The condition of your roof is an important element of maintaining your home's value and condition. Without a solid, well-built and durable roof, your home and its interior will be exposed to a great number of different variables that will damage and destroy it. Here are some recommendations you can take to check and maintain your roof this fall season, just in time for winter.

Check Roof Ventilation

With winter approaching, one of the necessary qualities you will want for your roof to have is good ventilation through the attic. When the roof remains cool in the winter and is not heated by a build-up of warm air leaking from your home interior, it won't cause ice dams to form. Ice dam formation on the edges of your roof will damage your shingles when the ice grows around and builds up under the shingles, lifting them loose. Ice dams will also cause water to seep into your home when the ice melts. 

However, your roofer can check your attic and roof ventilation to make sure it is adequate and there is not a build-up of warm air. Adding extra ventilation on your roof edges, peak, and soffits can provide adequate ventilation to stop this problem.

Maintain Shingle Durability

The shingles on your home are the first line of defense to the inside of your home against moisture and wind damage. If your shingles don't hold, then the roofing felt, decking, insulation, and drywall will be exposed to the elements and related moisture damage. It is important that you pay attention to your roof's shingles and how they look from the ground. This is a great way to spot problems or damage that can lead to a larger problem later on this winter.

Watch for irregular patterns on your roof, such as curled up edges and chunks missing from your shingles. When a shingle blows loose from your roof it will expose the underlayers. These are usually black or grey in color, which will be a visual contrast from your roofing shingles and their speckled appearance. Also, look out for shingles in your yard. However, check their color to your own roof's color, as shingles in your yard may be from a neighbor's home. 

When you discover any shingle damage, contact your roofer to make the needed repairs. It is easier to repair a missing or broken shingle now than to repair water-damaged decking, drywall, insulation, and carpeting in a few months. Contact a company, such as Par One Construction, Inc., for more information.