March
10
Spring is Almost Here!
The “official” first day of spring this year is March 20, but in many parts of the country (including the Southeast) it’s already starting to feel a lot like spring. Warmer temperatures, new growth, and spring storms will be here before you know it. The Pollening will soon be upon us as well, so allergy sufferers beware!
Preparing for Spring Also Means It’s Time to Prepare Your Roof for the Season, As Well
When you mention “spring,” what comes to mind? Easter? Spring break? The start of lawn mowing season? You probably associate spring with all of these things, and more. And one thing that tends to appear on most everyone’s radar once the temperatures start to warm is the need to perform some annual spring cleaning!
For most, spring cleaning usually involves things like changing out the decorations, getting rid of some clutter, and performing a little more focused cleaning and reorganizing of your home and possessions. And well you should! But at the same time, it’s also important to include your roof on your spring cleaning & maintenance checklist.
So now you may ask, “Well, what about my roof? I just cleaned out the gutters this past fall, and all the leaves haven’t even come in yet!”
First of all, it’s great that you cleaned your gutters in the fall. But gutter maintenance shouldn’t just be limited to a once-a-year activity. There’s also a good chance that your roof and your gutters could have accumulated some more debris since the fall. For example, ice storms can drop some branches on your roof, and melting snow can put a significant amount of shingle granules in your gutters. And did you also know that some types of deciduous trees in the Southeast (like oaks, for example) tend to hold onto some of their leaves all the way through the winter?
Preparing Your Roof for Spring & the Warmer Months
Because all this is true, spring is really a perfect time to give your roof a little attention and show it some needed love. What all should that entail? Well, we’re glad you asked! Here are a few items you should make sure to include on your spring roof maintenance checklist:
1. Deal with Any Encroaching Plants
Overhanging branches from nearby trees or tall shrubs can pose a danger to your roof. It’s a good idea to cut back any growth that sits a little too close to your house. This not only helps to protect your roof from falling limbs, but can also help cut down on the amount of leaves that find their way into your gutters. Spring is a great time for pruning in general, and it’s actually healthy for most plants, especially before their leaves and greenery come back in.
2. Check the Condition of Your Primary Roofing Material
Got shingles? Then you’ll want to survey any shingles that may be damaged, loose, or missing – these will need to be replaced. Take a look at the granule status of your shingles, too; if an excessive amount of granules are missing, the performance level of your shingles can be greatly diminished. Once you get to that point, it’s wise to go ahead and consider a roof replacement before any costly water damage sets in. And if your roof is covered with something other than shingles, spring is still a great time to assess the condition of your roofing material.
3. Check Your Flashing & Seals
In looking at their roof, many homeowners fail to pay attention to their flashing and seals; these items just tend to stay out-of-sight and out-of-mind. But you should know that metal flashing can erode, corrode, or rust over time, and any point of damaged flashing can easily become a potential source of roof leaks. Your spring roof checklist should include assessing the condition of your flashing, along with checking to make sure all seals and weatherproofing are sound. And if you notice any exposed underlayment or decking in any area, that’s something which really requires immediate attention.
4. Yep, Check Your Gutters Too
Perhaps you did clean your gutters in the fall (at least, we hope you did!), but it can never hurt to give them a look in the spring, too. They may be fine, but they also may benefit from a follow-up cleaning. In addition, spring is a time when many animals & insects become active and start looking to build some nests. It’s important to clear away any nests you find on or around your roof before any critters or pests decide to lay their eggs. You want to start the warmer seasons off with gutters that are in the best shape to be able to direct off the flow of any incoming spring or summer downpours.
5. Take a Peek Inside Your Attic
Your spring roof inspection isn’t really complete until you take a peek at your roof from underneath. Use this opportunity to get up in your attic and verify that everything looks dry, and also feels dry to the touch. If you find any water damage or see any water stains, that’s almost always indicative of a roof issue which needs addressing. The presence of any mold or mildew in your attic also point to the fact that unwanted moisture is somehow gaining access. And here’s a pro tip: check out your attic on a sunny day. If you see any sunshine peeking through from above, then that will help you to pinpoint any gaps in your roofing that need addressing.
The Best Way to Get Your Roof Ready for Spring: Start with a New Roof!
Once your roof has weathered enough seasons of service, the results of your spring inspection may lead you to realize that what you really need is a new roof. And if you’re located in NC or southern & southwestern VA, Skywalker Roofing has you covered! Skywalker provides comprehensive roofing services – both residential and commercial – for the entire NC Piedmont Triad, NC Piedmont Triangle, Lake Norman area, and Roanoke, VA region.
Skywalker also offers other valuable home improvement services like gutter replacement, gutter guards installation, siding replacement, windows & doors replacement, deck & porch additions, and blown insulation services. In a word, nobody takes better care of you than Skywalker! But you shouldn’t just take our word for it. Take a moment to check out what hundreds of our satisfied customers have to say about us on Guild Quality, one of the most respected roofing and home improvement provider review forums on the internet. We average over 4.9 stars in our reviews on Google and Facebook, too!
Give us a call today at +1 (336) 627-5596 and let’s get your FREE home assessment and personal consultation scheduled. We’d love for you to able to experience the Skywalker difference for yourself, with no obligation!
