1. You Forget to Prune Your Trees 

Crack! A large branch falls on your roof, puncturing it and crushing the edge of the roof and your gutters. As winds increase to 50 or 60 mph, homes begin to experience damage from falling debris. As you think about all of the work you’ll need to do and the money you’ll need to spend on roof replacement, you wish that you’d taken the time to maintain your landscaping. While you can’t always prevent a tree from falling, you can do annual checkups to look for dead or dying branches and trim off branches that sit directly over the roof. That way, when a storm comes, if any branches fall, they will fall into your garden, not on your roof or gutters. 

2. You Forget to Check Your Roof 

Out of sight, out of mind, leaky roof: if you want to pretend that roof damage isn’t happening, you can. However, when water starts to drip into your attic, you’ll probably need to consider roof repair or roof replacement. Whether your roof is simply aging or it’s collected debris from storms, you need to check your roof regularly to make sure that small problems don’t get any larger. A small leak or a loose shingle could lead to water damage or loosen more shingles, causing bigger and bigger problems on your roof. Being proactive can mean the difference between a small roof repair and a roof replacement for a section of the roof or the entire roof of your home.

3. You Add to Your Roof Indiscriminately 

From skylights to Christmas lights, cutting through or adding items to your roof can cause damage if you’re not careful. Your roof is made up of different layers, and if you cut through those layers and don’t seal them up again, you can create an entry point for water. If you’re not sure how to install new items on your roof without causing damage, ask a professional to do so, and make sure that their products and installation don’t void your roofing warranty.

4. Your Gutters Get Clogged With Snow 

There’s a beautiful snowfall, and the icicles are hanging from your roof line. Yes, they look romantic, but they’re not romantic for your gutters and roof. The weight of snow and ice can warp your gutters, causing them to back up and overflow. Snow that melts on your roof hits the ice in your gutter and backs up onto the roof again. That meltwater moves under your roofing, where it can freeze again. This gradual freeze-thaw action loosens shingles and causes roofs to leak. Adding a gutter heating system can help prevent clogging if you live in a cold climate.

5. Your Gutters Get Clogged With Leaves

In the fall, it can be difficult to remember that all of those falling leaves equal clogged gutters. Water that backs up and overflows from your gutters can damage the edge of your roof, your siding, and your home foundation. Avoid rot and mold by cleaning your gutters regularly or installing gutter covers that prevent debris from building up in your gutters.
At Harry Helmet, we protect your roof from the elements. We also make roof and gutter maintenance easier. Look to us for your next roof replacement project, and ask us how products like Gutter Helmet by Harry Helmet can make it simpler for you to maintain your roof and gutters.
Written by Del Thebaud