Take a good look up. No, not to the sky. I mean, look at your roof. Fall is the ideal time to inspect your roof. The weather’s cooperative, and this is probably the last time you’d see it this well before winter sets in. For our readers with ADHD, there are other parts of the house to inspect before the winter, but let’s focus on the roof for now. Because catching those issues now would save you money, stress, and even your ceiling.
You can actually see what’s going on
When it was summer, everything was dry. There’s a good chance you could even live with some level of damage to your property. In Spring, you have the constant rain to deal with, which leaves you with a bit of a head scratcher as to the true situation of things. Is it an active problem, or is it leftover moisture build up? But the dry days with mild temperatures in fall present the best opportunity to get a ladder, go up on the roof, and spot those missing shingles, cracked flashing, or sagging spots. You could unclog your roof gutters and remove leaves and little tree droppings that damage your roof drainage.
Summer damage shows up now
Roofs take a beating during the summer. UV rays take a toll on roof shingles over the course of the summer. There’s the constant contraction and expansion these materials have to deal with under the intense heat. These cause the nails to loosen and create gaps in the roof. Then you have the storms, high winds, or occasional heavy rain. The damage from these weather effects may not be so obvious until the temperatures start to cool down in the winter. Now’s the best time to go take an audit on the condition of your roof. Don’t wait till you’re in the middle of a snowstorm to realize your roof wasn’t ready.
Prep before winter locks everything in place
Snow and ice don’t play with faults in your home installations. Once snow and ice come in, it’d be too late to fix most issues. Ice dams can expose weaknesses in the structure. When cracks form, and snow catches in, trapped water seeps under shingles and into your attic. God forbid your roof has hidden damage; the added weight of snow will make it worse fast. Make sure to get an inspection done to enable you to seal gaps, replace worn-out materials, and reinforce weak areas before the cold seals it in place.
It’s easier (and safer) to schedule help
Springtime is a busy season for roofers. This is when the leaks from all the roofs that suffered winter damage occur. Summer’s also booked but for a different job – roof replacements. What roofers find is that in the fall, they aren’t as heavily booked. This is the reason fall is the best time to get roofers to work on your roof. What’s not to love? You get faster service times, more flexible scheduling, cheaper rates, and more time for thorough work. And because of the predictably mild weather, inspections and minor repair work happen without constant delays due to weather.
You’ll save money in the long run
In the fall, when the roofers are not as fully booked. You get the benefit of free inspections. These inspections can uncover minor issues before they become large bills. Think of fixing a few shingles or resealing flashing. These would cost a fraction of what it’d be after a winter leak ruins your insulation, drywall, or flooring. These can escalate to problems with your insurance company denying your claims on the grounds of being avoidable damage. Think of it like your house is getting a routine oil change – it’s routine, and way less of a bother than a full-on breakdown.
What to look for during a fall roof check
From the ground floors, watch out for;
- Missing, curled, or cracked shingles
- Dark streaks or moss growing along the wall. This is a sure sign of moisture building up
- Uneven ridges or sagging rooflines
- Leaves clogging up the gutters and roof valleys
Contact Rhode Island Slate Roofing
It doesn’t take too much expertise to spot an issue with your roof. When you do, you need someone competent to take care of it. That’s where Rhode Island Slate Roofing comes in. We offer free, no-pressure roof inspections every fall. Our certified technicians know what to look out for, what to fix, and what can remain. Call us at 401-255-2003 or fill out our contact form to make sure your roof is winter-ready.
