Summer in Ottawa is starting to come to a close. People are starting to switch gears from summer fun to the more cozy evenings curled up in the house. Before you start sipping on pumpkin spice lattes, though, there are a few things you need to do to keep your roof in top condition throughout the Ottawa winter. Not surprisingly, fall and winter can be incredibly hard on your roof, so you should perform some routine maintenance before the snow starts falling in a few months.
Here are tips to help you prepare your roof for fall in the Ottawa area:
Get Rid of Any Debris
Leaves are a common accessory to the roof in fall, but even that little layer of debris spells trouble. As leaves and other debris piles up on the roof, moisture will get trapped against the shingles. That leads to mold and mildew growth. Shingles may get pushed up, letting in even more moisture to the underlay and beyond.
That is why cleaning off debris is the most important step of fall roof maintenance. Get up on the roof and sweep off the leaves and twigs or get a professional roofer to do it for it.
While you are at it, consider having any trees and shrubs that have grown too close to the roof trimmed back. You don’t want any branches sagging against the roof in the wintertime, and since fall brings cooler temperatures, it’s the perfect time to get outside.
Clean Out Your Gutters
Gutters are usually overlooked until they get congested with all kinds of leaves, dirt, and branches and create a waterfall. When that happens, the vulnerable sections of the roof could be getting damaged. Plus, water might rush down towards the foundation and pool there, increasing the risk of a leaky basement. That is why you need clean gutters at the start of fall and winter to keep diverting rainwater and melting snow away from your household.
But you also want clean gutters in the autumn because any standing water will freeze, and those ice dams will trap even more moisture. If you aren’t careful, your gutters might warp and break away from the roof.
Want to keep your gutters free of debris? Consider installing a gutter guard. A gutter guard will protect the eaves-troughs, especially during the wintertime, when snow tends to congest the gutters and prevents adequate drainage.
Get Your Roof Inspected
Routine roof inspections throughout the year are essential to keeping your roof and house safe. A professionally done roofing inspection involves checking every section of the roof thoroughly. The inspector will look at the shingles, flashings, and other areas. They may suggest repairs that can be made, too.
Here are some usual issues that inspection reveals:
- Leaking around roof vents, chimneys, dormers, or any other roof projections
- Water stains in the attic
- Damaged roof vents
- Cracking roof cement or heavy tar patchwork
- Dry rot
- Warped, rusted, or improperly installed chimney flashing
- Missing gutter aprons
- Failed vent flashing
- Missing nails in shingles and other damages
Although these things can happen at any time throughout the year, you definitely don’t want to leave them unresolved throughout the winter! If your roof inspection discovers any of these problems, have them repaired as soon as possible.
Fixed Damaged Shingles
Many homes and businesses throughout Ottawa use shingles on the roof. Though shingles provide a lot of protection from the elements, they are not impervious to damage. During autumn, you need to check for damages that could become more severe during the winter freeze-thaw cycle. If you see any missing nails, curled up shingles, shingles bare of granules, or even shingles that are no longer flush against the roof, you need to get them repaired or replaced.
Inspect Insulation and Make Repairs
Before it starts getting really cold, you should head into your attic and check the insulation. Make sure you don’t feel any drafts and that there is no water damage or mold growth. Be sure to patch up any holes that you find. Not catching leaks can result in extensive (and expensive) damages that will become more obvious in the spring. Trust us, that’s not the kind of spring cleaning you want to be doing, so have a professional roofer come in and assist with roof repairs.
Do Some Fall Cleaning
Have dark streaks on those shingles? You might think it’s a natural thing, but those streaks are the precursor to algae growth. Once algae begins covering your roof, the internal structure might start to rot because of the constant dampness. Autumn is the perfect time to remove those dark stains. All you need is a mixture of water and bleach to kill any bacteria and scrub off those stains.
Get Your Fall Roofing Inspections and Maintenance Done Today
Although fall weather in Ottawa has gotten warmer these past few years, that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. After all, Ottawa, Ontario still gets plenty of rain throughout the year, especially in the fall. So don’t wait around for your roof to get damaged or for the signs of water damage. Start preparing your roof for fall today by scheduling a roofing inspection.
Have questions about fall roof inspection and maintenance? Get in touch with us! Our professional and friendly team will be happy to assist you.
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