Top 5 Ways to Prevent Damage to your Home from a Tree

Trees are beautiful, and some of the longest lasting things on earth. But they have their downsides. Falling trees and tree limbs are responsible for countless amounts of home and property damage.

Here are 5 things you can look out for to prevent it from happening to you:

1. Look out for dead trees.

It's not a matter of if the tree will fall, it's a matter of when. Dead trees are especially dangerous if located near homes or driveways where cars usually park. Keep in mind that even though insurance will usually cover the damage that a tree has on your property (or your neighbor's), it's your responsibility to make sure that the trees are maintained. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a tree is dead or if it just needs a shot of coffee. If you're noticing one of these guys in your yard, reach out to your local arborist. A tree professional can often inspect and test a tree to suggest the best course of action.

2. Keep an eye peeled for dead branches.

A tree may not need to be dead to have dead branches. A few days ago Richmond, VA experienced unbelievable winds. In addition to blowing around some debris, we lost about half of what we thought was a healthy tree. We're lucky it didn't hit anything except the yard (and barely missed the mailbox). Be sure to keep tree limbs trimmed back to prevent them from coming down on your property.

3. Keep an eye on your roof.

Tree limbs that aren't exceptionally long but are touching your home or roof can still be a major problem. As the wind blows the limbs, they can catch your shingles and begin to damage and even rip up your roof. Be sure to keep the trees around your home trimmed back. Thousands of Americans visit the hospital each year from roof and ladder-related injuries; if you aren't comfortable getting up on your roof, call a tree trimmer or arborist to take care of the job for you.

4. Notice leaning trees.

Even beautiful, healthy trees that are leaning too heavily can be concerning. Some trees have the capacity to lean in a particular direction (oak is a strong wood that often leans) but they should still be inspected thoroughly to ensure that they don't grow too large and lean too much.

5. Mushrooms at the base of your tree.

Mushrooms and conks can be signs of decomposing or rotting trees. They will often attack older trees, so it can be beneficial to get the tree and mushroom inspected. Usually, it isn't a problem, but it's always best to be safe rather than sorry.

Keep an eye out for these things. If you ever feel concerned, reach out to G&R Contracting at 804-360-2686.

** We don't actually remove trees but we can refer you to a specialist that we trust!