With fall well underway here in Maryland the leaves are beginning to turn and the winds are picking up. Unfortunately, this often means a mess in your yard, and oftentimes on your roof. Leaves, branches, and other debris on your home’s roof can spell a recipe for disaster if left unattended, so it is important to spend some time clearing your roof of debris during the fall and winter months. Let’s look at some different types of roof debris, and why it is so important to clear it.
Leaves
One of the biggest “dangers” your roof will face in the fall is leaves. In small numbers leaves are lightweight and completely harmless, but if you allow them to build up they can create a huge mess! Leaves can find their way into your gutter and clog it, which prevents your gutters from draining properly, leaving standing water on your roof. Likewise, piles of damp, decaying leaves can sit on your roof and potentially damage your shingles.
Small Branches
Small branches can find their way onto your roof with fall gusts and can potentially damage your asphalt shingle roof. Large branches can cause major damage, but smaller branches can crack shingles, pull up shingles, or land in gutters. It may seem like a few small branches on your roof are harmless, but it is important to remove them when you see them to prevent further damage.
Damaged Roofing
Each fall it is a wise idea to do a quick inspection of your roof. With winter on the way it is important to look for cracked, damaged, or missing shingles because the winter elements can further the damage and lead to a full Maryland roof replacement. Here in Maryland snow can be hard on your roof, and if there are already weak areas on the roof, that snow can spell disaster.
If you haven’t inspected your roof recently, or you’ve noticed a build up of roof debris left unattended, it is time to make sure your roof is ready for winter. By paying special attention to your gutters and shingles, you can proactively address any problems. If you notice damaged areas of the roof, or gutter problems, give Alternative Roofing a call today for repairs, so that you don’t have a much bigger problem in the spring!