Roof Care in Southcentral Alaska, Season by Season

Fall, before the snow

Fall is the big one. Get these done before the first snow sticks:

• Gutters and downspouts. Clear out the leaves and needles once most are down, and make sure every downspout drains. A clogged gutter backs water up and raises the chance of ice dams.
• Flashing and pipe boots. Around vents, skylights, and the chimney. A cracked boot or a gap is a small fix now.
• Branches. Trim trees back from the house, keep branches off the eaves, and take down limbs that could fall on the roof.
• The roof surface. From the yard or an upstairs window, look for lifted, creased, or missing shingles.

Winter: watch from the ground

Winter is mostly watching. From the yard, three signs say warm house air is reaching the roof:

• Big icicles. Along the eaves.
• Bare patches. Where the snow melts off while the rest of the roof stays white.
• Heavy frost at vents and gable ends. Frost building up outside the vents can mean moisture damage inside.

Then there’s the snow. Anchorage’s building department says the best cure for ice dams is getting roof snow off before it melts and refreezes, not just clearing the eaves. Our guide to snow load and ice dams has the details. When it needs to come off, hire a licensed, insured roofer. Roof snow removal →

The winter attic check

On a cold day, look around from the attic hatch with a flashlight. You don’t need to go in.

• Frost on the nail tips and plywood. That’s water vapor condensing, usually from moist house air getting up through the ceiling.
• Where the air gets in. Usually around the chimney, bath fan and dryer ducts, and ceiling lights that aren’t sealed.
• Stains and soft plywood. Water stains where frost forms can point to a long-term problem. Delaminating sheathing, or rafters filled with frost and ice, mean too much moisture.
• Snow on the insulation. Wind drove it in through the ridge or gable vents.

For frost and ice dams, the fix starts in the house. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation calls air sealing between the house and the attic the most important factor against ice dams. Ventilation cuts down on them too. Attic ventilation →

Spring breakup

Breakup shows you what the winter did. Once the roof is clear, walk around the house and look up:

• The roof surface. A hard winter can wear it down. Look for lifted or missing shingles.
• Gutters and downspouts. Damage, debris, and drip edge or gutters bent by sliding snow.
• Where the water lands. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation says to end downspouts at least 6 feet from the foundation.
• Ceilings and the attic. New stains near the eaves, wet insulation, or daylight where there shouldn’t be any.

If you find roof damage, call a roofer instead of climbing up.

Summer

Summer is the easiest season for roof work, so anything spring turned up gets its permanent fix. Shingles need the warmth: one shingle maker’s guidance says they handle most easily above 40°F and may need sealing by hand when it’s colder. Keep the gutters clear as needles fall.

Gutters and downspouts through freeze and thaw

A U.S. Forest Service guide warns that in early melt, gutters and downspouts can fill with ice and be damaged beyond repair.

• Start clean. Leaves and needles left in a gutter hold water, and that water freezes.
• Keep downspouts open. A plugged one spills the melt over the gutter and down at the foundation.
• Watch where they empty. Never onto a lower roof.

Gutters bent by sliding snow or pulling off the fascia need a repair. New seamless gutters are free with any full roof replacement. Ask for the details when you book. Gutters →

Spruce needles and debris

Spruce and birch near the house put needles and leaves on the roof, not just in the gutters, and they collect in the valleys. Alaska’s Division of Forestry suggests clearing roofs and gutters of leaves and needles several times through spring, summer, and fall. The roof part means getting on it, so leave that to us.

Moss and lichen

Moss grows on the shaded, damp parts of a roof, often the north side and under trees. It can lift shingle edges and let water under them, which raises the risk of leaks and blow-offs.

• Let the sun in. Branches add shade and debris. Trimming them is the key to keeping moss away.
• No pressure washer, no scrubbing. Pressure washing strips granules and likely shortens the roof’s life. Removal should be gentle, and since cleaning makes a roof slippery, the shingle makers’ trade group says only trained professionals should do it.
• Skip the sprays and strips. Moss killers wash off in the rain. The same trade group advises against adding zinc or copper strips to an existing roof: exposed nails can leak, and strips slid under shingles break the seal.

Lichen, the flat, crusty patches, gets the same cleaning rules: no pressure washer, no scrubbing, and removal left to a trained pro.

After a windstorm or heavy snow

Wind damage starts at the roof’s edges. After a big wind, look in daylight, with someone else home, for raised or creased shingles, pieces in the yard, loose trim, lifted flashing, and clogged downspouts. Inside, look for new stains or wet spots.

Don’t try repairs yourself. Call your insurer, and call us to assess the damage. Keep receipts for anything you spend to prevent more damage. On a claim, we photograph the damage, write a scope that matches it, and meet your adjuster on site. You file the claim and it stays yours. Storm damage repair →

After heavy snow, watch for popping or creaking, sagging, doors that suddenly stick, and severe leaks. Anchorage officials add heavy ice damming. If you see any of them, get everyone out of the building, then call an engineer about the structure and us about the snow.

What you can check, and what needs a roofer

What not to do

• Don’t climb onto a snowy or icy roof. Ice builds up on ladder rungs and boot soles, and snow hides the edges.
• Don’t chip ice. Breaking an ice dam can damage shingles, flashing, and gutters, and the fix starts in the attic. Ice dam prevention →
• Don’t pressure wash. It strips the granules off asphalt shingles.
• Don’t rake from a ladder. Rake from the ground with a non-metal rake, leave at least 2 inches of snow on, go easy so you don’t damage the roofing, and stay at least 10 feet from power lines.
• Don’t stand under the eaves. Falling ice and sliding snow can hurt people and pets and crush what’s below, especially under a metal roof.

When to call a roofer

Call when this checklist turns something up, or when you can’t tell what you’re seeing. The inspection is free, on the roof and in the attic, with a photo report and a written price within 24 hours of the inspection. Roof inspections →

Before the snow, a fall maintenance visit clears the gutters, checks the boots and flashing, and fixes the small stuff with your OK. Roof maintenance →

Repairs happen year-round. Most are inspected within a couple of days and done the same week, and emergency calls go to the same number, (907) 701-2233. Roof repair →