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Winter roof checks: fix it before the weather does

Almost every emergency call we take between November and March is a small fault that had been there for months: a cracked ridge, a lifted flashing, a gutter full of leaves. The first big gale or a week of rain finds it. A check in the autumn, while the weather still lets us work, is the cheapest roofing you will ever buy.

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Signs to look for

  • You cannot remember when anybody last looked at the roof
  • Gutters overflowed in heavy rain last winter
  • There is moss or plant growth along the gutter line
  • You can see a slipped tile, a cracked ridge or loose mortar from the street
  • Trees overhang the roof and drop leaves into the gutters
  • There was a damp patch upstairs last year that dried out in summer

What causes it

Winter is when roofs fail because it is when they are tested. Wind lifts tiles at the edges and ridges, rain finds every gap, and freezing water widens cracks in old mortar and tiles. Leaves fill gutters in October and November, just before the wettest months.

None of this is sudden. The faults were there in the summer, when they were dry and easy to miss. A check catches them while the fix is still a repair rather than a repair plus a ceiling.

What we do

We inspect the roof from proper access: tiles or slates, ridges and hips, verges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, flat roof areas, gutters and downpipes, and the loft where we can get into it. You get photographs and a short written list of what we found, in order of urgency.

Small things, such as refixing a tile or clearing a gutter, we can usually do on the same visit with your agreement. Anything larger is quoted separately and in writing, and there is no obligation to have it done by us.

What it usually costs

A check is priced on the size of the roof and how we reach it safely, and is a small fraction of what a winter leak costs to put right inside the house. Ask us for a figure; it is fixed before we come.

Questions

When is the best time for a roof check?

September to early November is ideal: after the summer, before the leaves are all down and before the winter storms. Booking early also avoids the rush.

Can you check the roof without scaffolding?

Usually, yes. Most checks are done from ladders, a roof ladder or a camera pole. We only suggest more access if something needs a closer look.

Do I need a check every year?

Older roofs and those under trees benefit from one every year. A newer roof in an open position can go longer, and we will tell you which yours is.

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