Your Fall Roof Checklist for North Georgia Homes

Leaves are starting to drop across Cherokee and Cobb counties, and that makes early fall the best time of year to look at your roof. The summer storms are behind us, the winter rains are ahead, and a few hours of attention now can save a ceiling stain in January.

Here is the checklist our crews walk through on a fall inspection. Most of it you can do from the ground with a pair of binoculars.

1. Look at the shingles from every side

Walk the house and look for shingles that are lifted, curled, cracked or missing. Pay extra attention to the side that faces the prevailing wind and to slopes under trees. Dark patches where the granules have worn away mean the shingle is losing its protective layer.

2. Clear the gutters and downspouts

Gutters full of leaves and pine straw hold water against the fascia and the roof edge. Clean them once the first big wave of leaves is down, then again after the last. Check that every downspout drains away from the foundation.

3. Check the flashing

Flashing is the metal around chimneys, vents, skylights and the walls where a roof meets the house. Loose, rusted or gapped flashing is the most common source of leaks we find. If the sealant around it is cracked, it is time for a repair.

4. Trim back branches

Limbs that touch the roof scrape shingles in the wind and drop debris into the valleys. Keep branches at least a few feet off the roof, and have dead limbs over the house removed before winter storms bring them down.

5. Look in the attic

On a sunny afternoon, look up from the attic. Daylight through the roof deck, damp insulation, or dark stains on the wood all point to a leak. A musty smell or frost on the nails in winter can mean the attic is not ventilating well.

6. Watch the ceilings

Brown rings on a ceiling or peeling paint near an outside wall are often the first sign of a slow leak. Do not wait for it to spread; the water has usually been getting in for a while before it shows.

If anything on this list turns up a question, that is what our free inspection is for. We will tell you what we see, show you photos, and let you know whether it needs a repair now or can wait.