What Should I Do at the End of Summer to Make My Roof and Siding Last Longer?
As summer winds down in Michigan, it is a good time to take a look at the outside of your home. Your roof and siding have spent months dealing with sun, heat, wind, rain, and summer storms. Soon, they will face an entirely different challenge: a Michigan winter.
A little maintenance now can help prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs later. If you are wondering what should I do at the end of summer to make my roof and siding last longer?, here are some simple things every homeowner should check.
Start With a Roof Inspection
You do not need to climb onto your roof to inspect it. In fact, we recommend staying on the ground and leaving the climbing to someone with the proper safety equipment.
Walk around your home and look at the roof from several angles. Keep an eye out for:
- Missing, lifted, or damaged shingles
- Shingles that look cracked or worn
- Areas that appear different from the rest of the roof
- Damaged flashing around chimneys or roof penetrations
- Loose or damaged gutters
- Tree branches touching or hanging directly over the roof
If something does not look right, have a roofing contractor take a closer look.
At Level Up Improvement, we would rather give a homeowner an honest assessment than tell them they need a roof that still has years of life left.
Clean Your Gutters Before the Leaves Start Falling
Gutters are easy to forget about, but they play an important role in protecting both your roof and siding.
Leaves, sticks, shingle granules, and other debris can block water from flowing through the gutter system. When that happens, water can overflow or back up where you do not want it.
Late summer is a great time to clean everything out before fall leaves make the problem worse.
While you are at it, check that your downspouts move water away from the foundation.
The EPA recommends directing downspouts away from the foundation as part of managing water around a home.
Trim Branches Away From Your Roof and Siding
Trees provide great shade during the summer, but branches rubbing against your house can cause damage over time.
Trim back branches that touch the roof or siding. You should also look for dead limbs above the house that could come down during a fall or winter storm.
Branches can scrape shingles, damage siding, and fill gutters with debris. Keeping trees properly trimmed is a simple way to reduce unnecessary wear on the exterior of your home.
Check Your Siding for Damage
Your siding does more than make your house look good. It helps protect the structure underneath from the elements.
Walk around the entire home and inspect it closely.
Look for loose siding, cracks, holes, warping, or pieces that have pulled away from the house. Pay extra attention around windows, doors, corners, and utility penetrations.
If you have vinyl siding, do not assume every loose-looking panel needs to be nailed down tightly. Vinyl siding needs room to expand and contract as temperatures change.
Manufacturers such as Ply Gem provide installation requirements designed to allow that movement.
Keep Your Siding Clean
Dirt and organic growth can build up throughout the spring and summer. Giving your siding a gentle cleaning can help keep it looking good and make it easier to spot damaged areas.
You usually do not need aggressive pressure washing.
A garden hose, soft brush, and siding-safe cleaning solution can handle many situations. High-pressure water can sometimes force moisture behind siding or damage the surface.
This is also a good opportunity to inspect areas that were previously hidden by dirt or landscaping.
Check Caulking Around Windows and Doors
Take a close look around your windows and exterior doors.
Caulk can crack, shrink, or separate over time. Those small openings can allow water and air into places they should not be.
If you find deteriorated caulk, address it before cold weather arrives. Just remember that siding systems need certain drainage and movement points, so you should not simply caulk every opening you see.
If you are already noticing problems with your windows, you can also learn more about our window replacement services.
Don’t Forget About Roof Ventilation
One of the most overlooked ways to protect a roof happens underneath it.
Your attic needs proper ventilation.
A good ventilation system allows air to enter through intake vents and leave through exhaust vents. We like to explain it this way: you can’t breathe out if you don’t breathe in.
Having plenty of exhaust ventilation does not help if the attic cannot bring enough fresh air in.
Proper attic ventilation becomes especially important as temperatures begin to drop. Warm, moist air from inside the house can reach a cold roof deck and create condensation.
Over time, excess moisture can contribute to mold, damaged insulation, and deterioration of the roof decking.
If you are unsure whether your roof has enough intake and exhaust ventilation, have the system inspected instead of simply adding more vents.
Look for Signs of Water Problems
Do not limit your inspection to the outside of the house.
Take a quick look inside your attic if it is safely accessible. Check for water stains, damp wood, unusual discoloration, or signs of moisture.
Then check the ceilings on the upper floor of your home.
A small stain might be your first warning that something is happening above it. Finding the source early is much better than discovering a major leak during a snowstorm.
Make Small Repairs Before Winter
One of the best answers to what should I do at the end of summer to make my roof and siding last longer? is simple: do not ignore small problems.
One loose piece of siding may be an easy repair today. After several months of wind, snow, and freezing temperatures, it could become a larger issue.
The same goes for damaged shingles, flashing, gutters, fascia, and other exterior components.
Preventive maintenance will not make a roof or siding last forever. It can, however, help you get the full expected life out of materials that are still in good condition.
Get an Honest Exterior Inspection
You should not need a sales pitch just because you want someone to look at your home.
If something looks questionable, contact Level Up Improvement and we can take a look. We are a family-owned Metro Detroit exterior remodeling company, and we believe homeowners deserve an honest answer.
If your roof or siding still has plenty of life left, we will tell you.
If something needs attention, we will explain what we found and show you what is going on.
Summer may be ending, but there is still time to get your home ready for another Michigan winter.
Do it right!