Autumn is a beautiful season in Toronto! As the leaves start to turn colour, every neighbourhood is transformed into a natural spectacle.
Take a walk through any number of our city’s parks or tree-lined residential neighbourhoods to take in the scenery, and it seems like the city has brought out its brightest plumage for one last show before it is inevitably covered with snow in the coming months. Falling leaves may add a welcome degree of colour to a stroll through the city, but their charm wears thin for homeowners once they begin to accumulate as debris on your home’s roof, clogging up your eavestrough and deteriorating between your roof’s shingles and flashing.
As leaves collect on the roof, they soak up moisture from the elements and begin to rot. The shingles beneath are vulnerable to the damage from prolonged exposure this moisture and may clog from deteriorating debris, leaving the felt layers of underlayment and the decking underneath without its first line of defence against rainfall and water buildup. If left unaddressed, the deterioration can lead to internal leaks, water damage, fungus and wood rot, which is why it is prudent to conduct a thorough inspection every fall. Unfortunately, the initial stages of deteriorations are often difficult to spot during a visual inspection, so it is a good idea to consult a expert Toronto roofer through Pro Roofers, to conduct a thorough assessment.
In addition to your gutters and shingles, fall debris can also wreak havoc on your roof’s flashings, vents and chimneys. Flashings are a sheeted metal covering the joints of your roof, used to prevent water from penetrating the surface. Flashing is used around chimneys, vents, dormer windows and skylights. A majority of leaks are the result of roof materials loosening from the flashing, as the result of clogging caused by deteriorating leaves and other debris. Clogging leads to damming responsible for water buildup on and under your roof’s surface. Since this is another problem difficult to spot during a visual inspection, it is best to contact professionals trained in expert roof repairs to conduct a thorough inspection of your roof.
Homes with flat roofs especially rely on the efficacy and good maintenance of their flashing. Due to the relatively subtle degree of a flat roof’s slope, effective draining systems are absolutely necessary and flashing is an integral component of diverting water off the roof’s surface. Without adequate draining systems, ponding can occur. Ponding on a flat roof can lead to persistent leaks, especially around the vents, skylights and chimneys. If this occurs, it is best to resolve the issue before the freeze and thaw cycle of the coming winter months has a chance to aggravate the problem. Consult trusted flat roof repair experts in Toronto to address any issues regarding water buildup on your flat roof.
Autumn can often come and go before you know it, so enjoy the natural splendor of the season and take time to prepare your home for the cold months ahead.