With summer slowly simmering down, fall is just on the horizon and bringing many new challenges and opportunities. Temperatures will gradually decrease, and leaves will begin to fall from their branches.
It’s essential to make sure that your home is in tip-top shape to ensure that it is ready for anything that comes your way. Putting off inspections or roof maintenance in the fall will create many difficulties for you in the winter, as the temperature drops low, and it begins to snow.
Many of these tasks can seem daunting for yourself! If you need any assistance with your roof, feel free to contact the professionals at Advanced Roofing and Siding.
Clean the Gutters
There are many things you can do to ensure your roof is ready for the fall season. Checking your gutters is one of the more manageable tasks to accomplish. Grab a nearby ladder and take a peek, you might just be surprised at what you find!
As the leaves fall from the tree branches and land on your roof, they will make their way to your home’s gutters. If your gutters are clogged, then it will lessen or even stop the water flow, causing potential water damage to your house.
Leaves from trees aren’t the only concern for your gutters. High winds can break twigs and branches which can also cause a blockage. The mix of leaves and branches can create a nasty mess for you.
If the clogged gutters don’t get cleaned out, it could spell more significant troubles. If there is water build-up during the winter, it could freeze. The frozen areas will become denser, which could potentially cause your gutters to tear from your home and cause damage to the side of your home.
One way to avoid this is to be proactive with clearing out the gutters before the mess happens. Another option is to install a gutter screen. The screen will act as a guard and not allow anything to clog up your gutters, ensuring proper water flow away from your foundation.
Clear the Roof
As trees change to prepare for the chilly winter ahead, that means more work for you and your roof. These trees will drop their leaves on your home, which can cause further issues.
Debris build-up on your roof can include many things. Depending on the trees around your home, it could consist of leaves, pine needles, and sticks or branches. All of this will accumulate and cause the water flow on your roof to be interrupted.
The debris build-up can also lead to problems with moisture as it traps water and makes a damp environment. The debris is an issue as potential mold and mildew will form on your roof, which can seep further into your house’s structure.
It is best to check for this accumulation routinely. Doing so will ensure you avoid any troubles. If your roof is challenging to get onto, you can also check from afar with a visual inspection, or even use binoculars if you have them.
Trim Trees and Foliage
You can stop the issues mentioned above with blocked gutters and strewed roofs before they happen! With a bit of foresight, we can tackle the problem at its source.
Scan the area around your home and keep a lookout for overhanging branches or nearby trees. Keeping longer branches cut short will ensure they won’t have the opportunity to drop their leaves or twigs on your roof!
You will be left with a bigger mess in the cold winter months if you don’t take action. Snow and ice build-up on tree branches are massive and will cause them to break and fall potentially, leading to further damage.
Check for Roof Damage
At this point your gutters are clean, the debris on your roof has been cleaned off, and you have trimmed branches and foliage around your roof. Good job!
Since you have a clean slate, you can get a better look at the state of your roof. Make sure to check for damage to your roof and anything else up there.
Things to look out for include damage to your shingles, any vents, air conditioning unit, chimney, or the skylight. Depending on your home you may or may not have all of those, but check to make sure.
This full inspection afterward is incredibly important! If you find that the structure of your roof is compromised, this can create further issues for you. After the assessment, you can make a much better decision for possible repairs.
Look Inside Your Home
Your roof has two sides to it. Determine the integrity of your roof by inspecting all of it, and that includes the inside or underneath.
If your previous inspection discovered flaws on the outside of your home, those would lead directly into your home. Head into your attic space or equivalent of your house and look closely for multiple things.
Look for open holes to the outside. If you see any discoloration or spots on the wood, this could very well be mold or mildew. Anywhere that has potential moisture can be a spot for mold.
The inside look over is also critical because a properly built and insulated roof can save you a lot of money on your energy bills. Suitable insulation and airflow mean the incoming cold weather stays out, and your house stays warm. Your home will be much more comfortable.
Ask for Help
Doing a full inspection of your roof can be a daunting task! If you encounter problems, fixing them can also be intimidating. You don’t have to do all of this yourself!
You can be sure the job is done right by hiring trusted contractors to do the work. No leaf will be left unturned (pun intended), and you can focus on other vital things in your life.
By following these guidelines, your home will be prepared to breeze through the fall season, and endure the cold winter that follows. Contact Advanced Roofing and Siding and see why they have been the go-to Greater Minneapolis roofing contractors for the past 18 years.