Colourful leaves falling from the trees are a sight to behold during autumn. But when reality sets in, and you’re reminded that you have to rake all that foliage, it’s tempting to just leave those piles on your lawn. To get you motivated, take a look at the following problems caused by fallen leaves:
Photo by Dmitriy Adamenko on Unsplash
Problems in roofing and drainage
Foliage in your roof gutters will cause clogs, which may result in damage to your fascia and soffit boards, as well as rainwater and melted snow backing up into your attic. Eventually, when the temperature dips below freezing, clogged gutters tend to produce ice dams.
Clumps of dead leaves on the roof itself will trap moisture, leading the shingles underneath to rot. Source: Care2
Brown spots
It’s true, dead leaves do act as a fertilizer for soil, providing a natural source of carbon for the earth. It’s the reason why some people choose to leave the leaves where they fall — but according to Cullen, you shouldn’t do that.
“Don’t leave [dead leaves] on your grass, because when leaves fall on your lawn they cut out rays of the sunshine and cause brown spots to occur,” the horticultural expert explains.
The idea that leaves need to be removed altogether is where we’re wrong. Instead, Cullen says raking the leaves and putting them into your garden is best. Source: TheWeatherNetwork
Fall risk
Dry leaves don’t present much of a safety risk, but leaves that get wet usually become slippery. If you skip raking, the leaves can blow all over your walkways, driveway and nearby roads. A fall rain soaks the leaves, making them a slippery hazard. The leaves on your sidewalks present the greatest risk of slipping, not only for your own family but also for visitors or people walking past your house. You can sweep your walkways clean, but a yard full of leaves means those sidewalks will likely be covered again the next time even a gentle breeze sweeps through the neighborhood. Source: Living.TheBump
The damage that fallen leaves can cause to your house is equal to the damage that it can cause to your pocket. Save money this season by having your gutters and roofing prepped for autumn. Call us today to get a free estimate!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
