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Roof Preparation for the Fall

Roof preparation for your home involves a lot of work and it’s easy to neglect the roof as important home maintenance. Your roof, however, is your home’s first line of defense against falling debris and weather conditions. A well-maintained roof also prevents costly structural damages and water leaks, but keeping your roof well-maintained also means you need to prepare for the colder seasons. Fall brings with it dead leaves, other plant debris, and heavy rains that can clog your gutters and cause leaks. The winter season can weigh down your roof with ice and snow, capable of causing a considerable amount of structural damage.

Avoid a Roofing Disaster With Roof Preparation

A damaged roof leaves your home exposed. Water can seep in and leak through, damaging your ceilings, walls, and floors. A leaking roof also poses the problem of mold, which is dangerous for anyone inside your home to breathe in. Damaged roofs pose more than a lack of protection, but a lack of insulation. On top of your home, being exposed to the rain, sleet, and snow; you now have a major air leak. Air leaks are a problem when it comes to keeping your home properly heated or ventilated, and it can raise your utility bills drastically. The good news is that you can easily avoid most roofing disasters with some proper maintenance and roof preparation. To stay warm and dry this fall season, here are seven ways you can prepare your roof.

• Clean and clear your gutters. The fall season is the perfect time to prepare your roof. One of the easiest ways to prepare your roof is to make sure your gutters are thoroughly clean and clear of any plant debris. When the heavy rains hit, it only takes one downpour and some clogged gutters to cause damage to your home’s foundation that can cost up to $10,000 to repair. You can use a gutter scoop or child’s sand shovel, both found at any local hardware store, to remove any gunk that’s collected inside your gutters. After thoroughly removing all the debris inside, you’ll want to flush your gutters out with a garden hose. Thoroughly cleaning your gutters at least once a year will prevent extensive water damage, ice dams, and other structural damages.
• Trim your trees. Tree trimming is another important task that can help prepare your roof. Any living or dead tree branches that may be hanging too close to your roof should be trimmed before the first snowfall. Branches can break with enough snow and ice weighing them down and can cause some devastating damage to your roof.
• Ventilate and insulate your attic. The winter season can provide some pesky problems for your roof. From frigid temperatures to heavy snow, to ice, you’re sure to suffer if your roof isn’t properly prepared. Insulating your attic, and ensuring there is proper ventilation inside, helps prevent a multitude of problems such as ice dams, mold, rotting roof supports, and expensive utility bills.
• Inspect for leaks, flashings, and vents. Like your gutters, the flashings and vents on your roof are designed to direct melting snow and rainwater off your roof, but over time they can loosen or tear off from strong winds or heavy rains. Properly preparing your roof includes making sure your roof’s flashings and vents are in good condition, otherwise, your roof is left vulnerable to water leaks.
• Install sheet metal roofing. This is particularly helpful for homeowners with flat roofs, as installing some sheet metal roofing can help prevent large amounts of water from pooling on top of your roof. By adding a layer of waterproof metal, sheet metal roofing can be very helpful, especially during the winter season when ice dams can form from excess pools of water.
• Check and repair any damages. It may sound obvious, but checking your roof for damages is one of the best ways to prepare your roof. The earlier you catch a problem, such as damaged or missing shingles, the better maintained and prepared your roof is. If you notice any noticeable damage, don’t hesitate to contact a roofing contractor, as they promptly and safely repair your roof.
• Schedule a professional inspection. Regular roof inspections can only benefit you and your roof.  For proper roof preparation for the colder seasons, it’s ideal to have a professional inspect your roof once a year, as they can spot and repair any potential problems and guarantee your roof lasts its warranty. Depending on the material, a roof that is well maintained can last easily up to 40 years, and routine roof inspections help keep it that way.

Don’t Let Your Roof Fall Apart this Fall

No homeowner should have to go through the headache of expensive roof repairs, especially when it’s avoidable. Preparing your roof for the fall and winter season not only guarantees you stay warm and dry, but saves you money on major repairs and high utility bills. Nobody wants a leaky roof, but there can be a lot of work involved in preparing your roof. Luckily a roofing contractor can not only do all the hard work for you but offer you the best solutions to keep your roof well-maintained and leak-free. Don’t wait until your roof falls apart, call a roofing contractor today.

Call Cranney Home Services today for more information on roof preparation!