End of Summer Roof Maintenance Tips
We usually associate damage to roofs with the storms and freezing conditions of autumn and winter — not with summer. It’s true that there’s plenty of danger over the colder months, but heat can create issues, too. In any case, the time to prepare is well before the first storm.
So what might your roof need at the end of summer? Here are some of the main things to look out for.
Heat Damage to Roofing Materials
The kind of heat we had in the earlier part of the summer can put stress on your roofing materials. Tiles, for instance, can be left either cracked or pulled away from one another. Even if the damage is only slight, this can be all the rain needs to work itself into the gaps.
Other roofing materials can also be warped by heat. For instance, the metal flashing can come away from chimneys or other masonry that pierces the roof, leaving the space unsealed. On the other hand, if you have a flat roof, the felt can buckle or tear.
The best way to check your roof for damage is to view it through binoculars from street level. Alternatively, go into the roof space in daylight and look for any pinpricks of light coming through the roof.
Check Your Guttering
Gutters and downpipes are essential for taking rainwater off the roof and safely down into the drains. Over the summer, however, they may have got clogged up with dirt or debris, or else developed cracks.
This means that the water will either pool on the roof, working its way into the roof space, or else spill onto the ground below. In that case, it can seep down and damage the foundations. Either way, the guttering system needs to be cleaned out regularly and repaired, if necessary.
Check for Growth on the Roof
Organisms like moss, mould and algae can grow on your roof, especially in conditions of alternating rain and heat, and that’s bad news. They can either rot the roof covering or else retain water, making the materials buckle under the extra weight.
They need to be cleaned off — but it’s important to do it in the right way. It might be tempting to power-wash the roof, but that can cause even more damage.
Cut Back Trees
Cutting back trees might not seem an obvious element of roof care, but trees can be a threat. If you have any close to your house, they’re likely to have grown considerably over the summer and be overhanging the roof.
Once the storms start up, the branches can be slammed hard against your roof. This can cause serious damage — or, at the very least, broken-off twigs can quickly fill up your gutters.
Get a Professional In
While cleaning the guttering is a job that could be undertaken by an experienced DIYer, in general, roofing repairs shouldn’t be undertaken by amateurs. At best, the job could be inadequately done, while at worst, you could cause even more damage.
Find a good roofing company for any work you need, to ensure that it’s carried out expertly. Give Empire a call to find out how we can help you with your end-of-summer roof maintenance.
