There’s nothing more valuable than a good roof over your head, and that’s something that we can really stand behind here at Red Dog’s Roofing. After all, as your roofing experts, it’s our job to ensure that you have the best roof atop your family castle. So, today, we’re talking about protecting your precious roof. Now, there’s not much that can damage a Red Dog roof. Our roofs are built to withstand nearly anything that mother nature can conjure up. However, there’s still one major hazard that can wreak havoc on your roof, especially here in our home state of Massachusetts, and that's trees. They may seem innocent enough, but your trees may be a danger to your property, especially your roof. So let’s talk tree safety. Here are some signs that your tree may be a danger to your home, and what you should do about it.

Signs of a Hazardous Tree

Keep an eye out for trees on your property that exhibit any of the following signs of damage: Your tree is missing bark: Tree bark protects the interior of the tree, which delivers nutrients along the height of the tree. If you notice missing bark on the trunk or limbs of your tree, your tree may be dying, and any segment past that portion of the damaged tree will likely die soon if it’s not dead already. Trees can lose their bark due to disease, natural disasters, and pests.

Your tree doesn’t produce leaves: If your tree or parts of your tree can’t grow leaves during the blooming seasons, it’s likely dead. The leaves are discolored or fall too early: Similarly, if your tree’s leaves are discolored or if they drop before autumn, then your tree may be unhealthy or dead. Your tree is leaning: If you have a tree that’s leaning and the roots are pulling out of the ground, you should act right away. Tree roots can weaken due to malnutrition, a poorly balanced tree, or due to natural disasters. Do not attempt to uproot the tree yourself—tree roots can whip out of the soil and cause harm. Your tree has fungus or pests: It may be difficult to tell if your tree is infested, since some pests and fungus can live under tree park. However, you may notice discoloration, slimy branches and roots, and small holes bored by insects. Talk to an arborist if you think you have a tree that is affected. Your tree is old: While some tree species can last well past a century, other trees have a far shorter lifespan, and they’ll simply die of old age at some point. Find out what species tree you have, and do some research to determine how long your tree is expected to last.

What to Do About Dangerous Trees

If you have a tree that’s on its last limb, it’s best to have it removed. Hire a professional tree removal crew to ensure that your tree is properly tied off as it is cut down. Take note, you may be able to save your tree in certain instances. Consult an arborist to determine the health of your tree and to see whether or not you can save that tree. You may be able to fertilize your tree, use a pesticide or fungicide, or you may be able to have branches cut off in order to save the tree.

When Damage Happens

When branches do end up damaging your roof, you can call on Red Dog’s Roofing. We specialize in roofing services, including roofing repair. We work on roofs of all types, including asphalt shingle roofs, wood shake roofs, slate and slate composite roofs, and metal roofs. Plus, we provide service for folks throughout much of Massachusetts, including homeowners in Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Westminster, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Ashburnham, Princeton, and Sterling.