Roof warning signs show up long before a roof fails, and on the Brighton coast the weather finds them fast. Here are the ones to look for from the garden and the loft, and what each one means.
Slipped, cracked or missing tiles
Look along each slope from the garden or across the road. A tile out of line, a gap or a pale broken edge lets rain onto the felt underneath. One or two is a quick repair. Lots, all over the roof, means the battens or nails have failed.
Mortar on the path or in the gutter
Lumps of mortar come from the ridge, hips or verges. Once the mortar goes, the ridge tiles rock and blow off in the next gale. A dry fix system ends the problem.
Damp patches and stains
A brown stain on a ceiling or down a chimney breast means water is getting in somewhere above it, often a metre or two away. Do not wait for it to spread. The damage to plaster and timber grows every time it rains.
What to look for in the loft
Take a torch up on a rainy day. Look for daylight through the roof, damp or dark patches on the timbers, drips and torn or sagging felt. Old felt that crumbles to the touch is near the end of its life.
Sagging and moss
A dip along the ridge or waves across a slope point to tired timbers or a roof carrying more weight than it was built for. Thick moss holds water against the tiles and blocks the gutters when it falls.
Gutters and fascias
Water spilling over the gutter, stains down the wall and soft or flaking fascias all lead to damp in the walls and the eaves. These are some of the cheapest faults to fix and the most expensive to ignore.
Get a real price for your roof
Ranges are a guide. The real number comes from someone looking at your roof. William comes out, shows you what is needed and gives you a free written quote.
Questions
How often should I have my roof checked?
Once a year, and after any big storm. Our roof surveys are free.
Is a damp patch always the roof?
No. Condensation, plumbing and gutters overflowing down the wall cause damp patches too. We check the roof and the loft and tell you which it is.
Can I check the roof myself?
From the ground and the loft, yes. Do not climb onto the roof. Ring us instead.