installation or construction
A roof is only as strong as its construction quality. The type of roofing material you use needs to be securely installed. This includes the flashing, paneling, fasteners, and other important roofing equipment. R&A Contracting is a huge proponent of SPF roofing solutions because SPF removes the need for flashing, paneling, and fasteners. The monolithic and bonding nature of SPF creates a seamless roofing umbrella that strengthens your roof’s overall structure.
Standing water
Standing water on your roof can cause algae to form, which can be very destructive to your roofing surface. If you have standing water, you need to install a mitigation system to effectively channel storm water off your roof and away from your foundation.