Regular Fall Maintenance, Checking Your Roof
There is spring clean up, and there are fall inspections. Checking a home’s roof is necessary to insure it is ready for the harsher winter weather. The first place to start is to inspect the interior ceilings for any visible water damage. The next inspection area is the attic. The underside of the roofing boards can be the first indication that the roof needs repairs.
The roof may not be leaking but inspections can detect a problem before it becomes expensive. Walk around the house and visually inspect the roof from the ground. Look for missing shingles or tiles. Be sure and note any shingles that may be sticking up. Loose shingles if not damaged may be quickly fixed by re-nailing. Shingles in hot weather will become more flexible and flatten out. Colder weather will cause shingles to rise if not attached properly.
Inspect for any overhanging limbs. Trees that overhang the roof should be trimmed back. The limbs can scratch and damage the shingles or break off causing more damage. Remove any leaves that may have collected in the roof valleys. Leaves left to build up will retain moisture and can promote mold. Clean the gutters of all obstructions. Plugged guttering systems will allow water to back up and freeze damaging shingles and possibly the soffit.
Cedar shake shingles should be inspected for shrinkage and splitting. Check around chimneys and vent pipes carefully where the flashing is installed. The tar based caulking used for flashing eventually dries out and cracks creating gaps for water to enter. Re-caulking is an easy and affordable preventive measure.