Maximizing your roof life is important to protect your investment in it. If you want to keep your roof in great condition, it’s important to know what you need to protect it from. If you live in Northern California, here are the six most common types of roof damage that you need to look out for.
1. Sun Damage
It should come as no surprise that the California sun is the primary cause of roof damage. The sun’s ultraviolet rays are what will eventually cause the end of your shingles. It will wear away at the asphalt, until it gives out and begins to fall to pieces. There’s not much you can do to protect your roof from sun damage, but quality manufacturers have made shingles that can withstand sun for years. We recommend CertainTeed shingles for their longevity.
2. Physical Damage
This source of shingle damage is completely optional. Physical damage is caused when the shingles suffer a physical blow. You might physically damage your shingles if you step on them, nail them improperly, or set something heavy on them, like sandbags or Christmas decorations. The best way to prevent physical damage to your roof is to only allow experienced professionals to work on your roof, and not walk on it yourself. You should also avoid installing anything on your roof, from a solar panel to a skylight, without a roofer.
3. Water Damage
Shingles are rarely damaged by water; their whole job is to repel water and let it run into the gutters. However, if you develop a leak, then the water can damage other parts of the roof. Your roof decking, thin wooden sheets at the base of your roof, can get soaked in water and begin to rot. Some decking can be left to dry, but very wet or rotting decking should be replaced. During repairs, your roofer should always assess decking for water damage.
4. Wind Damage
Extreme winds can damage a roof and not just the shingles. Hurricane-strength winds can grab the corners of roofs, especially those that do not have hurricane straps in the truss and rip part of the truss right off the home. You can install hurricane straps to prevent this.
It is much more common that strong winds blow off shingles or throw other debris onto the roof that damages it. You can protect shingles from this fate by installing them with more nails. Your roofer can advise you as to if you could benefit from a different installation technique.
However, not all missing shingles are caused by wind damage. If shingles are nearing the end of their lifespan, even gentle winds can blow them off, and the only solution to this is to replace them.
5. Algae and Moss Damage
In Northern California, especially in humid areas, roofs can get algae and moss infections. Moss can be destructive to the roof and should be removed before its root systems cause damage and before it spreads. Algae is an aesthetic issue. As algae grows it can leave black streaks on the shingles. You can apply algaecide treatments to control algae.
6. Hail Damage
While hail is very rare in Northern California, it can still happen. Large hail can damage shingles, and there is not much that can be done about it except to replace the damaged shingles after the storm.