Trees are a wonderful addition to any yard. They offer shade, curb appeal, and even resale value to your home. But if you allow your trees to become unruly, they will start to disrupt your home. Overgrown trees can start to touch your roof, siding, windows, etc. leading to unwanted consequences. So how far should tree branches be from the roof? We’re here to answer this important question and give you the inside scoop on why it matters.
Just How Far Should Tree Branches be from Your Roof?
Tree branches touching your roof can be problematic for many reasons. In general, tree branches should be at least 6-10 feet away from your roof. This distance is very important to consider when planting new trees as well. If you plant a new tree too close to your home, the tree branches will have nowhere to go, forcing them to touch your home. The large underground root system can also disrupt the foundation of your home. If you decide to plant new trees, make sure larger trees are planted at least 20-30 feet away from your home. That way, the trees have plenty of room to grow up and out, without it affecting your home.
Why it Matters for Your Home
Tree branches touching your roof can lead to destructive outcomes. From shingle damage to clogged gutters, we’ve compiled a list of reasons to keep your tree branches away from your home.
Shingle Damage
Tree branches touching your roof can cause shingle damage. Since the tree branch will grow towards the shingles, it will start to push on them. This can cause the shingles to become uplifted, cracked, or even completely pushed out of place. Damaged shingles can cause issues with moisture entering your home, so it’s something you’ll want to have fixed right away. Shingle replacement can be costly. Therefore, it’s best to keep tree branches away from your home to avoid this completely.
Promotes Plant Growth
Plant growth on a roof will cause many issues for your home. Shade and wet conditions are ideal for this type of plant growth. If a tree is touching the roof, chances are high that the area is not drying properly. These wet conditions will cause moss and algae to grow on your shingles. These plants keep more moisture trapped on your roof, leading to sitting water, shingle damage, and eventually moisture entering your home.
Excessive Debris
If a tree branch is hanging over or touching your roof, the debris that falls from it (leaves, tree branches, etc.) will fall directly onto your roof. Excessive debris on your roof can cause damage to your shingles and cause moisture to become trapped, leading to plant growth. If large, heavy tree branches are falling on your roof, this could even lead to structural damage. If the entire tree topples over, this could be catastrophic to your home.
Clogged or Damaged Gutters
Clearing out your gutters should be regularly performed twice a year. But if you have excessive debris landing on your roof due to unruly trees, you’ll likely find yourself clearing the gutters more often. If you fail to keep up with them, you’ll start to have water back up onto your roof, causing moisture damage within your home. The overgrown tree branches can also push on your gutters. This will cause dents and possibly unhinge the gutter altogether.
Easy Access for Critters and Bugs
A tree branch touching your roof will act as a highway for critters and bugs. Many of these bugs, such as termites, carpenter ants, and wasps, can completely overtake your home’s structure. Even though pests can find other ways to access your roof, it’s best to limit their access by keeping tree branches away from your home.
Storms Spell Disaster
While the other reasons can happen on a daily basis, a storm will amplify all of these potential issues. Storms can bring strong rain and winds that will cause the tree to move around. If a large branch is scraping against your roof, it will likely cause a large amount of damage to the shingles. The branch can also puncture windows, tear siding off, or cause cosmetic damage to your house in general. If the storm completely breaks a limb off or the entire tree falls over, this will cause immediate structural damage to your home. If you experience a strong storm, you should always check your roof for damage. ProCon Exteriors lays out what to look for after an Ohio Storm.
Consider Hiring a Certified Arborist
Letting your trees become unruly can backfire in the long run. You should keep tree branches at least 6-10 feet away from your roof at all times. A Certified Arborist knows the science behind trees and knows how far tree branches should be from a roof. They also know that if a tree is trimmed or pruned incorrectly, or too much at a time, it can send your tree into shock. We’ve previously explained the many reasons to hire a Certified Arborist for your tree needs. By keeping your tree an acceptable distance away from your roof, you’ll minimize the risk of destruction on your home.
Rogue Tree Solutions Are Certified Arborists That Can Trim Your Trees
We specialize in Tree Removal, Stump Grinding, Pruning, Lot Clearing, Consulting & Tree Disease and Pest Diagnosis. We pride ourselves in setting the industry standard. We have a very skilled team that consists of years of experience, an ISA-certified arborist, State of Ohio licensed herbicide applicators, etc. At Rogue our mission is simple, we don't want to be compared to our competitors, we want to set the precedent, we want to be ROGUE.
