Taking Care of Your Roof in Winter

Winter isn’t a comfortable time for your roof. It’s an unusual winter if we don’t have regular storms, and there’s likely to be frost, ice and maybe snow at various stages of the season. All these can damage your roof, so it’s vital to check regularly for any warning signs and get a winter roof repair

Cleaning Out Your Guttering

If you haven’t already cleaned your guttering in preparation for winter, it needs to be done as soon as possible. Gutters and downpipes can get clogged up at any time, but autumn is particularly bad, with falling leaves blowing about in the wind.

This can create a major problem if the water that’s meant to run off is held in the guttering or on the roof, especially if it then freezes. Not only can this damage the guttering, it may also create cracks in the roof that will allow moisture to get in and damage the roof timbers.

Check Your Roof Regularly

Winter is the time your roof is most likely to get damaged, so it’s essential to check it regularly. If you’re confident on ladders, you could climb up and observe at close quarters, or alternatively you could look through binoculars from ground level. The main things to watch out for are:

Cracked, curled or missing tiles.
Moss growing on the roof.
Peeling or damage to the flashing on your chimney.
Cracking or peeling to the sealant of vents or skylights.

You can also check from inside, where water damage can show up on the ceilings as dark spots or blistering paint. Also look for holes in your roof by going into the loft during the day with no lighting on, where they’ll show up as pricks of light.

Can Roofing Be Done in the Winter?

It’s both unnecessary and unadvisable to put off roofing work till it gets warmer. Certainly, if you’ve identified any of the problems above, it’s best to get them fixed as soon as possible.

When it comes to scheduled work, such as replacing a worn-out roof, there are pros and cons to having it done in winter. On the one hand, having the roof open to the elements may not be ideal in cold weather. On the other, you’re likely to get better prices in winter.

Simple jobs like cleaning the guttering can be done yourself, as long as you have experience in working at heights, but actual repairs should always be left to professionals. If you need advice about your a winter roof repair or your roof in winter, or at any time, you’re very welcome to give us a call.

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