Fall is here, and the holidays are rapidly approaching. Before you settle in for feasts and festivities, you’ll want to make sure your roof is prepared for the cooler Florida season. Basic maintenance in the fall will protect the health of your roof and keep you and your family dry and comfortable.
The Ultimate Fall Roof Maintenance Checklist
Unsure where to start to prepare your roof for this fall season? No need to worry—we’ve created a fall roof maintenance checklist for you. It’ll walk you through each step of what roof maintenance you’ll need to do.
Consider a Roof Repair or Replacement
As we near the end of hurricane season, now is the perfect time to do repairs on your roof or replace it completely. Whether you just need a repair or a replacement will depend on the needs of your home, but taking care of your roof’s needs now will help keep your roof healthy and sturdy from now until the next hurricane season. Also, with less rain, it may be easier for a roof contractor to complete repairs or a replacement in a quicker time frame—making fall the perfect time to consider these options.
Clean Up Fallen Leaves
As the weather begins to cool here in Gainesville, you’ll begin to notice more leaves falling from your trees. If you have trees close to your roof, these leaves and other debris, such as sticks and acorns, will start to accumulate on your roof. While this may seem harmless at first, the leaves can actually cause damage to your asphalt shingles. This is because as they decompose, they trap moisture on your shingles which can eventually lead to a leak in your roof. Periodically cleaning up fallen leaves and debris on your roof protects your shingles from water damage throughout the autumn season.
Take Care of Your Gutters
Not only can fallen leaves and debris damage your roof, but they can also clog up your gutters. Similarly to how leaves can trap excess moisture, if your gutters are clogged and full of standing water, this can increase your risk of a roof leak developing. You’ll want to make sure your gutters are cleaned out and taken care of to avoid preventable repairs. Purchasing and installing gutter guards can make this process easier by stopping leaves and debris from getting into your gutters.
Trim Nearby Trees
If you don’t want to spend the beautiful, autumn days cleaning your gutters and roof, you can prevent leaves from falling on your roof in the first place by trimming nearby trees. Regularly trimming your trees is a good safety precaution, especially in Florida. Remember that while hurricane season is soon coming to a close, it doesn’t officially end until November 30th. Keeping your trees trimmed not only prevents extra leaves and debris but also helps you avoid more serious damage caused by a fallen branch.
Check Your Roof’s Ventilation System
Florida winters can go from cool to warm within a day’s time. As the temperature fluctuates, you’ll want to make sure that your house stays comfortable and energy efficient. One way to ensure your house is able to regulate temperature is checking on your roof’s ventilation system. Ventilation helps your home maintain a consistent temperature and provides your home with good air quality and circulation. Ensuring your roof’s ventilation is working properly will keep your home comfortable throughout this fall.
When in Doubt, Schedule a Roof Inspection with McFall Roofing!
Many of the items on this fall roof maintenance checklist can be crossed off by simply scheduling a roof inspection with your local roofing company like McFall Roofing. A professional roofer will be able to tell you what repairs are needed, if you should consider a roof replacement, and how to make your roof more energy efficient. At McFall Roofing, all our contractors are licensed and insured and will walk you through what roof care you’ll need during an inspection. To protect your roof this fall, schedule a roof inspection with McFall Roofing today!
