Why do shaded slopes on Memorial roofs turn black?
Slopes under mature canopy dry slowly after rain, and that lingering moisture lets airborne algae take hold and spread as dark streaks. Algae-resistant shingles or metal strips at the ridge slow it down, so have the staining identified as growth before a replacement is recommended on appearance alone — the NRCA treats condition assessment as the starting point.
How much damage do overhanging limbs actually cause?
Branches resting on a roof scrub granules off asphalt shingles every time wind moves them, and a falling limb can crack tile or slate outright. Clearing limbs back from the roof plane costs far less than repairing the abrasion path, and FEMA’s storm guidance lists it among the prep worth doing early — a roof inspection will show where contact is already happening.
What clogs gutters fastest on a wooded lot?
Leaf fall and pine needles pack into valleys and gutter runs, and once water backs up it wicks under the first course of shingles and soaks the fascia and soffit. Because the soffit is also the attic’s air intake, one blocked gutter takes out drainage and ventilation together — the Department of Energy lists warped soffit panels among the first signs, and a maintenance plan keeps it from getting there.