Keeping on top of roof maintenance can sound like a boring or an unnecessary chore for many of us, but taking care of your roof can actually save you a lot of money financially and unnecessary stress.
It may seem like a difficult task or a job left to the experts, but by knowing what to look out for, you can inspect any roof in a matter of minutes and spot the warning signs before it's too late.
Checking for regular issues, such as damp, decay or discolouring are the most important aspects to watch out for when it comes to your inspection. If your roof is displaying one or more of these signs, it may be time to call an expert asap!
However to avoid this situation, here are the 3 tips all households should adhere to when maintaining a healthy roof:
1: A proper inspection
To conduct an effective roof inspection, it's ideal you have access to your attic. Most homes in the UK will have some form of access into the loft, but just make sure you only enter if it's safe.
Once inside, It's time to check the interior. Thoroughly examine the inside of your roof, the supporting beams and panels for signs of damp, rot or discolouring. You may need a lamp for this.
It might be the case the odour of the damp may be so overpowering, you won't need a lamp to know it's there, but you will need one to spot where it is. Ideally you should spend anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes examining the interior.
If you do find examples of rot or discolouration, be sure to snap a photo of this to show an expert, it may not be as bad as you think.
Once you've checked the inside of the roof and everything looks good, you will want to go outside your home and examine the tiles. Sometimes due to high winds, tiles can be lodged out of place and create gaps in the tiling or completely dislodge slates. If this happens, it can create a draft in your attic which will let out heat and can lead to excessive heating bills.
If you do spot any tiles out of place, you will want to ideally call a roofing expert to resolve the issues.
2: Immediate Repairs
If you do spot or smell damp whilst inspecting your roof, it's ideal to give your roof a chance to breathe and let the attic air out. Ideally you will want to do this for a few hours if possible.
If you spot rot, it's important to clear all the debris without actually removing any of the rot itself. If rot is digging into the beams, it can be the structure has been compromised and any further damage can result in bigger issues. Contact a specialist immediately if this is the case.
If you spot discolouration, it is best to leave it as is and inspect in 3 months, if the discolouring continues, it's a sign the structure is losing its integrity.
3: Contacting a specialist
Whether you are able to spot signs of damage or ageing in your roof, it is still advised to contact a roofer every few years to get a health check on your roof. Although things can look fine on the outside, a good roofer will know if a roof is healthy of not.
For example, United Access Services schedule roofing maintenance checks at least twice every year to counteract more major issues. Customary checks will guarantee that you don't have greater issues to deal with down the line.
