Most of us are enamored with fall. The colors of the falling leaves, the commencement of football season, and pumpkins decorating the stoops of houses are common sights. Unfortunately, it’s also a season when homeowners pay less attention to roof maintenance. This neglect can be costly when the cooler temperatures arrive. As soon as the rain and snow begin, repairs will become harder. Therefore, it would be wise to get right on it while the fall lasts.

Fall maintenance for your roof is pretty painless. Several of the tasks are easy enough for you to attempt yourself. With others though, we’d recommend to call us for repairs. Here are a few suggestions.

De-Glutting the Gutters

Leaf abscission may look romantic until you catch sight of your gutters. Those fallen leaves can land on your roof and slip down into the gutters. That means there will be less room to divert water and lead precipitation away from your house.

Moreover, the pool of water that has nowhere to go can cause damage to the lowest layer of shingles. Begin by cleaning those gutters and freeing a path for the runoff.

Removing the Moss

All over the US, including Frederick, MD, a black layer on the roof is a familiar sight. That’s only black algae and it isn’t the culprit that you should fear. Leave it on the roof as is. or use some bleach and water to remove it. We’d recommend calling in roofers to take care of the black algae.

What you should be noticing, though, is all the moss growing on your roof. Since it can receive all the sunlight it needs to photosynthesize, this growth is having a ball up there and trapping moisture in large quantities. What does that mean for a roof made out of wood or composition shingles? It means leaks, mildew, and mold.

Tackle moss in its early stages of growth by simply sweeping it off. If there’s a lot of buildup, you will need to kill it with zinc sulfate. After you have scraped the roof clean and made it moss-free, purchase zinc strips to keep it from happening again. Hire a roofer to install those strips near the top of the roof. Any rainwater will run off from the strips and into the gutters you just cleaned.

Trimming Trees

An integral part of fall roof maintenance is trimming the trees that have flung branches close to your home. These branches may pose a danger to your roof later. It’s important to take care of them as autumns begins. If you do this, you will likely have fewer leaves to remove from your gutters.

Counting the Shingles

Okay, so you don’t have to count them. But we’d suggest keeping your eyes peeled to detect if any go missing. If something damages the shingles on your roof, you should know about it. Spotting a shingle that isn’t whole or completely missing requires instant replacement action. For your safety, let a pro handle that job.

Even if you aren’t short of shingles, you should still clean them to reduce the chances of algae, moss, lichen, and fungal growth on your roof. Remember that this greenery will attract or trap moisture and compromise the integrity of the roof.

Repairing Skylights, Vents, and Chimneys

Let’s look at the final tasks on the fall list: the chimneys, vents, and skylights. While not every home in Frederick, MD has these, here’s what to do if yours does:

• Close the chimney flue and brush off the creosote. Then check the exterior for damage. Any cracks will need to be repaired.
• Seal the chimney with a water-repellant solution.
• Wash the vents and skylights and check if they need any repairs.

And you’re done. Timely repairs will make your home safer during the colder months of the year. You will also be saving some cash. If you’d like some help with the task, call DC Generals at (240) 629-8464, or fill out this form to get in touch.