Throughout much of the Pacific Northwest, homeowners and property owners are blessed with an extraordinary and diverse tree canopy sheltering their homes and businesses.
This canopy provides many benefits — not least of which is its beauty; it’s really something to just sit under a protective canopy of trees and watch the birds, squirrels and other little animals flit about from branch to branch.
Still, as many of us know, the trees and branches that form the canopy can also cause expensive and extensive damage to homes, especially roofs.
This leads to a good question: How far should tree branches be from a roof?
We suggest maintaining about 10 feet of space between your trees’ branches and your roof.
One must consider this question when deciding where you’re going to be planting trees — or, in some cases, where you’re going to relocate or remove a troublesome tree.
Trees and Your Roof
Troublesome? Yep. Trees can cause tremendous damage to a home, especially if their entire bulk topples over onto a structure. Tree branches hanging over your home or close to your home or property line should be trimmed; tree branches hanging over your roof pose a threat to the structure during ice storms or plain ol’ windy days.
But even without the most catastrophic events, trees and their branches can still damage roofs, windows, siding, and more in small increments. This is because trees in your yard are constantly dropping twigs or fruits or cones or because they’re deciduous and shed their leaves annually.
This shedding and dropping from hanging branches can clog rain gutters while also contributing to the aforementioned damage to roofs and windows.
Big branches can do big damage, but the accumulation of smaller branches and twigs can form a blanket of debris that attracts moisture and rot to your roof and shingles.
Regular trimming can ensure that your tree grows strong and healthy while also protecting the home or building for which it provides beauty and shade.
We highly suggest consulting with a certified arborist about your tree care and tree service needs. They can handle the job, whether it’s trimming tree limbs over your house or determining the most appropriate course of action.
In the meantime, the Vancouver roofing experts at Warner Roofing can provide you with advice and details on how best to protect your home with a roof that will last decades.
Let us know if you have any questions!
