Your roof needs three main things before winter arrives: gutter cleaning, a roof inspection, and a ventilation check-up. Follow this fall roof checklist to ensure your roof is ready for the incoming rain and snow.
1. Gutter and Roof Cleaning
Both your gutters and the surface of your roof can collect debris, like pine needles and leaves, throughout the year. If you leave this debris, it can clog up your gutters, causing damage to your roof and home. In winter this may also contribute to the formation of an ice dam. Though rare in California, they can be quite destructive to roofs, getting beneath the shingles and causing serious leaks.
Therefore, it’s critical that your gutters and roof get a quick clean from a roofing professional in the fall to keep them in good order.
A roofer that genuinely cares about the condition of your roof and protecting it from damage will also examine your gutters to make sure they are aligned properly and not leaking. Improper alignment and leaks can allow water to splash onto the side of your home, your landscaping, or your roof, damaging all three.
Gutters are relatively inexpensive. This should be a simple fix that saves you from dealing with damage to your home down the road.
2. Roof Inspection Checklist
You should also ask your roofer to conduct a roof inspection while they are cleaning your gutters. Fall is your last chance to get any problem spots fixed before the rain turns them into leaks. It is also more cost-effective to get small roof problems fixed upfront, as it saves you major repairs down the road and keeps your roof in better condition longer.
When your roofer inspects the roof, they should look at the condition of:
- Shingles
- Roof vents
- Attic
- Flashing
- Chimney
- Skylights or other roof features
They may or may not take a look at underlayment beneath the shingles. If there seem to be no problems, it may not be wise to pull up a shingle to check the underlayment condition. But if there is leak or another issue, your roofer should check the underlayment to see whether or not it should be replaced.
If your roofer finds any issues, it is best to get these fixed immediately, before the rain and snow arrive and make the issues worse.
3. Handle Ventilation & Insulation Issues
Before winter arrives, it’s also wise to take a look at your roof vents and your insulation. Broken or clogged roof vents can create moisture issues inside your home, especially over the winter. Improper insulation can make your home uncomfortable and inefficient to heat. It can save you money over the next few months to get these issues handled. Plus, proper ventilation and insulation will keep your roof free from moisture and in good condition.
Take a little time this fall to check off all three of these list items: gutters, inspection as well as insulation and ventilation. Then, your roof will be ready for winter.