November in Oregon is a beautiful, soggy reality. We’ve enjoyed the vibrant reds and golds of autumn, but now those colors have fallen—and they are likely plastered to your driveway, your lawn, and most importantly, your roof.
We get it. You’ve probably raked the yard twice already. The days are getting shorter, colder, and wetter. The absolute last thing you want to do on a Saturday is haul out a ladder and climb onto a slick roof.
At BEST Roofing & Waterproofing, we don’t blame you. It’s a miserable job. But we also know what happens when that job doesn’t get done. In our damp climate, leaves on a roof don’t just dry up and blow away. They stick, they mat down, and they begin a biological process that can silently eat away at your home’s primary defense.
It’s Not Just Leaves, It’s “Roof Sludge”
When a thick layer of maple or oak leaves settles into the valleys of your roof or piles up behind a chimney, it doesn’t stay there as “leaves” for long. The constant November drizzle turns that pile into a dense, wet blanket.
This trapped moisture is the enemy. According to agricultural science extensions, the decomposition process releases acids as organic matter breaks down. On the ground, this is great for creating garden compost. On your roof, it’s a slow-motion disaster for your asphalt shingles.
This decaying organic “sludge” acts like a sponge, holding acidic moisture against the surface of your shingles for weeks or even months. This is something standard roofing materials aren’t designed to withstand long-term.
The Silent Damage Happening Right Now
While you are cozy inside, that composting layer on your roof is causing three distinct types of damage:
- Accelerated Granule Loss: The acidic environment and constant dampness loosen the protective ceramic granules embedded in asphalt shingles. You’ll often see these granules washing out of your downspouts. Once those granules are gone, the underlying asphalt is exposed to UV rays and degrades much faster.
- The Perfect Moss Incubator: Moss doesn’t grow well on clean, dry shingles. It thrives in dark, damp, nutrient-rich environments. A decomposing pile of wet leaves is essentially a five-star hotel for moss spores looking to take root before spring.
- Gutter Failure: As the leaves break down into a heavy muck, rain washes it into your gutters. This sludge is far heavier and denser than dry leaves, leading to severe clogs, sagging gutters, and overflows that can threaten your home’s foundation.
The Safe Solution for an Oregon Winter
You know the leaves need to come off, but we cannot stress this enough: Do not risk your safety on a wet, slippery roof.
Every year, we hear stories of homeowners taking terrible falls trying to clear leaves in November. It isn’t worth it.
Protecting your home shouldn’t mean risking your health. This is why we offer professional maintenance services designed specifically for the challenges of an Oregon autumn. Our teams use specialized equipment to safely remove leaf buildup without walking all over your roof and causing more damage.
Our professional roof cleaning services are designed to remove this damaging layer gently, preserving the integrity of your shingles. And because the two systems work together, we almost always recommend ensuring your gutters are flushed and flowing freely at the same time.
Don’t let a pile of wet leaves become a springtime leak. Let us handle the dirty work so you can enjoy a cozy, worry-free winter.
