Managing Leaf Build-up

Blankets of beautiful autumn leaves don’t belong on your roof. They cause damaging leaf build-up.

While Fall leaves are beautiful, they become a nuisance for roof maintenance. Fallen leaves accumulated on your roof clog gutters, downspouts, drainage, and rain-carrying systems. Leaf build-up results in ponding water. Any amount of standing water on your roof can lead to ice damming in winter.

A less visible issues with accumulated autumn leaves:

The by-product of decomposing leaves can ruin a roof. It pulls the oil from asphalt roofing systems such as shingles & modified roofs. It can pull plasticizers out of some membrane systems, and carbon from EPDM, as well. This chemical leaching causes the systems to weaken leading to cracks or shrinkage, and eventually leaks.

1. Leaf Build Up
2. Clogged Water Removal System
3. Cracks in your roofing membrane
4. Shrinkage or layers pulling off walls

Have your gutters cleaned at least once during each Autumn? Severely clogged gutters drain, or downspouts should be handled by a professional roofer. Performing maintenance on your roof, even something as simple as cleaning the gutters, can be very dangerous. One wrong move while on your roof could prove fatal.

We have the training and safety equipment to get your job done safely and efficiently. If your roof is in need of maintenance in preparation for or during Autumn, call the professionals of Great Lakes Roofing Corporation at 800-871-5151.