As summer ends, and the weather grows cooler, it’s a great time to think about any roof maintenance you’d like to perform. The summer weather can present a variety of challenges for maintaining your roof, and getting it inspected as part of a fall house maintenance checklist would be a wise idea.
While you could hire someone to look at your roof, you could also do it yourself, provided you have the right equipment. Here are some end-of-summer roof maintenance tips to help you get ready for autumn this year.
Ensure you have full shingle coverage
The heat, rain and storms of the summer may have done a number on your roof’s shingles. Therefore, the end of the summer is an ideal time to check your shingles’ status.
When inspecting your roof, first check to see if there are any shingles missing. Make note of any shingles that are cracked, warped, split or otherwise damaged, because if their structural integrity is compromised, they might let water and moisture into your home.
Check and clean your gutters
Your gutters are an integral part of your roof’s drainage system. You should check them this August as you perform the necessary fall house maintenance prior to the leaves changing colors.
The main problem with gutters is that they can get clogged with leaves, sticks, twigs and other debris. This prevents them from collecting rainwater how they’re supposed to, and the water either overflows and falls straight down off your house (defeating the gutters’ purpose), or gathers on the edge of your roof, thereby exposing your roof to excessive standing water and moisture. So, make sure your gutters are clear and in good working order before the fall.
Clean any debris off your roof
Most of the time, any leaves or debris that got into your gutters first got onto your roof. A critical part of proper roof maintenance that many people take for granted is clearing debris off the roof. This includes leaves, sticks, branches, dirt, pine needles and any other natural or unnatural material. Leaves and other debris left on your roof for a long time can attract pests and contribute significantly to its deterioration by trapping moisture, so be sure to clean it at least once a year.
Trim and prune the trees
We’ve saved the most obvious roof maintenance tip for last. The autumn season means leaves are going to be changing colors and eventually falling off the trees. So, it stands to reason that if you have trees on your property near your roof, you should trim and prune them ahead of the fall season. Doing this can prevent storm damage from falling limbs, stop leaves from getting stuck on your roof or in your gutters and discourage animals from trying to enter your attic.
Call for a professional roof inspection today
While you can take certain steps to maintain your roof yourself, for a thorough inspection and a deep cleaning, it’s best to leave it to the experts. So, before the leaves tumble from the trees this fall, get in touch with Dowd Roofing Co. We cover everything from repairing storm-damaged roofs to Title 24-compliant commercial roof installations and everything in between. No matter your roofing needs, we’re the industry leaders with the impeccable solutions to ensure your roof can withstand the elements this fall.