Maintenance · 4 min read
The 20-minute autumn check that saves most roofs a repair
Four stops, twenty minutes, both feet on the ground. It is the same walk our crews do before winter, and it catches most of the problems we would otherwise be fixing in February.
Dee MarshForeman · Crew 3
Most of the winter calls we get are not really winter problems. They are autumn problems that nobody saw: a gutter packed with leaves, a cracked pipe boot, a branch rubbing the same patch of shingles every time the wind blows. Once there is snow on the roof, all of those turn into leaks, and all of them are harder to fix in February.
This is the check our crews do on their own houses in October. It takes about twenty minutes, you do not need to go on the roof, and you only need three things: a pair of binoculars (or a phone with a good zoom), a flashlight, and a notepad or your phone's camera.
Before you start: stay on the ground
Every stop below is done from the lawn, the driveway, a window or the attic hatch. If you need a ladder to see into the gutters, put it on firm, level ground, keep three points of contact and do not lean out past the rails. If something needs doing on the roof itself, that is our job. Wet leaves on shingles are as slippery as ice, and falls from single-story roofs put more homeowners in hospital than you would think.
Minutes 0–5: walk round the house
Walk the whole way round, slowly, and look at every slope you can see. You are looking for things that have changed since last year, so it helps to take the same photos from the same spots every autumn.
- Missing or lifted shingles. A shingle that is lighter or darker than its neighbours has usually lost its seal or been replaced.
- Curling or cupping edges, especially on the south and west slopes, which get the most sun.
- Moss or dark streaks. Streaks are usually harmless algae. Thick moss holds water against the shingles and lifts them.
- A sagging ridge or dips in the slope. This can mean the deck underneath has gone soft, and it is worth a proper look.
Minutes 5–10: gutters and downspouts
Gutters are where most autumn problems start. A full gutter overflows behind the fascia, rots the edge of the deck, and in winter it freezes solid and helps ice dams form.
- Look along each run from the corner. A gutter that sags between hangers, or has plants growing in it, is holding water.
- Check every downspout outlet. Water should come out freely and land at least 4 feet from the foundation, not against it.
- Look for granules. A handful of shingle granules in the outlet splash is normal. A thick layer of black grit means the shingles are wearing out.
- Check the fascia behind the gutter. Peeling paint or dark stains mean water is getting behind the gutter, often because the drip edge is missing.
Minutes 10–15: the four details that leak
In our repair logs, the open field of a slope is almost never where a leak starts. It is nearly always one of these four details. Use the binoculars and take a photo of each one.
| Detail | What to look for | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe boots | Cracked or split rubber collar, a gap round the pipe | A $340–$480 repair if caught now |
| Chimney flashing | Metal pulled away from the brick, fresh caulk, cracked mortar | Counter flashing needs resetting |
| Valleys | Leaves and needles piled in the V, worn or cracked shingles | Clear it; worn valleys need rebuilding |
| Walls and dormers | Caulk lines instead of stepped metal, stains on the siding | Step flashing done the quick way |
Minutes 15–20: the attic and the trees
Go up to the attic hatch with a flashlight on a dry afternoon. You do not need to climb in; a look from the ladder is enough.
- Daylight through the roof boards anywhere other than the ridge vent.
- Water stains or dark rings on the underside of the deck, especially around chimneys, pipes and skylights.
- Rust on the nail tips. This is condensation, not a leak, and it usually means the attic is not ventilated properly.
- Insulation pushed into the eaves, blocking the soffit vents.
Then step back outside and look up at the trees. Any branch within 6 feet of the roof will scrape the shingles in wind and drop leaves straight into the valleys. Autumn, once the leaves are off, is the easiest time to have them cut back.
What to do with what you found
Most of what you find on this walk will be fine, or a job for a Saturday morning with a gutter scoop. Here is how we would sort the rest.
Rule of thumb
Clear it yourself: leaves in gutters you can reach safely, blocked downspout outlets, branches you can trim from the ground. Call us: cracked pipe boots, lifted flashing, missing shingles, soft or sagging areas, any stain in the attic. Watch it: streaks, light moss, a few granules in the gutter. Take the same photo again next autumn.
If you are not sure what you are looking at, send us the photos. We would rather tell you it is nothing than find it in February. And if you would like someone to do the whole check for you, including the parts on the roof, our inspections are free, take about 45 minutes, and come with a report of 20 to 40 labelled photos.
The checklist
- Walk round, photograph every slope from the same spots as last year
- Look for missing, lifted, curled or discoloured shingles
- Sight along every gutter run for sags, plants and standing water
- Check every downspout outlet: free-flowing, 4 feet from the foundation
- Look for heavy granules in the outlets
- Zoom in on pipe boots, chimney flashing, valleys and wall flashing
- Attic: daylight, stains, rusty nail tips, blocked soffit vents
- Note any branch within 6 feet of the roof
Dee Marsh
Foreman · Crew 3 at Halden since 2015. Eleven years with Halden and the foreman on most of the Millbrook re-roofs. Dee writes the daily build log texts and does the final walkthrough with every homeowner.
