Trees, shade and what they do to a roof
Branches that overhang a roof scrape the surface in wind, drop leaves that clog valleys and keep slopes damp. In Florida's humidity, damp roofs grow algae and moss, and trapped debris holds water against flashing. Palm fronds and heavy limbs can puncture or crack roofing in a storm.
Shaded roofs dry slowly, so shingles stay wet longer and wear differently from sunlit ones. Roots from large trees can also pull moisture from the ground and shift the foundation, which sometimes shows up as small cracks around roof lines. Trimming back limbs away from the roof is one of the cheapest forms of protection, and an arborist can advise on which branches to take.
