A roof maintenance checklist for Florida runs on the seasons: spring is for getting ready before hurricane season, summer is for watching through the storms, fall is for checking what the season did, and winter is the quiet time to fix it. Most of it you can do from the ground and the attic.
Spring, March to May
Spring is the most important check of the year, before the storms start on June 1.
- Clean the gutters and flush the downspouts once the oaks have dropped their leaves. See how often to clean gutters in Florida.
- Look at every pipe boot. The rubber collar around each plumbing vent cracks in the sun, and a cracked boot is the most common leak nobody can find.
- Check the flashing at walls, chimneys and skylights for gaps, lifted edges or dried out sealant.
- Look for shingles that are lifted, curled or missing granules, especially at the edges, corners and ridge.
- Trim any branch that hangs over the roof or touches it.
- On a bright day, look up from the attic. Daylight through the deck, or a dark stain on the wood, is a spot to have checked.
Summer, June to September
The rainy season and the start of hurricane season. This is about watching, not climbing.
- After a heavy rain, check the ceilings, the attic and around skylights for new stains.
- Watch the gutters in a downpour. Water spilling over the front edge means a clog.
- After a storm, walk around the house and look up from the ground for missing shingles, cracked tile, dented vents or debris in the valleys, and photograph anything unusual.
- Stay off a wet roof. If a storm opened the roof, see roof repair.
Fall, October to December
Hurricane season ends November 30. Fall is the time to see what it did and clear the leaves.
- Clean the gutters again once the pine needles and fall leaves are down.
- Repeat the spring checks: pipe boots, flashing, edges and the attic.
- Look for black streaks on the north and shady slopes. That is algae, common on Florida shingles; it is mostly cosmetic, and a low pressure soft wash removes it. Never pressure wash a roof.
- Check that the soffit vents are clear, so the attic can breathe.
Winter, January and February
Cool, mostly dry and months from the next hurricane season, and usually the easiest time to get a roofer out.
- Fix anything the fall check found before spring arrives.
- If the roof is near the end of its life, this is the time to get a price on a new one, ahead of the spring rush. See signs your roof needs replacing.
What to leave to a roofer
A ladder at the gutter is one thing; walking a roof is another. Resealing flashing, replacing a pipe boot, checking the nail line under lifted shingles and anything on a tile roof are jobs for someone who does it every day. A tile cracks underfoot when it is stepped on in the wrong place, and a fall from a roof is no small injury.
Have it done for you
Our roof maintenance plan works through this list for you every spring and fall: gutters cleaned, every boot, valley and flashing checked, sealant touched up, and a dated photo report after each visit. The first year is free with every new home roof we install. Getting ready for storm season? See preparing your roof for hurricane season.
How often should a Florida roof be checked?
Twice a year is a good rhythm, in spring before hurricane season and in fall after it, plus a look from the ground after any big storm. An older roof deserves a closer look each time.
Should I pressure wash my roof?
No. High pressure strips the granules off shingles and can crack tile and force water under the laps. Black algae streaks come off with a low pressure soft wash made for roofs.
What parts of a roof fail first in Florida?
Usually the pipe boots, whose rubber collars crack in the sun, then sealant at the flashing and vents, then shingles at the edges and corners where wind lifts hardest. All three are cheap to fix when caught early.
Is it safe to walk on my roof?
It is better not to. A wet or steep roof is how people get hurt, and tile cracks underfoot if you step in the wrong place. Most of this checklist can be done from the ground, a ladder at the gutter, or the attic.
The service: Maintenance plan