Getting Your Roof Ready For Autumn

Here's some tips from Edinburgh Borders Roofing & Building.

Sadly, the Scottish summer is coming to an end and autumn will soon be around the corner. Seasonal changes provide their own challenges when it comes to your roofing, but autumn is a particularly prickly one for homeowners.

We are reminded that the long leaves are going to fall and rain is about to set in. Autumn is a beautiful time of year and it’s the time of year when lots of us like to prep our homes a little bit. Between now and the chill of winter, there are a few things you can do to prepare your roof for autumn. Lots of homeowners don’t put too much thought into autumn home maintenance, when they should, particularly those living in areas of the UK with extreme weather. In addition to this, lots of smaller issues will occur at this time of year, anything from pests to leaves to leaks. If they’re not addressed they can become bigger problems once the cold winter months set in.

In this blog, we address some common roofing problems in autumn and how to deal with them before they get any more serious. As always, it’s best to call in the experts with the majority of roofing work. Work relating to roofs are almost entirely performed from height which provides ample room for safety concerns. We can take that stress out for you with our expertly trained roofers. Why not contact us or request a free quote?

Check your ventilation

Guttering may be the obvious one, which we’ll go into, but have you considered issues relating to ventilation? Without a good standard of airflow entering the attic, you may end up paying sky-high energy bills and end up dealing with roof leaks emerging in more extreme weather. Throughout the day, sunlight reaches your roof and warms up the air in your attic. Without any vents put in place in the soffits, ridges, and gables of your roof, the hot air condensates; in turn, this causes moisture damage and possible mold or rot in your roof’s supports. The heat can also trigger ice dams in higher elevations, inviting leaks when snow accumulates on top of the roof.

Clean your guttering

Here’s the one that probably comes to mind first when you think of autumn. When leaves and debris build-up in your gutter system, in time, it can create a clog in the downspouts. Rainwater will overflow the gutters, damaging your roof, trim and siding. The additional weight of soggy leaves and rainwater may also make your gutters loose from the anchor point or even cause them to collapse.

To stop all these problems and unforeseen repair fees, be sure that you make sure your gutters are relatively clear throughout the winter months. Once more if the trees around your home are bare – it’s still worth doing a thorough cleaning. You will also get out ahead of the autumn weather and have gutter screens or guards put in place to stop the build-up of debris in the beginning.

You also may require a much more complex roof repair if this isn’t addressed quickly.

Clear the debris

As we mentioned in the above point, it is crucial that you get rid of any additional leaves but also anything else. For example pine needles, and other build-up from the surface of your roof as well as the gutters. Even smaller bits of debris will hold moisture and possibly rot or mold, which will break down your roofing material.

If you are comfortable or you are experienced in walking on your roof, go up there and broom or blow off the debris that has collected on your roof, paying particular attention to the gutters, which are most vulnerable to water damage. Be sure they are free and clear of debris so as to allow water to flow. As part of a roof evaluation and maintenance services, you can often get your roof treated for moss, which is definitely not a bad idea in a moist climate.

With a clear roof, scan the area for any missing shingles or any shingles which may have cracked curled or frayed edges. You can use binoculars to have a look from the ground or climb up to the roof to have a look at them yourself.

It’s worth taking a look at any damaged flashing around vent stacks, chimneys or any skylights. These sections are the usual suspects when you have a leak problem. Repairing flashing yourself may not always give you the results you may have expected, it’s important you make sure everything is sealed properly before the rain hits.

Sort out the small stuff

Do you know the phrase, don’t sweat the small stuff? Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to your roof. Have you found yourself putting off smaller roofing tasks? In terms of replacing a missing tile or fixing loose guttering, you might leave your property vulnerable to issues further down the road if you don’t fix them out now. The intense weather experienced by roofing as you move later into the year can increase how fast issues in the roof can go on to deteriorate. Strong winds, intense rainfall and cold temperatures will exploit any smaller issues. A tiny crack can instantly become a bigger one when water freezes and expands in the area. Be sure that any roofing work you’ve been avoiding is finally ticked off by you or sorted by the professionals on your behalf.

Pre-autumn inspections

It’s wise to assess your roofing while it’s still feasible to spend time outdoors without strong winds or intense rain. If you are able to discover any issues now rather than when conditions are chilly, wet and cold, it will remove the hassle down the line. You can take a look at your roofline from ground level and have a look if there are any visible issues such as wet patches, leaks or cracks, and bypass looking in the attic space if it’s easy and safe to access.

If you’re noticing any significant roofing issues such as moisture ingress, you might be able to recognise signs such as rotting wood, mould or pest infestations which indicate there are areas where outside elements are able to get inside your home. Use the services of an expert roofer like Edinburgh Borders Roofing to carry out a full inspection. We’ll be able to see your roofing up close and will use the right safety equipment.

Routine maintenance

There are also a few routine maintenance jobs you may want to consider before the autumn weather really sets in and what this really comes down to is routine maintenance. You may also want to ask a roofing professional to clear any debris from your flat or pitched roofing which has built up over time. Flat roofs are particularly susceptible to leaks if not well-maintained, but a professional roofer can check its state, any features such as shingle and recommend high-quality materials if it’s time for a necessary upgrade.

Use a roofing specialist to sort the issues.

The intense weather experienced by roofing as you move later into the year can increase how fast issues in the roof can go on to deteriorate. Strong winds, intense rainfall and cold temperatures will exploit any smaller issues. A tiny crack can instantly become a bigger one when water freezes and expands in the area. Be sure that any roofing work you’ve been avoiding is finally ticked off by you or sorted by the professionals on your behalf.