Protect your Home with this Autumn Roof Maintenance Checklist

Your roof is your home’s primary defense against the elements, and the rain and snow in the months ahead will really put it to the test. Use this checklist to make sure your roof is ready to do its job protecting your home from water damage, and stay warm, dry and cozy this autumn!

*Note: Be careful! If you don’t feel safe climbing on your roof, call in a professional.

Remove Debris and Check for Damage

Summer storms may have left debris on your roof, particularly if you have any trees nearby. The first step in taking care of your roof is to remove any leaves, branches or other debris that can encourage mold and mildew growth, pests, or other problems.

If you find any larger pieces, make sure the debris didn’t cause any damage when it landed on your roof.

The next step is to perform a thorough inspection of your roof. This article gives detailed information on inspecting your roof.

Catching any problems now, before all of the rain and snow that come with fall and winter, can prevent water damage in your home and save you loads of money.

Clean and Inspect Rain Gutters

All of that water that your roof protects your home from has to go somewhere, and it’s up to your rain gutters and downspouts to make sure that the rainwater that runs off of your roof doesn’t end up pooling around your home’s foundation.

Water around your home’s foundation not only leads to a wet basement or crawlspace–as the water expands and contracts during the freeze-thaw cycle, it can actually crack your home’s foundation, which is a major repair that you don’t want to have to deal with.

The Foundation Repair Association recommends cleaning and inspecting your rain gutters and downspouts twice a year, in the spring and fall, and more often if you have a tree next to your house that can easily shed leaves into your rain gutters.

This article has detailed information on taking care of your rain gutters and downspouts, so they can help keep your basement dry and your home’s foundation healthy.

Remove Damaging Moss and other Ugly Growths

Once you’ve made sure that your roof, gutters and downspouts are all functioning properly, it’s time to check for any problem growths on your roof’s surface. Since green algae, black algae, and mold and mildew can all be major eyesores on your roof, it’s important to do this immediately.

Moss and lichen, in addition to looking ugly, can also lead to damage on some roofs. Moss and lichen can both cause pitting on some types of shingles and cause asphalt shingles to shed their protective granules.

Also, moss can push shingles out of place and lead to leaks.

Check out this article for detailed information on these disgusting growths, and to discover how simple it is to wipe them out with Wet & Forget Outdoor!

Keep your roof healthy, and stay warm and dry this fall!

Photos courtesy of Ammodramus