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It’s Time for a Pre-Winter Roof Inspection
There is no bad time to have your roof inspected, especially if you feel like there's something wrong up there. However, early fall (think late September, or early October) is a great time to get what we call a "pre-winter roof inspection." There are several reasons to get your roof inspected before winter hits, and we'll highlight them all.
Summer Heat Does a Number on Your Roof
Summer is pretty much over, yet the effects of summer on your roof are permanent. We had an incredibly hot, sunny, and dry summer this year. All of that direct sunlight can affect the integrity of your shingles. Plus, we’ve had a few severe thunderstorms that brought high winds.
If we’re being honest, we’d tell you to inspect your roof after every season. After all, every season in New England brings with it its own set of challenges. However, we’d emphasize an inspection after summer if you had to prioritize.
Fall Rain Can Exacerbate Things
September and October usually bring some welcome rain with them. October is well known as being a particularly rainy month here in New England. With all that rain comes the potential for a “straw that broke the camel’s back” scenario. Maybe your roof is just barely holding up and it’s just waiting for that one rainy week to start leaking.
Snow & Ice Can be the Last Nail in the Coffin
Snow is heavy and ice is invasive. Neither of these properties is great for your roof. We suggest getting a clean bill of health in the fall before the winter season, so you can have some peace of mind when the inevitable blizzard rears its ugly head.
When snow sits on your roof, it puts a pretty good amount of weight on it. A roof should handle that, but if it has any points of weakness, the snow will find them. Furthermore, ice has a way of finding small openings in your roof (whether it’s through your flashing or loose shingles) and making them larger. Let us find these minor problem areas before winter makes them major.
What We Look for in a Pre-Winter Roof Inspection
We bring a systemic approach to pre-winter roof inspections. This is what we’ll do for you:
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Look for any damaged or missing shingles
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Check the integrity of your gutters (are they hanging by a thread?)
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Inspect for pooling water (pooling water means you have a grading issue and a possible integrity issue)
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Asses the integrity of caulking and flashing (both keep water out of joints but can wear out over time)
Most of all, we’ll bring a professional eye and an honest opinion. We want you to know what’s going on up there, and we want to give you honest options for dealing with it.