Rules of the Roof

An experienced roofer shares industry secrets for seasonal maintenance, DIY repairs and more

- BY ALLY CHILDRESS

Roofs protect our homes in more ways than one.

They keep out the elements, sure, but they also help hold up the walls, maintain the temperature inside our homes and channel water away from the foundation. A shoddy roof job or neglected repairs will come back to haunt you.

Tommy Osborne, owner of HBR Roofing in Dallas-Fort Worth, deals with every kind of issue imaginable: new installs, storm damage, chimney and gutter problems and even bee removal (which happens more than you think). Discover Osborne's best advice for fall maintenance, deciding when to get a new roof and finding a contractor without getting taken to the cleaners.

Fall Maintenance Tips

"The first thing when it comes to your roof is keeping it free of debris, especially in the valleys where the water runs down," Osborne says. Once a quarter and definitely before winter, walk around your roof and do a visual inspection. "You'll typically get a lot of leaves built up there, especially if you have splash guards in front of the gutters."