Roofs are exposed to the elements 24/7 and take a beating protecting your home. But most people don’t pay much attention to a roof until something goes wrong. Knowing the chief contributors to roof damage gives you an edge in being able to look for potential issues before they escalate into serious problems.

At Cavalry Roofing, here are the top five things we see in the field that ruin your roof:

Weather

Inclement weather is the most common thing that will beat up your roof. Here’s an overview of how a combination every day and serious weather events can impact a roof and may warrant an inspection to check for damage.

Hailstorms: Hail damage might not seem significant because it’s sometimes hard to see. But a hailstorm often destroys part of the granule layer on your shingles. Because this layer is compromised, holes can wear in the shingles creating leaks.

High winds: After high wind events, you might notice tears or cracks in your shingles, shingles that curve up at the corners, or some that are missing. This gap in your roofing materials can leave your roof exposed so inspection and repair should be a priority.

Extreme temperatures: Because of the hot summers we have in Colorado, if you see warped or bucking shingles on your roof it’s probably due to sun damage. A roof inspection may reveal heat blisters — small bubbles or holes in the surface of the shingle, that need fixing.

Overgrown Trees

Trees are great landscaping features, but they can cause damage to your roof in several ways.

• Bad weather can cause limbs to break and if they hit the roof shingles, and even the roof structure, can cause significant damage.
• Overhanging branches can scrape against the roof wearing out the shingles.
• Twigs, leaves, needles, and other plant debris can build up and clog your gutters causing water to back up.
• When tree branches are close to the house, they make a perfect bridge for critters and insects to get onto your roof (and into your home) where they can cause damage to shingles, siding, and more.

Algae, Moss, and Lichen

Colorado’s weather in the Front Range region is humid, moist, and warm which is ideal for algae growth. Most homeowners think it’s just an eyesore, but it can lead to significant roof damage. In addition to discoloring shingles, algae make them brittle.

Lichen looks like something crusty growing on your roof and moss can encourage moisture to accumulate on roof decks and eventually creates leaks. If your roof has lichen or moss, it can cause wood rot and structural damage. If you spot any of these growing on the roof, an inspection and roof cleaning is a good idea.

Clogged Gutter Systems

The status of your roof often hinges on the cleanliness and quality of your gutters. It’s an easy thing to check and maintain, but in many cases, this chore gets away from busy homeowners, especially those who aren’t comfortable on the roof or a ladder.  Blocked gutters can lead to backed-up rainwater during heavy storms. When gutters are clogged with debris, the system can overflow, and water will seep underneath shingles damaging the underlayment. This means likely damage to the roof and your home’s interior.

Poor roof installation

Even if you pay for high-quality materials, your roof may still fall apart if it wasn’t installed properly. At Cavalry Roofing, we’ve seen plenty of improper installation work when we’re called in to repair an issue caused by inexperienced or disreputable roofing contractors in Colorado’s Front Range Region. Everything from roofing over old shingles to not using underlayment and even neglecting to use a roof sealant.  The Cavalry Roofing team serves our customers with honesty and a high level of craftsmanship. We use quality materials for all our jobs and stand behind our work by guaranteeing your roof will be structurally sound and beautiful for years to come.

If you have a question about something that’s potentially ruining your roof, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Cavalry Roofing. We can handle every roofing project from inspection to emergency repair and replacement throughout the Colorado Front Range Region. Our estimates are always accurate and free!