Spring is the right time to think about your roof. By the time summer arrives with its combination of intense heat and afternoon thunderstorms, you want it in the best possible condition.
Pre-Summer Inspection Checklist
Gutters: Clean them completely. Atlanta’s spring pollen and seed season clogs gutters fast. Clear gutters mean better drainage during summer storms.
Flashing inspection: Look at all visible metal flashing — chimney, dormer transitions, valley intersections. Any visible rust, separation, or cracked caulk is a flag.
Attic ventilation: Check that ridge vents and soffit vents are clear. Blocked attic ventilation traps heat, accelerates shingle degradation, and increases cooling costs significantly.
Visible shingle condition: Walk the perimeter and look up. Obvious curling, missing sections, or granule-bare patches visible from the ground mean schedule an inspection before storm season.
Tree trimming: Any branches overhanging within 10 feet of the roof should be trimmed. In a summer storm, a branch that “looks fine” can become a projectile or abrade shingles in sustained wind.
The UV Factor
Georgia receives intense solar radiation from May through September — when shingle granule loss accelerates fastest. If your roof is over 12 years old, summer is when you’ll start seeing visible UV degradation: bald patches, overall color fading, and loss of sheen.
Storm Preparation
Atlanta’s summer storm pattern produces intense but fast-moving afternoon thunderstorms that regularly produce 50-70 mph wind gusts and, in some years, hail.
You can’t storm-proof a roof, but you can minimize risk by addressing marginal conditions before storm season. A pre-season inspection takes 30-45 minutes and gives you a clear picture of where you stand.