Spring Roof Maintenance Checklist for Richmond Homeowners

Winter's over. Your gutters are packed with leaves and that water stain in the attic looks bigger.

Here's what to check before spring storms hit.

Why Spring Maintenance Actually Matters

Richmond gets hit with severe thunderstorms March through May. Wind, hail, heavy rain, occasional tornadoes.

A roof that survived winter might not survive spring if you skip maintenance.

We respond to more emergency calls in April and May than any other months. Most are preventable.

What maintenance prevents:

Leaks that start small and become expensive. $150 flashing repair in March beats $4,000 interior water damage in April.

Ice dam damage discovered too late. Winter created the problem, spring rain makes it obvious.

Clogged gutters overflowing during thunderstorms. Water backs up under shingles, into walls.

Small issues becoming insurance claims. Catch problems early, fix them cheap.

Ground-Level Exterior Check (15 Minutes)

Grab binoculars. Walk around your house. Look up.

Shingles:

Curling edges? Shingles are failing. Common on south and west-facing slopes that get maximum sun.

Missing shingles? Obvious problem. One missing shingle isn't emergency. Ten missing shingles needs immediate repair.

Cracked or torn shingles? Usually from wind or impact (tree branches).

Bald spots? When you see more bare asphalt than granules, shingle's at end of life.

Dark streaks? That's algae. Doesn't mean roof is failing but looks terrible and eventually degrades shingles.

Gutters and downspouts:

Sagging sections? Water weight from clogs caused this. Gutter needs repair and cleaning.

Rust or holes? Time for replacement before spring rains.

Downspouts disconnected or damaged? Water dumps at foundation instead of draining away.

Water stains on siding below gutters? Overflow from clogs.

Flashing:

Check around chimney base. Flashing should be tight, sealed, no gaps.

Plumbing vents: Rubber boots crack after 10-15 years. Look for splits.

Valleys: Where two roof planes meet. Should have metal flashing visible. Missing flashing = leaks.

Tree branches:

Branches within 6 feet of roof? Trim them back. They scrape shingles during wind. Drop debris into gutters.

Dead branches hanging over roof? Get those removed before they fall.

Roof debris:

Leaves piled in valleys? They trap moisture, create dams during rain.

Pine needles? Same problem. They hold water against shingles.

Attic Interior Check (10 Minutes)

Go up there with a flashlight. Daytime is best — you can see daylight through holes.

Water stains:

Dark stains on roof decking or rafters? That's water damage. Could be old or active.

Touch it. If it's damp, you have an active leak. Call someone.

If it's dry, might be old. Monitor it. Check again after next rain.

Daylight through roof:

Should be pitch black in your attic (except soffit vents). If you see daylight through the roof deck, you have holes.

Insulation condition:

Wet or compressed insulation? Water's getting in somewhere.

Missing insulation? Explains why your heating bills were high.

Insulation pushed against roof deck blocking soffit vents? Creates moisture problems and heat buildup.

Ventilation airflow:

Stand in attic. Feel air movement from soffit to ridge? That's good ventilation.

Hot, stuffy, no air movement? Ventilation inadequate. Shortens shingle life.

Pest damage:

Squirrels or raccoons make nests. They also chew holes in roof deck.

Bat droppings? They're getting in somewhere.

Wasp nests near roof vents? Not a roof problem but worth noting.

DIY Maintenance Tasks

Clean gutters and downspouts.

Most important spring task. Do this first.

Scoop debris out. Flush with hose. Check that water flows freely through downspouts.

For a typical Richmond home: 2-3 hours if you're doing it yourself.

Hire someone if your roof is steep or you're not comfortable on ladders. Costs $150-250 for professional cleaning.

Trim overhanging branches.

Anything within 6 feet of your roof should go.

Small branches: DIY with pole saw.

Large branches: hire tree service. Falling branches damage more than just roofs.

Soft-wash moss and algae.

Never pressure wash your roof. Strips granules off shingles.

Mix: 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Spray on. Let sit 15 minutes. Rinse gently with garden hose.

Or hire soft-wash service: $300-500 depending on roof size.

Those dark streaks disappear. Roof looks years newer.

Clear debris from valleys.

Use leaf blower from ground level if safe. Or carefully climb up and hand-remove.

Valleys are leak-prone. Keep them clear.

Check attic ventilation.

Make sure soffit vents aren't blocked by insulation. Push it back if needed.

Ridge vents should be clear of debris.

When to Call a Professional

Some things look DIY-friendly but aren't.

Any signs of leaks.

Water stains in attic or on ceilings need professional diagnosis. Leaks are tricky to locate.

Missing or damaged shingles.

Replacing a few shingles is technically DIY but matching old shingles is difficult. Mismatched repairs look terrible.

Professional repair: $200-600 depending on extent.

Sagging areas on roof.

This is structural. Don't wait. Could be rotted decking or rafter failure.

Flashing issues.

Chimney flashing, valley flashing, vent flashing — these are skilled trades. DIY flashing repairs fail.

After 10+ years since last inspection.

Even if everything looks fine, get a professional up there every decade. They spot things you miss from ground level.

We include attic inspection in our roof inspections. Most homeowners have never been in their attic. We find problems they didn't know existed.

Richmond-Specific Spring Concerns

Pollen accumulation.

Richmond pollen season is brutal. Yellow coating on everything including your roof.

Pollen doesn't damage roofs but it clogs gutters. Clean gutters after pollen season ends (late May).

Spring thunderstorm prep.

March through May brings severe storms. Wind gusts 50-70 mph aren't uncommon.

Loose shingles blow off in high wind. Small repairs now prevent bigger problems later.

Tornado season.

Richmond's in a moderate tornado risk zone. Check your roof before storm season peaks (April-May).

Secure loose elements. Trim dangerous branches. Make sure flashing is solid.

Humidity and ventilation.

Richmond humidity climbs in spring. Poorly ventilated attics trap moisture.

Check that vents are clear. Make sure bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans vent outside, not into attic.

Heavy spring rains.

We get some of our heaviest rainfall in spring. Gutters overflow if clogged.

Test your gutters during a heavy rain. Stand outside, watch water flow. Overflow = time to clean.

What We Find During Spring Inspections

Did 47 spring inspections last year. Here's what we found most often:

Clogged gutters (38 out of 47 homes): Richmond trees drop debris year-round. Gutters don't clean themselves.

Damaged flashing (22 homes): Wind and ice caused separation. Small gaps let water in.

Missing shingles (18 homes): Winter wind and ice did this. Homeowners often don't notice from ground level.

Moss and algae growth (31 homes): North-facing slopes stay damp. Perfect for growth.

Rotted fascia boards (9 homes): Usually from gutter overflow. Wood stays wet, rots.

Inadequate ventilation (15 homes): Builder cut corners. Homeowner never knew.

Most of these cost $200-800 to fix. Ignored until next winter? Cost jumps to $2,000-5,000.

Spring Maintenance Schedule

Early March:

Clear winter debris from gutters
Trim branches that grew over winter
Visual ground-level inspection

Late March:

Deep gutter cleaning after most tree debris falls
Attic inspection
Professional roof inspection if roof is 10+ years old

April-May:

Monitor for storm damage after severe weather
Address any issues found in March inspections
Clean or soft-wash algae/moss before summer heat sets in

Cost of Prevention vs Cost of Neglect

Prevention costs:

Gutter cleaning: $150-250 (DIY: free)
Professional inspection: $0-150 (many contractors do free inspections)
Minor repairs caught early: $200-800
Total: $350-1,200 annually

Neglect costs we've seen:

Water damage from clogged gutters: $3,500 (interior ceiling and wall repair)
Rotted decking from small leak ignored: $2,400 (extensive plywood replacement)
Full shingle section replacement from wind damage that started small: $1,800
Mold remediation from moisture buildup: $4,000

Henrico homeowner called us last April. Noticed small water stain on ceiling. "It's been there a few months but it's getting bigger."

Inspection found failed flashing around chimney. Water had been running down inside wall cavity for at least a year. Insulation soaked. Drywall damaged. Stud showed early rot.

Repair: $6,200 (flashing, decking, interior wall, insulation replacement).

If he'd called when stain first appeared? Flashing repair would've been $400.

What a Professional Inspection Includes

When you schedule spring inspection with reputable contractor:

Roof inspection from roof level (not just binoculars from ground):

Every shingle checked for damage
All flashing inspected
Valleys cleared and checked
Roof debris removed
Photos of any issues found

Attic inspection:

Water stain documentation
Ventilation assessment
Insulation condition
Structural check (rafters, decking)

Gutter inspection:

Attachment security
Drainage function
Downspout flow

Written report:

Issues found with photos
Recommended repairs prioritized (urgent vs can wait)
Cost estimates

Good inspections take 45-60 minutes. Quick drive-by inspections miss problems.

Bottom Line

Spring maintenance takes 3-4 hours of your time or $400-600 if you hire it out.

Skip it and you're gambling that nothing fails during storm season.

We've replaced roofs that would've lasted 5 more years except neglected maintenance caused premature failure.

Clean your gutters. Check your attic. Fix small problems before they become insurance claims.

Your roof will last longer. Your house will stay dry. Your wallet stays fuller.

Schedule your free spring roof inspection: (804) 238-7837. We'll check everything, document what we find, and give you honest recommendations. No pressure, no gimmicks.