Fall is a great time for roofing maintenance. First, you probably haven’t given your roof a second thought all summer. Second, and we hate to break the news, but winter is on its way. And winter can be particularly harsh on your roof.

Fall Roofing Tips to Prep Your Roof for Winter 

You should only do roofing maintenance if you have all the required safety equipment, including a secure safety harness to prevent a fall, and know how to properly place and secure a ladder or scaffold. You should not go up onto your roof. Otherwise, call a professional roofing service, like Rest Assured Roofing, and ask them to perform a complete fall roof inspection.

1. Clean Your Eavestroughs 

   Ice dams can be very damaging to your roof. They happen when the snow melts off your roof due to heat from your home. If temperatures are right, the snowmelt refreezes as it gets to the edges of your roof. When that happens, it can lift your roofing shingles and let in moisture.

   If your eavestroughs are clogged with leaves and debris, it can prevent snowmelt from being channelled away from your roof. And that increases the chances of ice dams forming.

2. Trim Overhanging Branches

   You should only do this from the ground with a tree pruning tool. Trimming back tree branches that overhang your roof will reduce the chance of them damaging your roof. It will also lower how many leaves fall on your roof and into your eavestroughs.

3. Install Gutter Guards

   Gutter guards help to keep leaves and debris from collecting in your eavestroughs. They will reduce how often you need to clean your eavestroughs and help prevent clogs and ice dams that could damage your roof.

4. Check Your Roofing Shingles

   Again, for your safety, you should do this from the ground. Carefully check all-around your roof for signs of damage or potential damage. Look for raised or curled shingles, which could let water get in underneath them. Cracked, damaged or missing shingles should be replaced before the winter. Also, check the flashing around your chimney and other roof protuberances to make sure it is not bent or damaged. 

Want to learn more about spotting roofing issues before they become a real problem? Check out our article ‘3 Signs You Need a New Roof‘.