Well, here we are, fall in New England has arrived! As expert roofing contractors in the Greater Boston Area, we want to make sure your home isn’t something you worry about as the season begins.
For most people, fall is a lovely and comfortable time of year filled with flannel, pumpkins, and friends by the fireside. For others, fall can elicit fear. Not because of the spooky things that crawl around during Halloween – fear that their roof is not up to the challenges that fall and winter weather bring along!
We’re happy to provide some tips and suggestions for a healthy roof this fall, and more importantly – help you make sure your roof is in great shape for winter too!
Expert Roofing Tips: Leaves are Falling… Make Sure Your Gutters Aren’t Clogged!
As the leaves turn and fall foliage presents us with beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows – it’s critical to make sure your roof is not vulnerable to taking on LOTS of leaves, which can prevent your gutters and downspouts from functioning effectively.
Gutters are necessary to keeping a healthy roof and home, and when they get backed up by excess leaves, pine needles, sticks, and other debris that come with fall, it’s not good for anyone.
Backed up gutters can cause rainwater and precipitation to pool improperly on your roof, collect, and potentially cause damage to your home.
Ensure that your gutters are clear and uncompromised – consult with a roofing professional if you do not feel safe or comfortable inspecting your gutters and downspouts.
Check Your Skylights
As the weather gets colder, most people will turn on their heat in the fall for the first time in months. Over time, the flashing and sealant around you skylights can become compromised. Once the seal around your skylights is compromised, you can lose heat, and even be forced to deal with water leaks into your home.
A safe way to confirm poor skylight seals and bonds is to go around and inspect each of your skylights (while inside of your home.) Feel for drafts, and look for leaks. Once you have confirmed suspicions that your skylights aren’t functioning property – contact a roofing expert to inspect the on the outside and apply fixes, like weatherstripping.
Chimney Maintenance
In the fall, homeowners with fireplaces tend to enjoy a cozy fire when the colder nights begin. Your chimney has multiple elements that help keep it sealed and prevent it from leaking. Chimney flashing is the metal sealant material used to ensure the water-tight bond between the roof and the vertical protrusion of the chimney stack. If the flashing is old or compromised, it can lose the water-tight bond with the roof and cause leaks.
Professional roofing crews with years of experience should perform chimney inspections when they are inspecting residential or commercial roofs.
Chimney caps keep your chimney safe from any animals looking to nest in your chimney for warmth and shelter – If you don’t have a chimney cap, get one installed before the colder weather sets in, it’s just a good idea.
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Roof and Shingle Repair
Before temperatures dip into cold/freezing levels, it’s best to repair any vulnerabilities your roof may have. If any shingles are torn, curling, or buckling, fall is a great time to have them replaced. If damaged shingles are left as-is, your roof could suffer water damage.
Once the weather sets into consistently freezing temperatures, it can be too late to do repair work on your roof without risking leaks.
Ice and snow collecting on your roof will seep into cracks, holes, and weak seams – from there, the ice will melt from the proximity to your home’s heat and then leak from your roof into your home.
It’s best to take care of these issues BEFORE the leaks begin or become exacerbated by harsh weather conditions.
Expert Roofing Will Get Your Home Ready for Fall Festivities
Enjoy the pumpkins and cider, but don’t neglect your roof! Fall is a treasured time of year, and as expert roofing contractors in the Greater Boston Area, we know how to get your roof prepared for all the weather challenges that come along with the season!
Please contact us with any roofing questions!