A Hole Through a Roof Part I

Understanding the Causes and Impacts of a Hole Through a Roof – Part I

Not long ago, we looked at a roof with SERIOUS problems.  In the pictures below, you can see several angles of a roof that is partially collapsed and wide open. There’s no question, this is a major problem which is causing complete debilitation of the entirety of the interior of the building.  The roof surface itself is a built up roof.  This type of roofing material and roofing system is much less common today, but many decades ago was a common alternative to the historic standing seam metal roofs.

If you look through the tree leaves and down into the framing of the roof you can see that it’s open, all the way down through into the building.  Neglected properties of blight and abandonment are increasingly rare in Washington DC, but not long ago, problems like this were more common as the economics of the real estate market has changed significantly over the past 20 years. In DC, most buildings are now under some degree of stewardship and care. It wasn’t that long ago though that there were thousands of buildings in DC that were almost completely neglected. In some cases, there are still issues of abandoned and neglected properties, here in Washington DC, today, and in some cases there are many problems of properties owned by out of town landlords or people who don’t see the full potential or are not ready to proactively invest or care for their properties because of cashflow limitations or lack of vision.

The water that is leaked through this roof has completely destroyed the interior of the building.  In simple terms, the cause and effect makes complete sense but there’s another side to the issue.  Water damage caused by unaddressed or unabated roof leaks like this can be so significant that it can cause long-term structural defects to the building.  There is a range of different classes of contractors out there, even in expensive cities like Washington DC.  Real estate agents and house flippers don’t always look for quality contractors who think about the big-picture perspective, instead they are motivated by speed and “cheap” alternatives,  driven by profit.  This is a recipe for corner cutting which in a case like this where there’s significant deep structural damage, leads to cover ups.  

Like many roofs, this particular roof has a tree growing right above it. But, in this case it’s covering the roof so much that it’s hard to even see the roof surface.

In some cases it’s worth cutting the tree branches back a bit, but the tree branches won’t really hurt anything too badly, in most cases.  It can even help to have trees growing above a building because they shade the building to an extent which can reduce the cooling load and energy requirements significantly in the summertime. They can simply make the house feel much more comfortable. Otherwise when a roof, especially a dark color roof like this one, is fully exposed to the Sun it basically just cooks in the summertime which makes the whole building feel a bit like being inside of an oven.

There’s a handful of potential problems associated with having trees over a roof, but they can all be managed to an extent: 

1. Tree debris like flowers and seeds and leaves can get into gutters and clog them up. This needs to be managed like everything else, the gutters have to be cleaned out relatively routinely and at least seasonally, but even if a tree isn’t growing directly above a roof, even if trees are growing on other properties, outside of the specific property, the leaves of those trees can still get into and clog up gutters.
2. Falling branches can damage a building, but the majority of branches that fall are relatively small and when very large branches fall or collapse into a building it can cause significant damage, but these types of catastrophic type tree falls don’t happen often, its rare.  (We saw one very recently though which will post in a future blog which did cause massive damage.)
3. Overhanging branches can scrape and damage roofing materials. This is a particular issue in case of the building in the pictures here in this blog because the branches are growing so close to the roof that they’re literally touching the roof.
   During windy conditions, branches repeatedly rubbing against flat roofing materials can wear them down over time. This gradual damage can lead to leaks and roof damage, often going unnoticed until some more significant damage has occurred.
4. Excessive shade from dense tree canopies can promote moss and algae growth on roofs,  although a degree of shade can be good. These organisms thrive in damp, shaded conditions and can deteriorate roofing materials. While not an immediate threat, long-term neglect can lead to roof damage and reduced energy efficiency due to decreased reflectivity and air flow when the branches are too close to the roof surface.
5. Fruit-bearing trees can attract pests and create a mess. Trees that produce fruit or berries can draw unwanted wildlife like rodents or birds, potentially leading to infestations. Additionally, fallen fruit can create slippery conditions on roof surfaces and leave stains on surfaces, requiring frequent cleaning and maintenance.
6. Pollen from certain tree species can clog rooftop HVAC systems. During heavy pollination periods, air conditioning units and other ventilation systems can become coated with pollen which can suffocate equipment airflow.

We recommend every building owner in DC who values the longevity of their roof (and their investments) and building use a contractor who values the simple and important principles of proper roof construction like Dupont Roofing DC. Learn more about our company and the proper techniques of working with roofing on historic buildings in Washington DC here on our blog at DupontRoofingDC.com, and you can call us at (202) 840-8698 and email us at dupontroofingdc@gmail.com.