As the holiday season approaches, many Texas homeowners are getting ready to climb up, test lights, replace bulbs, and start decorating their homes for Christmas. Before you begin attaching clips, running extension cords, and lining the roof with lights – take a few minutes to visually inspect your roofing system.
This may be the only time all year you’re this close to your shingles. And even a quick look can help you catch signs of roof damage early – before winter weather and holiday storms make things worse.
Why November Is the Ideal Time to Look for Roof Issues
By this point in the year, Texas roofs have already been through intense summer heat, thermal expansion cycles, and fall wind events. Minor storm damage may have started months ago – but the first major leak often shows up in winter when moisture intrusion accelerates.
A simple visual check during holiday decorating can help you catch problems before they turn into costly repairs.
If anything looks suspicious, New Rüf can document potential damage using HITEK drone inspections and NewTek360 high-resolution reporting – allowing you to make fully informed decisions instead of guesses.
What Should You Look for While Hanging Christmas Lights?
Here are the most common early warning signs of roof damage you can check for when you’re already up there:
1. Missing, Torn, or Wind-Lifted Shingles
If shingles look curled, separated, or loose at the edges – they may already be compromised and unable to protect against moisture.
2. Rusted, Exposed, or Popped Nails
Nail pops are extremely common following summer expansion. In winter, those gaps widen – allowing water to travel sideways under your roof system.
3. Debris or Granule Buildup
Check your gutters while placing light clips. If you see dark asphalt granules, that’s often a sign the protective layer on shingles is breaking down.
4. Flashing Separation
Pay close attention around chimneys, skylights, vent openings, and transitions. Even slight movement in flashing can become active leaks in winter.
Pro tip: Take pictures of anything that seems unusual. Photographic proof makes professional evaluation faster – and helps if there’s ever an insurance claim.
Why Catching Problems Before December Matters
Even small issues now can become expensive sooner than you think.
- Winter cold contracts roofing materials
- Rain penetrates tiny separation points
- Flashing gaps widen
- Granule loss accelerates aging
Waiting until after the holidays means you’re waiting until after the weather shifts – and repairs are often more extensive by then.
What to Do If You Spot Possible Damage
You don’t need to diagnose it yourself – but you do want to stay proactive.
Start with a professional inspection.
New Rüf’s drone-based HITEK inspections capture areas you can’t safely see from ladders or angles on the roof – and generate a NewTek360 digital report you can reference and share.
Learn more about our Aerial Roof Inspections
If Something Looks Off — Don’t Wait Until After Christmas
Even if you’re not completely sure what you’re seeing is actual damage, it’s always better to get ahead of it now vs. discovering a leak during holiday rain or the first winter cold snap. Explore repair and replacement options for Residential Roofing and learn which roofing materials hold up best in Texas by reading our post: Which Roofing Materials Stand Up to Texas Fall Weather.
If you think you might be nearing the end of your roof’s life – or if you just want to understand the budget ahead of time as you plan your year-end expenses – our Roofing Estimate Calculator gives you quick insight into what a new roof might cost based on real Texas pricing and materials.
If you believe storm damage may be involved, especially from summer hail or fall thunderstorms, this past article can help you identify the signs before you contact a pro: How to Spot and Repair Storm Damage from Summer Hail & Wind in Central Texas.
Final Holiday Season Reminder
Hanging Christmas lights is the perfect opportunity to make sure your roof is still performing as it should – and to take action before winter can make minor issues worse.
This simple 5-minute visual check could save you thousands, prevent leaks during the holidays, and protect your home all season long.
Before you plug anything in – make sure what you’re standing on is safe, secure, and ready for winter.
If it’s not, New Rüf is here to help.
Schedule your fall inspection today and move into the holidays with confidence.
