With the first day of fall comes the planning for fall cleanups as the air turns crisp and leaves start to change. No fall cleanup is more important than your roof and gutters. A leader in Boston roofing, Ranch Roofing, weighs in on how fall cleanups help provide solid roof maintenance that should help your roof for fall and winter weather.
New England weather can be harsh, therefore, proper roof maintenance helps provide a sturdy, leak free roof is important for a dry and cozy house for you and your family. When the leaves start to change, and fall is here, our roofs can take a beating and gutters can fill up with sediment and organic debris. Here are some fall cleanup and roofing tips to help keep your Boston, MA area home prepared the transition into winter and spring without any issues:
Fall Cleanups Start With Your Gutters
Typically, falling leaves find their way into Boston area roofs, gutters, and downspouts. So, start your fall cleanup with your gutters! Leaves combined with other organic material create a recipe for clogged gutters. Importantly, clogged gutters pose many issues to your homes roof, so this helps with your roof maintenance as well. For example, if your gutters cannot drain properly they can overflow under the attached shingles, causing water damage. Similarly, excess weight, especially with ice, can damage the gutters and downspouts themselves. Cleaning gutters during the fall is an important step in ensuring a healthy roof and is an important step in preparing your roof for fall.
Clear Debris from Shingles
While checking your gutters, it is smart to also check on the health of your roof itself and remove any debris such as long sticks or limbs. This type of debris can trap moisture in or under your roof, especially during the winter months, shortening the lifespan of your shingles. Adding this step to your fall cleanup routine can make you aware of looming roof issues before it becomes too late.
Check for Damage as Part of Ongoing Roof Maintenance
The fall and winter months can wreak havoc on Boston area roofs due to the unpredictability of weather, as well as harsh storms. Checking for and assessing damaged areas are a strong preventative care measure for your residential roof. Loose and deteriorating shingles are issues that you want corrected before a harsh winter, as that has the ability to exacerbate issues.
Contact a Professional
When in doubt, contact a roofing professional to inspect your roof as you prepare it for fall. A roofing expert can easily determine problem spots on your roof such as lifted or missing shingles and suggest fixes or necessary replacements.
If you follow these fall cleanup and roof maintenance steps as you prepare your roof for fall you will better ensure a warm and dry house for the upcoming months. Author Max Brooks said it best “If you believe you can accomplish everything by “cramming” at the eleventh hour, by all means, don’t lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining.”