It’s scary to think the roof over your head may be deteriorating due to the changing weather conditions. This fall, take a moment to look out for roof damage. Here’s a guide to help.
Fall is here, and that means many things for homeowners. There are cozy fireplaces to curl up in front of, leaves to rake up from the lawn, and steaming mugs of cocoa to drink.
However, have you thought about how the fall weather will affect your roof? It may not be obvious, but there are a few things you will need to look out for. This guide will help you spot issues before they arise, put in preventative measures, and help you keep your roof sturdy through the season.
Roof Damage That Can Happen in the Fall
The change in weather can mean a few different issues for your roof. Here are a few of the problems that can occur once the weather starts getting cooler:
- Mold and mildew: Once the weather starts turning, you can see a lot more rain in the forecast. If your roof isn’t entirely watertight, this spells mold and mildew issues for your roof. These can cause your roof timbers to rot, damaging the structure of the roof.
- Leaves and other debris: Once the leaves start falling from the trees, they can start ending up on your roof and in your gutters. When this happens, they will trap in moisture, leading to mold as mentioned above.
- Damage to the roof: If there are storms or bad weather, there can be damage to your roof. This can happen if tiles are pulled loose thanks to high winds, or tree limbs falling onto the building.
These are all issues that can easily be avoided, but can cause a lot of damage if you leave them too long.
Take Care of Your Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are a great look on many homes, but in the fall they can be susceptible to damage. The biggest issue can be the ‘ponding’ of water after a storm. This is when water collects on the roof, and sits. When this happens, the water can cause splitting in the membrane, and cause the edges of the membrane to start peeling away. As this happens, you’ll see that more damage to the roof’s internal structure will happen.
Maintaining Your Roof During the Fall Season
These issues sound worrying, but in fact they’re simple to correct if you take some preventative measures. Here’s what you can do to keep your roof in good condition during the fall:
- Clear your roof and gutters: Debris will fall on your roof no matter what you do, but keeping it clear will stop any damage happening. The basic rule is that you should clear your roof and gutters twice a year, but if you’re suffering storms or other bad weather, it’s a good idea to get up there as needed and clear the debris.
- Protect your gutters: Overflowing gutters can lead to water damage to your roof, but this is very easy to maintain. Buy a guttering protector from your local hardware store, and install it. This can look like a mesh to sit over the top of it, or a brush that sits in the gutter. Neither of these will stop rain water washing down, but they will block out leaves and other debris.
- Trim surrounding trees: If there are trees near your home, the leaves on them can drop directly onto your roof and into your gutters. As well as this, loose branches can fall off and cause damage too. The best way to avoid this happening is to trim these trees back as you move into the fall. The further away the branches are, the less damage they can do.
- Watch out for animals: As the weather starts getting colder, animals can start looking to nest in your warm roof space. If they get in, they can cause a serious amount of damage. If you find they have made their way in, have them evicted and then block up the holes they were getting in and out with.
- Check the roof tiles: The state of your roof tiles can tell you a lot about the state of your roof. Take a look at them, and see what condition they’re in. For example, are they cupping, flaking, or even missing? Now can be a good time to replace them, and avoid water from getting in underneath them and causing more damage.
- Maintain flat roofs: If you have a flat roof, it’ll be harder for water to roll off as it would with a sloped one. Get up regularly and brush water off the roof, to avoid it pooling and causing damage to the membranes. This is especially important after storms, as the water or snow can do a lot of damage if it’s left on the roof.
Repairing or Replacing Your Roof
If there is already damage to your existing roof, then now could be the perfect time to repair or replace it. The conditions during fall are perfect for this, as the temperature is optimal and it’s likelier to be drier. Many people decide to get their roofs mended in the spring or summer, but wet weather can put a stop to it. Also, many roofers often move onto other jobs in this season, or go on vacation.
Getting your roof mended or replaced in the fall is also a good idea as it’s the perfect time to tune up your roof for the winter. You can solve any problems before the real cold weather sets in and causes you problems later on. When you have the roofing in order, you’ll find it much easier to keep the heat in your home when the weather gets colder. It’ll help you lower your heating bills, too.
Final Thought
As you can see, if your roof is left unattended, a lot of damage can happen thanks to the fall weather. If you are careful though, and keep on top of the maintenance needed, you can keep your roof in top condition well into the winter. Make sure you pay attention to your roof, and give it the TLC it needs.
