Keeping your roof maintained every autumn may feel daunting. So, how can you keep your roof safe with all the leaves and weather changes, especially when the changing temperature can pose a threat.
If you’ve been looking for some fall roof maintenance tips, we’re here to help. Continue reading to learn some crucial information on keeping your roof safe during the fall months.
Keep Trees Trimmed
As the season continues, trees will begin shedding all their leaves. It’s fun to rake up a pile of leaves to jump into, but it’s less fun to have to clean them off your roof.
However, there are more threats than just a mass of leaves, though. Trees will also shed extraneous or dead branches during these months. When these branches fall on your roof, they can cause damage and holes, scrape off shingles, and ding your gutters.
To deal with this before it happens, you should trim your trees before the season hits. Trimming trees is simple enough if you only have a few trees. A ladder, a saw, and some safety gear are all you’ll need to take care of the issue.
However, you should consider hiring professionals for yards with larger or more plentiful trees instead. These trees can pose a threat to your health and safety. They’re also much more difficult to trim properly and often require special gear. If there are a lot of trees in your yard, the task might be too large for just one person.
Survey Attic
Many of us don’t think about our attic too often. Most homes use the attic for storage space, if they use it at all. However, as it’s the closest you can get to your roof, it’s essential to know what’s going on inside your attic.
If there are holes in your roof, you can sometimes spot them through your attic. You also can get other hints on the condition of your roof from the inside. Moisture leaking in, sunlight or a draft can show you any issues you might need to be aware of.
Before autumn hits, go into your attic and give it a quick once-over. Doing so can help you spot problem areas to repair before the season is in full swing. There could also be internal damage that you need to take care of before it causes further issues for your roof. That is why it is important to have an annual roof and attic inspection.
Maintain Your Gutters
We sometimes forget about our gutters until the rainy season. However, your gutters are a crucial part of keeping your home safe and dry. Not taking care of them can lead to water damage and damage your roof considerably, which could lead you to have to replace them.
Letting leaves and dirt build up in your gutters can degrade your gutter over time. This deterioration can lead to water leaking, or it can weigh down your roof.
Excessively heavy gutters can put excess strain on your roof. This strain can lead to your roof bowing or even cracking toward the edges.
Clean gutters will help keep stress off your roof and allow water to drain easier. Without clean gutters, water can become trapped and rot into the wood of your roof.
Ensure you’re keeping your gutters clean to let rain flow more steadily. You’ll also want to make sure that you recheck them before fall ends. The excessive amount of leaves that trees shed can clog your gutters up much easier than the rest of the year.
Sweep Your Roof
If you have trees hanging over your roof, you’ll need to get them off to ensure they aren’t causing issues. You’ll never be able to get every leaf off your roof, especially with multiple trees lining your house. Although, it is important to make sure that your roof isn’t becoming cluttered or clogged. This way, you can avoid needing a roof repair.
If you let leaves build up, they’ll decay over time. If they continue to build up in the same spot on your roof, this decay will mix with other debris, which can create soil and dirt on your roof.
Leaves are far from the compost you’d want for your roof. Instead, this mixture can cause your roof to corrode, especially if it’s in contact with wood.
What’s more, this can trap water, heavily causing water damage on your roof. The only way to stop this is to clear the leaves and sticks.
Remember to get on your roof and clear off as many leaves as you can. Doing so will help ensure there are fewer things on your roof to cause damage and improve the lifespan of your roof.
If you’re using a broom or rake, make sure you’re sweeping in the same direction as your shingles. If you sweep against them, you may damage or remove them. Shingles are crucial to protecting your roof, so do your best to make sure you aren’t accidentally damaging them during maintenance.
Inspect Roof and Gutters for Damage
Additionally, it’s important to remain proactive in keeping your roof safe. Don’t just wait for fall to come around to do maintenance. Do what you can to keep your roof maintained before any problems occur.
Before the fall season begins, schedule a roof inspection. By having professional roofers come out to inspect your roof, you can find and repair any issue with your roof before winter comes.
Professionals will be able to help you spot potential damage, existing problems, missing shingles, and more. To ensure your safety, get a roof inspection before the damage has a chance to happen.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Maintaining your roof can be overwhelming, but it’s vital to keeping your home protected and safe, especially from severe weather. By following our fall roof maintenance tips, you can ensure that your roof is in its best shape before autumn comes.
For more home maintenance tips and information on roofing, siding, gutters, or window construction or repair, contact us today for your free quote today. Our team of professionals will be able to come out to inspect your roof and repair any damage it might have suffered last winter.