Your roof’s job is to protect you from rain, sleet and snow – and your roofline is vital in supporting that job by channelling the water away once it’s landed. Any problems with your roofline quickly become problems for your roof, walls and foundations – which you don’t want at the best of times, and definitely not in winter! When water freezes, it expands and gets heavier – so you definitely don’t want that sitting on your roof or in your gutters.
So as we head into the colder months, we’ll talk you through what you can do to get your roofline in tip-top shape for its critical role in keeping you safe, dry and sheltered over the winter – so step outside and have an objective look at the state of your roof, from the sides as well as the front and back elevations.
Leaks, drips and puddles
It’s not always easy to spot damage when your roof is so far off the ground, but there are some warning signs that will give you a clue that something needs to be done. Cracks, peeling paint or damp patches on the outside of your property are dead giveaways – but have a good look around when it’s raining, too. This is when you’ll see if there are overflowing gutters, which may also have sizeable puddles underneath them where the dripping water pools. Waterlogged ground can do serious damage to your foundations, so this is definitely something to remedy.
Go inside to the loft, as well – this is a great way to examine your roof up close, where you may get more clues about the state of your roofline. Check around the edges for mould, any signs of light coming through from outside where it shouldn’t be, and any damp patches – these could all be caused by damage to the roofline outside.
Fascias, soffits and barge boards
These are the boards which protect joins between your walls and roof, and any gaps or damage to them is bad news for the woodwork and masonry underneath – especially in the season of storms and high winds, which drive the rain in between those cracks. Water coming into your home via these routes can damage your rafters, and if you can see any damage, it’s worth considering repairs and replacements now.
Gutters and Downpipes
If water cannot drain away from your roof via the gutters, it will sit there causing strain on the fittings – and when the temperature drops it will freeze, adding significant weight for your fittings to bear. Freezing water also expands, so the risk of it breaking up your guttering altogether is real. Clear your gutters out regularly, and check in particular for leaves, dirt, moss and sprouting seeds that could be causing obstructions to the water flow.
Find out more about the different elements of your roofline in our blog post, here: Refresh Your Roofline
And if you’re concerned about the state of your roofline and you’d like to get it sorted, give us a call today for a free, no obligation quotation. Our team will be happy to take a look and advise the best course of action – we’d love to help keep you and your property safe and dry this winter.
