The weather may still be nice, but before you know it, the heatwaves will end and the first snow of the year will start coating the ground in white. While seasonal changes are normal and most roofs are designed to withstand the changing temperatures, it’s still important to get your roof ready for fall ahead of time. Your trusted Arvada roofers want to help. We’ve put together a simple fall maintenance checklist to ensure that your roof is ready for everything that fall brings.
Look for Loose or Missing Shingles
The wind storms around the Front Range can take a toll on your roofing materials, leaving your home vulnerable to leaks and water damage. However, since summer is relatively mild and still, it’s the perfect time to inspect your roof before the fall storms start in earnest. Walk around the perimeter of your house and scan the roof for any signs of loose or missing shingles. If the shingles appear warped or look like they’re falling out of alignment with the rest of the roof, it’s time to schedule a roof repair appointment. If you can see the dark underlayment beneath the shingles, the roof will need new shingles installed. Taking care of missing or damaged materials before the snows fall will keep your home dry and comfortable.
Clean The Gutters
Gutters are designed to send rain and excess water from the roof to a designated drainage area. This preserves the integrity of the siding, reduces foundation problems, and even keeps your landscaping looking its best. When the gutters are full of debris, the water can’t flow away from the house. Instead, it falls between the gutter and the roof, leading to a risk of water damage when not addressed quickly. Stay on top of things and clean your gutters out before the trees start to lose their leaves. You’ll still want to clean them out after the fall foliage drops, but it will give the gutters a head start and keep your home safer during those fall rains.
Get Rid of Low-Hanging Limbs
During the spring and summer, trees can grow quickly. For most homeowners, this leads to an increase in low-lying limbs and potential safety hazards come winter. Remember, snow is heavy and when it collects on limbs close to the house and roofline, it can do damage to the structure of the branch. If the damage is severe enough, the branch could crack and fall on the roof. Often, fallen branches lead to severe roof damage. Scheduling a tree trimming appointment at the end of the growing season will help reduce the risk of falling branches, keeping your home and your roof safe even during periods of heavy snowfall.
Check the Flashing
If you have a chimney, skylight, air vent, or other opening in your roof, it should always have a layer of flashing around the seams. When in good condition, the flashing should look like solid pieces of metal sitting flush against the opening and the roof. Over time, the flashing can come loose, exposing the seams to water, snowmelt, and pests. If possible, inspect the flashing from the ground. If anything looks loose, cracked, rusted, or out of place, schedule an appointment with your roof repair crew. If you can’t see the flashing from the ground, don’t try to climb a ladder to inspect it. Instead, schedule a routine maintenance inspection and let the pros assess the condition of your entire roof. Walking on the roof is inherently dangerous and should only be done by an experienced professional with the appropriate training and equipment.
Schedule a Chimney Cleaning
For many Denver-area homeowners, fall is the perfect season to start using the fireplace again. However, after using it the previous winter and leaving it alone during the summer, there’s likely to be a lot of debris, creosote, and other buildup inside the flue. If the buildup is severe, lighting a fire could cause the creosote and debris to ignite, resulting in a chimney fire that could potentially destroy the entire house, not just your roof. Scheduling a chimney sweep before lighting the first fire of the year ensures that the chimney stays in good condition and allows you to make any necessary repairs before the cold weather sets in in earnest.
Inspect the Attic
Your attic influences the overall condition of your roof. When it’s in good shape and properly insulated, the roof expands and contracts less in extreme weather. This, in turn, helps extend the life of the roofing materials and reduces the risk of unexpected water damage, leaks, and repairs interrupting your life. Inspect the attic for signs of mold, mildew, and pest infestations and have any damage fixed before the weather turns. The sooner the damage is addressed, the less severe it will be. Catching mold and mildew in the attic before it spreads to the rest of the house will not only reduce your repair costs, but will also help keep your family safe from upper respiratory irritants and health problems.
Pay Attention to the Garage
Every garage, whether detached or not, has a roof much like the rest of your home. Since it’s made of standard roofing materials, it can suffer from the same types of damage and hazards as the roof on your home. Give it the same visual inspection outside as you did your house and report any issues to your roof repair team immediately. Inside the garage, inspect the sheetrock for signs of water damage and keep an eye out for any pests or insects that might compromise the structure and roof supports. As the weather cools down, many of these critters start seeking refuge in attics and garages. With the right pest control methods in place, you’ll be able to keep them from damaging your roof and house.
Fall roof maintenance is key to preserving the integrity of your home’s roof system. Schedule an appointment with Arvada Roofing & Construction today and let our dedicated roof repair contractors get your home ready for everything the cooler weather can bring.