The fall season is beautiful and crisp. It is also the ideal time to maintain your roof to ensure next year doesn’t begin with problems. The good news? Maintaining a roof doesn’t have to turn into a complicated matter, especially if the initial roof has been installed appropriately and has been cared for over the years. With fall maintenance, a roof can last for years with little need for replacement. Simply following a regimen will extend the life of a roof and save you from extensive and expensive repairs, or full replacement. Roofing experts with RGB Construction understand the necessary steps involved in maintaining a roof, particularly those that endure harsh New Jersey weather conditions that can cause all sorts of roofing issues. Let’s look at some expert fall roof maintenance tips.
Key Takeaways
- Regular Roof Inspections: Schedule biannual roof checkups to detect any potential issues before they worsen.
- Preventing Leaks: Vigilantly watch for leaks that can lead to extensive damage to both the interior and exterior of your home.
- Attic and Mold Inspections: Regularly inspect your attic for signs of leaks or mold growth, especially before the colder months. Remove any existing mold and moss from the roof’s surface to prevent damage.
- Tree Branches and Ice Buildup: Monitor and trim any overhanging tree branches to prevent damage, and take precautions against ice dams and buildup during winter.
- Flashing and Gutters Maintenance: Regularly check and maintain the flashing and sealing, and clean the gutters and drainpipes at least once or twice a year.
- Avoid Walking on Roof: Minimize walking on the roof to prevent unnecessary damage and personal injury.
Why is Fall a Good Season for Roof Maintenance?
You may be wondering why you need these fall roof maintenance tips. The answer: Fall is the ideal season for outdoor work, including roof maintenance. Take a look at some reasons why autumn is the best time to do routine roof maintenance:
- Preparation for Winter: Conducting roof inspections and maintenance in the fall allows homeowners to identify and address any issues before the harsh winter weather sets in. Taking preventive measures during the fall can help protect the roof from potential damage caused by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.
- Milder Weather Conditions: Fall typically offers more moderate weather conditions compared to the scorching heat of summer or the extreme cold of winter. This makes it a convenient time for homeowners and roofing professionals to conduct inspections and perform necessary repairs without having to deal with the challenges posed by severe weather.
- Identifying Summer Damage: The fall season provides an opportunity to assess any damage that might have occurred during the summer, such as damage from heavy rains, wind, or other seasonal elements. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent them from worsening over the winter months.
- Preventing Winter-Related Issues: By preparing the roof in the fall, homeowners can take preventive measures against potential winter-related problems such as ice dams, snow accumulation, and freezing temperatures that can cause leaks and other damage.
With these in mind, let’s move onto our roofer-approved fall roof maintenance tips.
Scheduling Roof Inspections
Typically, roof inspections should occur at least twice a year. These checkups ensure your roof will make it through harsher weather. Fortunately, you don’t have to do the external inspection yourself. South Jersey roofers like RGB Construction provide these services to homeowners like you throughout the year.
Watch for Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are insidious and can pop up throughout the year. That said, unless the leak is severe, you may notice them right away. That is why you need to invest some time in roof maintenance. Once the summer storms are often, get up on your roof and search for damages. You want to look for any shingles that are curled, broken, cracked, or missing. These could be letting water slip through to the underlayment. Sometimes damaged flashings, soffits, and fascia can also cause leaks.
Leaks, both small and large, can harm the interior and exterior of a home. Water collection beneath shingles can warp the underlayment and cause disintegration. Seepage in attics and behind walls can lead to mold growth. Interior leaks can ruin insulation, flooring, walls, and furniture, causing extensive damage to a home.
Inspect Attic Areas
Regular inspections for leaks should also incorporate a detailed yearly examination of your attic, especially as the weather begins to cool. It’s advisable to conduct the attic inspection on a rainy day, as the damp conditions make it easier to identify any leaks. Take note of any signs of leaks, including the presence of mold or mildew around vents, wall joints, and seams. Additionally, check for any warped wood or insulation that appears stained or wet, as these could indicate water infiltration. Keeping a vigilant watch during inspections can help catch any potential issues before they escalate and cause significant damage to your home.
Look for Mold and Moss
A touch of green on your roof might not look harmful, but it is. Moss is notorious for causing terrible damage without any sign of doing so. How? Moss acts a bit like a sponge, absorbing moisture. That moisture saturates your roof, getting under the shingles and into the underlayment. There, the water will wreak havoc unchecked. In other words, you don’t want moss on your roof. You don’t want anything on your roof that will cause water to pool and for the shingles to stay damp. This is especially true with cooler months ahead. That moisture may freeze, and when it warms, it will cause even greater damage. In short, if there is moss or mold on your roof, call in a moss removal service.
Hanging Tree Branches
Overhanging tree branches pose a significant risk to the structural integrity of your roof and home. These branches should be routinely monitored and trimmed, or if necessary, completely removed to prevent potential hazards. Not only do these branches obstruct regular roof maintenance, but they can also become a safety threat during severe weather conditions such as ice storms, strong winds, or electrical storms. In such instances, these branches may break off, causing damage to various roof components, including shingles, gutters, and eaves. Regular tree maintenance is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of your property.
Inspecting Flashing and Sealing
Flashing and sealing help a roof and home to avoid water damage, so they need to kept in check to maintain a roof’s integrity. Inspecting areas of a roof that may indicate loosening, cracking or peeling of flashing and sealants is important, as is making sure that caulking is not wearing or pulling away so cracks and open areas can’t form. Approaching winter weather can do further damage if these areas are neglected.
Checking Gutters and Drainpipes
Gutters and drainpipes are other parts of a roofing system that should be cleaned at least once or twice a year. Don’t forget that also consists of any exit and downspouts and areas around them that could back up with water and flood a roof area. This is one maintenance tip that is often overlooked yet can cause all kinds of roof damage if left unclean or unchecked.
Ice Buildup
Once fall progresses into winter, chances for snow and ice buildup on a New Jersey homeowner’s roof are highly likely. Colder weather can lead to formation of ice dams from snow accumulation, and roof leaks and improper runoff are usually the result of ice dam formations. Water will become trapped behind the ice dams and it can penetrate shingles and the structure of the roof, which will lead to leaks. In order to prevent damage with ice buildup or ice dams, the attic of a home should be well ventilated with temperatures equal to that of the outside. To maintain the temperature, adequate venting and insulating can help in preventing ice dam formation.
Roof Climbing and Walking
It’s hard not to be on a rooftop once the holidays follow fall and holiday lighting is part of a decorative plan, which usually means climbing on a roof and hanging string lights and other decorations. It is best to avoid walking on a roof as it can lead to shingle deterioration, roof tile damage, possible leaks and other roof problems that are caused by foot traffic, and if there is snow accumulation on a roof, personal injury through slipping or falling can become a whole other issue to handle. Roof climbing and walking should be left to the professionals but if a homeowner insists on stringing lights, he should be aware of what kind of damages, personal and otherwise, can occur.
Get a South Jersey Roofer to Inspect Your Roofer Before Winter
Fall roof maintenance involves continuing inspections and keeping a watchful eye on a roof’s condition. When fall moves into winter and weather conditions change from cool to frigid, there are reasons to follow these fall roof maintenance tips. If you find that fall roof maintenance is a bit too much to handle, call in a roofer like RGB Construction. Our experienced team can handle the inspection and any necessary repairs. Give us a call at 856-264-9093 today or fill out the contact form. Whether you need to schedule an appointment or receive a quote, we are here to help.
