The roof is the most important part of a building. It protects the interior of the house and all the contents from adverse effects of the weather. A good roof also helps improve the curb appeal of a home, and when your home insurance provider has confidence on the roof, the premium goes down. These are some of the reasons to keep checking, maintaining and repairing the roof as needed. Below are five things that could be ruining your roof without your knowledge.

Five things that could be ruining your roof

Poorly maintained gutters

When the gutters to your roof are correctly installed, they direct rainwater away from the roof, through the downspout and to the ground drainage. However, when they are poorly installed, the lead to the pooling of water along the edges of the roof, and when the roof is made of materials such as shingles, the water will ultimately cause rotting. When the gutters are not cleaned, dry and rotting branches could lead to the growth of mold, which can be very destructive.

Broken roof flashing

Flashing is installed under the shingles to make the roof waterproof. When installed properly, they ensure that moisture from outside does not reach or get trapped inside the roof. The flashing also ensures that water from inside the house does not get to the shingles. If broken, it will lead to moisture ruining the roof.

Trees and other vegetation

Having trees in your compound is great because it helps you create a cool microclimate around your home. However, when the trees overgrow and are not regularly pruned, they could end up breaking and falling onto your roof, breaking the shingles. The leaves falling from the trees also make it difficult to keep the roof and the gutters clean.

Ice and snow

Roofs are supposed to be made to stand extreme weather such as ice and snow, the problem comes in when the ice or snow accumulates on the roof for a long time and starts forming ice dams. As the temperatures rise and fall, the trapped snow will melt, creating leakages. The perilous hanging of snow on the roof can also lead to serious accidents and injuries.

The presence of algae on the roof

One of the most common causes of algae development on the roof is the buying poor quality shingles. Roof algae normally grow in dark and shady areas of the roof, and spreads very past, when the quality of the shingles is poor. It is therefore important to first make sure that you buy good quality shingles and keep inspecting them for moisture presence.

These are some of the things which will ruin your roof without your knowledge. The best thing to do to avoid this is to hire a contractor to help you perform regular maintenance and repair checks on the roof. As long as there is regular maintenance, you are assured that any problem which comes up will be addressed and rectified before you lose your roof. Speak to a competent roofing contractor and get a quote today.