4 Maintenance Tasks To Do In The Fall To Protect Your Home From Roof Leaks
Autumn is a good time to check your roof one last time before winter sets in. Your roof has special needs during the fall since that's when it may get covered in leaves, twigs, and branches. Fall is also a good time to have a roofing contractor make repairs so your roof won't leak over the winter. Here are some maintenance tasks you may need to complete on your roof during the fall.
1. Clear Off All Tree Debris
After all the leaves have fallen from your trees, have the roof cleaned of all tree debris so a roofer can easily spot damage when they check your roof. In addition, have your gutters cleaned out so there are no obstructions that cause water or ice to back up on your roof during the winter.
Fall is also a good time to trim tree branches away from your house. Branches are easier to see when the leaves are gone, and you'll be able to cut back branches that might sweep the shingles or break off and crash on your roof during the winter.
2. Plug Holes On The Roof
When the roofing contractor makes repairs, one thing they can look for is damage caused by animals. Gnaw holes should be plugged to keep rats and squirrels out of your attic over the winter. Plugging holes also keeps out rain and snow. If holes were gnawed through rotted wood, the roofer might need to replace areas of the roof that have rotted away rather than just plug up holes.
3. Replace Damaged Shingles And Flashing
A roofing contractor can also check the shingles and flashing when looking for possible roof leaks or areas where leaks might develop over the winter. Flashing can be patched or replaced and shingles can be replaced or repaired. If your roof is damaged, it's probably best to have repairs done before winter since this time of year is hard on roofing materials and your roof might start leaking if damages aren't repaired until next spring.
Roofing contractors can repair roofs during the winter too, but when weather conditions are bad, it might not be possible to make emergency repairs when they're needed.
4. Check Attic Ventilation
If your roofer notices shingles curling on your roof, they might want to check the ventilation in your attic. If ventilation is poor, your roof can become too hot and that damages the shingles. However, during the winter, poor ventilation can cause ice dams to form on the roof and cause damage to shingles. You can remove ice dams, but it's better to prevent them by having vents added when necessary.
Contact a roofing contractor for more information.