One of the most common reasons for roof damage is moisture. It's not necessarily the moisture from rain itself that causes damage, since when things are working properly, rain drains away from your roof. It's when moisture is held against your roof that problems develop and lead to the need for roof repairs. Here are some common reasons for roof moisture.
1. Piles Of Tree Debris
When twigs and leaves get stuck in a roof valley or behind a chimney, they get wet when it rains and then clump together. This makes it difficult for wind to blow the leaves away compared to when the leaves are dry and light. If the clump of leaves stays on the roof very long, they can eventually cause damage because they hold moisture against the shingles. This might lead to a roof leak, mold, and shingle deterioration.
Be sure to knock leaves off your roof when they get stuck if you can. If a lot of leaves or branches are on your roof and you can't get them off, call a roofer to clean off the shingles and look for damage. If moisture got underneath the shingles, the deck might have water damage too. Roof repairs may be needed if the shingles or deck started to rot due to all the moisture.
2. Moss That Grows On The Shingles
Moss isn't a good thing to have on your roof. Unlike algae that's mainly an eyesore, moss is a plant that has roots and that holds moisture against the roof. The roots lift shingles and burrow underneath them. This makes it much easier for rain to get under the shingles and lead to a roof leak.
Moss should be removed when you see it growing on your roof. Once it's gone, have a roofer check for water damage and make roof repairs if needed.
3. Gutters Clogged With Leaves
Clogged gutters cause roof damage. This happens because rain can't drain away from the roof. The rain collects in the gutters and backs up against the roof instead. This leads to roof rot, and it may damage the shingles too.
This type of roof damage can be prevented by keeping leaves out of your gutters. Otherwise, you may need to call a roofer to repair shingles or replaced rotted areas of your deck.
4. Snow And Ice On The Roof
Snow and ice can be harmful to your roof when it thaws during the day and freezes again at night. This cycle allows the ice to lift shingles so melting snow gets under them to cause water damage. This process is accelerated if your gutters are clogged or if you have poor attic ventilation.
When the snow and ice are gone, you might need to have roof repairs that include replacing shingles to stop a roof leak or replacing rotting plywood on the deck. You might even need to have a vent added to your attic to improve ventilation so you don't have the same problem when it snows again.
When you develop a roof leak, you don't have time to ignore it. Issues with leaks can cause problems as simple as incoming water and as wide-ranging as mold accumulation inside your home, which is why you should never let an issue sit. However, if you aren't careful, you could develop problems with roofing that is simply open to the elements, allowing rain and snow to enter your home, melt, and contribute to problems like mold growth. On this blog, you can learn more about the kinds of roofing issues that you could be faced with, and what to do about them.