Fall Roof Maintenance Tips

The autumn season is almost upon the Annapolis and Southern Maryland area, and now is the time to get your home and your roof prepared.

Before you start working around the home, there are some very important roof maintenance tips every homeowner should consider.

Read on to learn about some ways you can practice good care and maintenance for your roof as fall arrives.

Keep Trees Neatly Trimmed

As the wind starts to pick up during fall, dead or old tree limbs can easily fall onto your roof. The best thing you can do to prevent this disaster is to get the trees trimmed well before fall arrives.

Pay special attention to any branches that are close to your home, and trim them back as soon as you can. Not only will trimming your trees protect your roof from possible damage, but it will also reduce the number of falling leaves that can clog your gutters later.

If you’re not experienced in tree trimming, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional. Trimming trees can be extremely dangerous, so always ask a pro to come and assist you.

Get a Roof Inspection

Fall is the perfect season to have a professional roofing company come and do a thorough inspection. They can look for potential red flags that could cost you a lot of money and heartache later if they’re not corrected.

Some signs that your roof is in trouble include damaged or missing shingles, signs of mold, or dips in the roof itself, which could indicate a leak. An experienced roofer can determine where the issues are and make recommendations to fix them.

If the integrity of your roof is compromised, it could lead to leaks and other problems down the line. Look for things like damaged gutters and discoloration of the roof to determine if it needs repairs.

When you have a professional roof inspection done in advance, you can have peace of mind knowing your roof is in good condition. Get any issues corrected as soon as you can, so your roof will be able to handle the harsher conditions of winter.

Take a Look Inside the Attic

When it comes to good roof maintenance, many homeowners forget to go inside the attic and take a closer look. If you miss a leak before winter sets in, it could make matters a whole lot worse later.

Go up into the attic and make sure you have ample light so you can see clearly. Look for any signs of water damage on the plywood and underlayment, and keep an eye out for dipping or bowing sections of wood, which indicate a potential problem.

A great way to check your attic for leaks is to perform your inspection on a rainy day. This way, you can easily see where the problems are since the leaks will happen in real-time!

Other things to look out for include mold or mildew, warped pieces of wood, and stained insulation. If you see any of these things, call in a professional roofing company to give you an estimate and make repairs before winter sets in.

Fall Roof Maintenance: Don’t Forget the Gutters

As the leaves begin to change, they’ll start to fall off and land in your gutters. Clean gutters are absolutely imperative to keep the flow of water moving in the right direction and away from your roofline.

If your gutters get clogged, water will splash onto your roof and lead to cracking, mold, and all kinds of damage. Make sure your gutters are clear and clean of any debris including twigs, leaves, and other organic material.

Even if you clean the gutters thoroughly, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them throughout the autumn months just to make sure they don’t get clogged with leaves again. A good way to combat this issue is to install gutter guards.

A gutter guard can reduce the time you spend cleaning your gutters — not just in autumn, but in all seasons. The small holes in the guards still allow water to flow, but they filter out any larger debris. These guards are fairly inexpensive and definitely worth the investment to extend the life of your roof.

When you clean your gutters, use your hands and a good pair of gloves to scoop out all of the debris. A garden trowel is another handy tool to help you “dig out” any excess mess. After you’re done cleaning out the gunk, rinse the gutters clean with a garden hose.

As you rinse the gutters, pay attention to how the water is flowing. You may need to readjust some things or take a closer look at your downspouts to make sure everything is flowing in the right direction.

Be Prepared This Fall

With a few simple and easy roof maintenance tips, you can rest assured that your roof will handle the autumn season with ease. Be on the lookout for any signs of possible roof damage well in advance so you can get it corrected sooner rather than later.

Trim all dead tree branches and keep limbs as far away from your home as possible. Call a professional roofing company for a full inspection, and check your attic for any signs of leaking.

If you’re in the Southern Maryland area, contact us today for all of your roofing, siding, window and door needs and much more.

Roofing Contractor Prince Frederick, MD