5 Tips to Prepare Your Roof for Summer
After all the storms we had early in the year, we’re breathing a sigh of relief as we head into summer. Your roof may have taken a bit of a battering, but it should be safe now.
Well, that’s probably true, but it doesn’t mean it’s OK to be complacent. You still need to look after your roof, so here are five tips for preparing your roof for summer.
1. Inspect Your Roof
Hopefully, your roof has come through the storms intact, but you can’t assume that. Damage to a roof can be difficult to make out at a glance, so now is the time to check it more carefully, if you haven’t already.
The simplest way to do this is to stand well back and examine the roof through binoculars. This should let you pick out any damage, but for a closer view, you could climb a ladder to the guttering. Make sure you have a good-quality ladder and know how to use it safely — and on no account try to climb onto the roof itself. Leave that to the professionals
2. Look from Inside Too
Inspecting your roof from the outside is important, but you can also find out a lot from the inside. Any damp spots, mould or mildew on the walls might be from another source, but it’s likely to be a sign of a leaking roof.
To be sure, go up into your loft space in the daytime and turn off all lighting. If you can see even a pinprick of daylight coming through the roof, it means you have a missing or cracked tile which needs replacing.
3. Get Repairs Done as Soon as Possible
Any damage to your roofing materials needs to be addressed quickly. This particularly applies to cracked, slipped or missing tiles or slates, which can let water down into your home. And don’t count on the British summer — there’s going to be rain at some point.
The other danger is moss growing on your roof. It can look picturesque, especially on an old building, but moss can trap water, making it heavy and putting extra weight on your roof. To avoid the moss causing damage, it needs to be cleaned off.
4. Don’t Forget Your Guttering
Your gutters and downpipes have the job of directing the run-off from your roof safely down into the drains. They can’t do that if they’re either damaged or clogged with leaves, twigs or dirt.
Your guttering should be cleaned out a minimum of twice a year, and spring is a perfect time. While doing so, also check for any cracks or breaks, which could result in water leaking down into the foundations.
5. Heat Can Damage Your Roof
In this country, we’re used to watching out for cold, rain or storms, but heat can also damage your roof. If we get a heatwave this summer, the relentless sun could warp or damage your roofing materials, so don’t forget to check your roof afterwards, just as you would after a storm.
If you’re a highly experienced DIYer, you may be able to clean out the gutters yourself, but any other work on your roof needs to be left to the professionals. Give us a call to find out how we can help you prepare your roof for summer.
