A roof rarely fails all at once. It gives you warnings, and the earlier you spot them, the more choice you have. Here is what to look for.
Signs you can see from outside
- Lots of slipped, cracked or missing tiles or slates, across more than one slope.
- A sagging or dipping roof line, which can mean problems with the timbers or battens underneath.
- A ridge or hips that keep coming loose, even after repairs.
- Moss and growth across the whole roof, holding water against the tiles.
- Bare patches or crumbling tiles, where old concrete tiles have worn and become porous.
- Daylight round chimneys or walls, where flashings have failed.
Signs you can see in the loft
- Daylight coming through the roof.
- Old felt that is torn, brittle or hanging between the rafters, or no felt at all on very old roofs.
- Damp, stained or rotten timbers, or a musty smell.
- Water marks on the joists or insulation after rain.
Signs inside the house
- Damp patches on bedroom ceilings, especially after heavy rain.
- Leaks in more than one place, or a new leak after every repair.
- Peeling paint or damp high up on walls near the eaves.
Repair or replace?
A useful rule of thumb:
- One problem in one place usually means a repair.
- Problems all over the roof, or the same problems coming back, usually means it is time for a new roof.
Money spent on repeated repairs to a roof that has reached the end of its life is often better put towards replacing it, and a new roof means a new membrane and battens under the tiles, not just a new surface.
What to do next
If you are not sure which you are looking at, a roof inspection will tell you. Jon checks the roof, the loft where there is access, and the chimney, flashings and gutters, then tells you in plain words what needs doing now and what can wait. Quotes are free.
