Spring roof maintenance, at a glance
Spring roof maintenance in St. Louis means checking for winter damage and clearing drainage before the severe storms and hail that often arrive from April through June.
Much of it you can do from the ground. For anything on the roof itself, John Beal Roofing offers free inspections. Call (314) 429-6000.
A spring checklist you can do from the ground
No ladder needed for most of this.
- Walk around the house and look for shingles in the yard or on the patio
- Use binoculars to check for missing, lifted or cracked shingles
- Look at the gutters for sagging sections or loose hangers
- Check downspouts for granules washing out, a sign of aging shingles
- Look for stains or peeling paint on soffits and fascia
- Note any tree limbs touching or hanging over the roof
Take photos of anything you find. They help us during an inspection, and they help if you need to file an insurance claim later.
If you spot something on this list, you do not need to wait for a leak. A single lifted shingle or a loose gutter hanger is a small fix in spring and a bigger one after a June hailstorm.
What winter does to St. Louis roofs
Freeze and thaw
Water gets into small gaps, freezes, expands and widens them. Flashing seals and old caulk often fail by March.
Ice dams
Snow melting over a warm attic can refreeze at the eaves and push water under shingles. Look for stains on ceilings near outside walls. Our ice dam page has more.
Wind damage
Late winter fronts can break shingle seals. A loose shingle that survived January may tear off in the first spring storm.
Clear the gutters after the trees drop
In many St. Louis neighborhoods, maple seeds come down in large numbers in spring, along with oak flowers and catkins. They pack into gutters and downspouts quickly. When the first heavy rain hits, clogged gutters overflow against the fascia and foundation, and water can back up under the bottom row of shingles.
Clean the gutters once the trees finish dropping, then flush the downspouts with a hose to make sure they run clear. If you clean the same gutters several times a year, guards may be worth it. See our gutter guards page.
Check the attic and schedule an inspection
On a sunny day, look in the attic for daylight through the roof boards, damp insulation or dark stains on the wood. A musty smell can mean moisture from poor ventilation. These are early signs that are cheaper to fix in April than after a summer of storms.
A professional inspection covers what you cannot safely see: flashing at chimneys and walls, pipe boots, ridge vents and the condition of every slope. John Beal Roofing inspects for free and gives you photos and a written estimate if anything needs work. We are family-run since 1947, a person answers our phone 24/7, and replacements carry our lifetime workmanship warranty. For the next season, read our summer roof maintenance guide.
Questions about spring roof maintenance
Spring brings the same handful of questions every year.
When should I schedule a spring roof inspection in St. Louis?
Should I get on the roof myself?
How often should I clean my gutters?
Is a spring roof inspection free?
Free spring roof inspection
Fill this out and we'll call you back. If water is coming in right now, phone us instead so we can move faster.
More seasonal roof guides
Keep the roof in shape the rest of the year:
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