As the fall season quickly approaches it is time to take another look at your roofline. Trust us, you don’t want to deal with leaks or missing shingles during the winter months. So before it arrives, make sure your roof and gutters are in good shape and ready to face whatever Mother Nature throws at it. From a buildup of autumn leaves to plunging temperatures and the risk of snowstorms, they can all cause serious damage to your home.
Here are some key areas to inspect this fall:
Attic
If your attic is not properly ventilated, your roofing shingles can sustain damage from moisture buildup. Circulation of indoor and outdoor air is crucial to your roof’s longevity and performance. Professional contractors will conduct a thorough inspection of the attic to identify and address underlying issues.
Shingles
Your roofing shingles show clear signs when something is damaged. If your shingles are curling inward or outward, they have reached the end of their service life and are no longer providing adequate protection. Entrust your roof replacement job to licensed and experienced roofers like us. Our team of experts will ensure proper installation for your roof. We offer a variety of roofing options to improve both your curb appeal as well as your home’s energy efficiency.
Gutters
You may not think about it, but you need to take care of your gutter system. Your gutters are crucial to preventing water damage and they can’t do their job right if they’re clogged. Make sure that your gutters are clean and that they are undamaged by calling a professional gutter and roofing contractor for the job. Our experienced team will be able to detect whether your gutters need a tune up.
While you check your gutters for debris, you may notice the presence of roofing granules. This is another sign that your asphalt roofing shingles are nearing the end of their service life. You might want to consider a roof replacement, without those granules, your shingles are no longer adequately protected from the weather. This increases the risk of leaks. Along with inspecting your gutters, be sure to observe your roof for any signs of damage. Problems might include curling or missing shingles, cracks, or gaps in the metal flashing.
How We Can Help
If you find that your roof is near the end of its service life, then you need to call a qualified contractor to inspect your roofing. Greenawalt Roofing Company can determine the best course of action for your roof, whether it’s repair or replacement. In addition to our expertise in roofs, we are also siding and gutter specialists. Broken or weakened gutters will not be able to protect your home, and we can install new gutters to remedy this.
For roofing contractors in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, York, and Pittsburgh, we know you have a lot of choices. So what are you waiting for?
What Central Pennsylvania property owners should consider
Fall’s Getting Close: How to Take Care of Your Roof and Gutters is best understood in the context of the whole property, not from one symptom alone. The age of the materials, previous repairs, water-management details, installation methods, and nearby exterior components can all affect what is visible. Central Pennsylvania’s mix of heavy rain, wind, summer heat, falling leaves, freeze-thaw cycles, and winter weather can also make the same concern look different from one home or building to another.
Start with observations that can be made safely. Avoid climbing onto the roof or disturbing damaged materials. Instead, note when the concern appeared, whether it changes during particular weather, and whether it is isolated or occurring in several areas. Photographs taken from a safe location and notes about prior work can help a professional understand the history without relying on memory alone.
Details worth documenting
- visible sagging, loose fasteners, staining, or overflow marks
- debris buildup near valleys, corners, and underground drain connections
- changes that appear only during heavier rain
- the condition of fascia, soffit, and nearby roof edges
- where water leaves the downspout and whether it moves away from the foundation
These details do not replace an on-site evaluation, but they make the conversation more useful. They also help separate a maintenance item from a repair need or a larger project. A clear evaluation should explain the observed condition, the likely scope, the surrounding components that were checked, and any assumptions that could affect the recommendation.
Questions to ask before authorizing work
- Which section is causing the drainage problem?
- Is cleaning, repair, re-pitching, or replacement the appropriate scope?
- Are the downspouts sized and routed for the roof area?
- Could water be affecting fascia, siding, landscaping, or the foundation?
- What maintenance will the proposed system still require?
- How will the new work connect to existing roof and exterior components?
Ask for the proposed work in writing and compare scopes rather than price alone. Materials, labor, disposal, cleanup, ventilation, flashing, permits, warranties, and possible concealed conditions should be easy to identify. If alternatives are available, the practical differences should be explained in plain language so the decision reflects the property’s needs and the owner’s priorities.
Greenawalt Roofing serves homeowners across Central Pennsylvania. Learn about seamless gutter and spouting services, review what happens during a Full Exterior Exam, browse the company’s service areas, or request a free estimate.
