Canada’s winter is notoriously harsh, and when bad weather strikes, your roof can be the first to feel its wrath! If you want to protect your home from roof damage, it’s important to know the most common causes of roof damage. In this blog article, we’ll list eight of the most common causes of roof damage in Canada – such as high winds or ice dams – and what you can do to fix your roof and prevent future problems.

Can rain and hail cause damage to your roof?

Rainfall is the driving force behind the majority of hail damage. A hailstone can have a diameter ranging from 1 inch to 2 inches, but most hail is between 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch.

One of the main problems with hail damage is that it varies greatly depending on the type of roofing material it hits. Aluminum foil, wood shingles, asphalt shingles and metal shingles all do very little to decrease hail damage when they are hit by a hailstone. These materials are generally used on lower end homes because they are cheaper to install than other types and are more economical for homeowners during hailstorms.

Rain and hail can cause damage to the roof in two ways. First, they can wear away the shingles, which results in leaking water through the roof. Second, they can cause dirt, mud and other loose particles to blow into the attic and home’s interior spaces. When this happens, it becomes difficult to keep out pests, mold and mildew that are all carriers of distressing diseases (such as allergies). Furthermore, it’s common for animals to use your roof as a place to perch so that their nests don’t get wet from rain or snow falling on the roof.

Roofing can be damaged by high winds

Shingles are made of strips that are shaped in a way that they lock together, like puzzle pieces. The joints between the pieces prevent them from moving and acts as a boundary for the shingles to hold on to. High winds can cause some damage to your roofing because it moves around and loosens the joints between the shingles. 

When there’s high wind or heavy rain, some of these joints may separate and allow water to get under the shingles and cause leaks. Shingles tend to last longer than other types of roofing because they’re usually built with weather protection in mind, but if you have high winds, it can still damage your roofing causing problems with leaks.

How to spot roof damage caused by the wind?

If you are experiencing a windstorm, immediately call a roofing company in Toronto to check your roof for any damage. If there’s wind damage, it is important to get the roof inspected ASAP before more damage occurs.

Roof Damage From snow?

If the roof was properly engineered, it should not be damaged significantly from snow. A good engineer will calculate and design for these kinds of conditions.

Roof Damage From Ice Dams

It is important to understand why ice dams occur. Water in the air spaces behind the shingles that keep water from entering the attic also prevents warm air from rising. This causes condensation on the roof and water to build up on the underside of the roof sheathing. As more water builds up, it freezes and eventually cracks, causing ceiling damage and leaks around windows and gutters. 

Damming up this excess water can help prevent damage to your home but will not eliminate ice dams entirely. What many people do not realize is that there are ways to prevent this problem altogether by sealing off those air gaps where water is collecting using a number of different products including gutter covers, drip irrigation systems, rain barrels or even simple plastic.

Roof Algae

Algae on the roof does not necessarily require treatment. Old roofs can turn from a shiny brown surface to a slimy green one in just a few days. This algae is not dangerous and it won’t affect your roof’s health, but it does have some noticeable visual effects.

How can a tree damage your roof?

A tree growing in your attic can create a lot of damage to your roof. It can damage the tiles on the roof, and eventually cause water leakage problems. Most homeowners discover this problem during winter when they have to deal with excess amounts of water that leak through their roofs because of ice dams and leaves that prevent rain from infiltrating the roof.

The main reason why trees are undesirable near houses is because they use up a lot of resources needed for roofing materials, drainage and other maintenance related tasks. Hence keeping trees away from homes is an important part of maintaining the integrity and quality of the home’s structure over time.

Ultraviolet Light?

The effects of UV light on the roof are a bit complex because it depends on three factors: The type of roof, the exposure of the roof to sunlight and the type of materials used.

UV light can fade roofing materials, which is why it is so important to keep your roof protected. If you have vinyl siding or a wooden porch or deck, UV light will cause fading and discoloration.

Unqualified Roofing Contractors

Unqualified roofers often do a poor job and put up shoddy work. Not only that, they also cost more because the material they use is cheaper than quality materials. While it may cost you some money to hire a qualified roofing contractor in Toronto, you will save money in the long run by hiring someone who knows his or her trade and will not do substandard work.