Your roof is one of the most vital parts of your home, and it needs constant care. Proper maintenance now can help you avoid problems later. The snow, hail, and ice that come with the cold winter weather are nothing to play with when it comes to your roof. If you live in an area where the weather can get freezing, the integrity of your roof can suffer from damage and cracks. Before the winter months come, there is plenty of time during the fall to make any improvements or repairs needed to your roof. Your roof should be inspected two times a year: late spring and fall. If your roof isn’t maintained in the fall, the damage can be exacerbated in the winter and result in more expensive repairs when the spring comes around. To ensure the most extended lifespan for your roof, there are some roof maintenance tips you should follow during the fall season.
Fall Roof Maintenance Tips
Clean Gutters
When the leaves start to fall from the trees during the Fall season, they can land on your roof and end up in your gutters. The build-up of leaves in your gutters can create a considerable problem when the rain comes, and water can’t make its way to the drains. Leaves on your roof can also pose a huge issue when they clump up and collect water from rain. The rain and moisture can lead to your shingles and roofing beneath to rot, resulting in a leak into your home. Not only are roof damage and leaks a considerable concern but weakened beams can also occur from the uneven pressure on them from piles and clumps of wet leaves.
Trim Trees
If a tree is hovering over your roof, there’s a big chance that twigs and branches will break off and land upon your roof. When this happens, damage from the branches, twigs, and leaves can occur along with wood rot, termite invasion, and mold growth. Take some time to trim branches that are over your roof to avoid this problem from happening.
Shingle Replacement
Like any roofing materials, shingles get older, and poor weather conditions can age them even quicker. Shingles can warp, break, curl at the edges, or come loose and fall off your roof. Moisture can penetrate the interior of your home where damaged or loose shingles are above. The fall season is the perfect time to replace old, worn, or broken shingles while the temperatures are mild, and the weather isn’t as rainy.
Gutter Guard Installation
To significantly reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning out your gutters, consider using gutter guards. These caps go over your guttering and prevent any leaves from falling inside. Water can still get through like it’s supposed to through small holes in the caps. But large debris such as leaves, and small twigs can not enter and will dry up and blow away. You won’t have much cleaning to do after installing gutter guards.
Inspect Your Attic
The condition of your attic affects the condition of your roof. Ensure that your attic insulation isn’t covering any vents so air can escape, and ice dam formation is prevented on your roof. Make sure that eave and ridge vents are also free from other debris and plants. Ensuring there are no unwanted house guests such as birds or rodents living in our attic is also important because they can create holes and cause extreme damage that will be expensive to repair. If you discover any rodents, have this problem taken care of before the winter season comes.
Hire A Professional
Your roof protects your home year-round from natural elements. But even the strongest roofs can be damaged by weather, debris, and pests. Having a professional inspect your roof early on can result in only a quick repair being required. Neglecting your roof and allowing the damage to worsen over time can result in even more costly repairs down the road. Most homeowners can miss signs of roof damage, so it’s a good idea to call a professional to perform a thorough inspection of your roof. A professional roofing contractor can find damage that you may have overlooked. By having an expert inspect your roof in the fall, you can have a piece of mind knowing that nothing important was missed and that your roof Is in tip-top shape for the upcoming winter season.