Why Fall is a Dangerous Time for Your Roof

Most of us think of our roof as the thing on our house that keeps us warm and dry. No roof would mean soggy dinners every time it rained and snow drifts in the bathroom after a blustery night.

But roofs protect us from something else that we don’t usually give them credit for. Something that could cause a lot of damage

The Dangers for Your Roof from Fall’s Debris

There’s no other time of year when your roof takes quite the same beating as it gets in the fall. As trees begin to drop their leaves, and the coming winter’s winds whip them up, your roof is the only thing between you and being pelted by who knows what.

It all means that you need to keep an especially vigilant eye on your roof throughout the autumn. And here’s some of what to look for:

 1. Missing Granules

More than leaves fall in the autumn. Dead or weak twigs and branches can break off from trees and crash into your roof. Combined with blowing leaves, they can all start to strip your asphalt roofing shingles of their protective layer of gravel. Look for bare patches on your shingles.

 2. Raised Shingles

Autumn’s winds can also lift up your shingles. Even if it happens for just a second, debris can get underneath the shingles and leave them permanently raised. Not only can more debris get in under raised shingles, but so to can moisture, which increases your risk of a leak in your roof.

3. Leaves in Eavestroughs

When leavers collect in your eavestroughs, they make it difficult for water to drain away from your roof quickly and completely. Enough backed up water can overflow from your eavestroughs and get into your roof and/or walls, which can cause water damage to the structure of your home.

You should check your roof throughout the year for signs of damage. But fall is probably the most crucial time to do so.