Short answer
Have your roof inspected at least every six months, ideally in spring and fall, and after any major storm. Clean eavestroughs every six months, or at each change of season if you get heavy rain or snow or have trees near the house.
Regular maintenance adds years to your roof and value to your home. Wind, rain and snow cause small problems you’d never spot from the ground, and those small problems are cheap to fix when they’re caught early.
A simple yearly schedule
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Roof inspection after winter: shingles, flashings, ice damage, flat roof drains. Clean eavestroughs. |
| Summer | After big storms, check for missing shingles and branches on the roof. Trim branches that touch the roof. |
| Fall | Roof inspection before winter. Clean eavestroughs once the leaves are down. |
| Winter | Watch for ice dams and heavy snow loads. Have snow cleared from the roof if it builds up. |
If you have big trees near the house or live in an area with heavy rain or snow, clean eavestroughs at each change of season, every three to four months.
What a professional inspection looks for
- Cracked, curled, loose or missing shingles, slates or shakes
- Damaged or lifted flashing around chimneys, skylights, vents and walls
- Pooling water, blisters or cracks on flat roofs
- Scratches and wear from tree branches
- Clogged or loose eavestroughs and downspouts
- Signs of leaks or moisture in the attic
What you can check from the ground
You don’t need to climb up to spot trouble. Look for:
- Shingles that are missing, curled or a different colour from the rest
- Granules from shingles collecting in eavestroughs or at the bottom of downspouts
- Eavestroughs that sag, overflow in rain or pull away from the house
- Water stains on ceilings or in the attic
- Moss or debris building up in valleys
If you see any of these, call us for an inspection.
Leave the climbing to us
Ladders and roofs cause plenty of injuries, and walking on roofing materials can damage them. Our crew does maintenance safely and efficiently, and we’ll tell you honestly whether anything needs attention now or can wait.