How Roof Repairs in Autumn Can Save You Money This Winter

We’ve had a fine summer this year, but autumn is setting in, and winter won’t be far behind. The roof on your home might not be the first thing you’re thinking of, but you need to make sure it’s in good repair — otherwise, it could cost you unnecessary money.

Preventing Leaks in Your Roof

Any damage to the roofing materials, such as cracked tiles, loose flashing or torn felt, has the potential to result in leaks when heavy rain comes. Snow or freezing weather can make it even worse, since ice will expand to make the damage worse.

This can result in water getting into the roof space and even down into the rooms below. Damp causes a whole range of issues, from rotting timbers to creating mould or mildew on the walls. You could be faced not only with serious structural damage, but also with spores that are hazardous to health.

In addition to all this, the damage caused by the freeze/thaw cycle can seriously shorten the lifespan of your roof. By ignoring simple repairs, you could find yourself having to pay out to get your roof replaced far sooner than necessary.

Preventing Problems with Your Guttering

The guttering system is a crucial part of your roof, allowing water to flow off and be directed down the downpipes into the drains. Unfortunately, it’s vulnerable to being blocked or damaged, especially in the autumn. 

Leaves, twigs and other debris can clog up the gutters and downpipes, or else the heavy winds can damage the structures. This can make water pool on the roof, increasing the weight on the roofing materials and opening up any cracks. It can also result in water overflowing, damaging the fascias and brickwork, or even getting down into the foundations.

Reducing Energy Bills

The combination of high energy costs and the need to reduce carbon emissions makes it more crucial than ever to reduce the need for heating. The most effective way of doing that is to keep your home well insulated — and the roof is central to this.

In addition to ensuring that the insulation inside the roof is adequate and undamaged, keeping your roof in good repair will help. Cracked tiles or torn felt provide holes for the heat to pour out of your home. That means that you have a choice between freezing and pumping out excessive heat.

Planned Professional Maintenance Is Crucial

If you leave repairs until the damage is obvious, you’ll be throwing money away. Not only will the work needed probably be more extensive, but you’ll be trying to call out roofers urgently at their busiest times. That means you’ll face high call-out fees, as well as the cost of putting the damage right.

The answer is to schedule an inspection and routine maintenance in autumn, so the work will be done before the problem gets serious — and at regular prices. Give Empire a call to arrange your roof repairs this autumn, making sure you save money.