Will a Tree Branch or Limb on a Roof Hurt It?

Dragging

• A serious problem both with branches that have fallen on the roof and branches that rest on the roof while still attached to the tree, dragging is caused when a powerful gust of wind blows the branch or limb over the tiles or shingles of the roof. This action can result in scratches to the roof and can even knock shingles or tiles from their proper location. Loose branches pose less danger of dragging than those still attached to the tree, since they are carried to a different location by the wind. Attached branches drag over the same location multiple times, increasing the amount of damage to a specific area.

Mold and Mildew

• Lingering dead tree branches on a roof will eventually rot if not removed. This process involves the slow breakdown of the wood and leaves by microorganisms that use this material for food. Unfortunately, the same woody material is found in the framework of roofing and, once contaminated by the mold and mildew eating away at the limb, is subject to the same fate if not treated.

Heavy Weight

• The largest branches from a tree can cause serious structural damage to the house when falling or resting on a roof. This is because the heavy weight of the tree limb destabilizes the balance of the house on its foundation. The imbalance can cause severe problems from cracking walls to a collapse of the roof if not repaired.

Gutter Clogs

• Smaller branches left on the roof may clog the gutter drains with leaves and other debris. This puts extra weight on the gutter system and, if left too long, will lead to the collapse of the gutter. Clearing leaves and branches from the roof and gutter regularly will ensure proper flow.

Fire

• Dead and dried out wood left on a hot roof all day is a fire hazard. In just the same way as a brush fire is caused, the drying and oxidizing plant matter of the tree branch can ignite and quickly spread to the roof and the rest of the home.