Roof maintenance tips for winter and in general – Roofers in Stafford.
It’s official… winter is officially over! Some love winter, but plenty of us hate it and that applies for your roof as well. Winter brings ice, high winds, rain and potentially snow. All these things which roofs really don’t like! As such it’s really important that your roof receives a bit of TLC before winter really begins to sinks its teeth in. If you fail to look after your roof then don’t be surprised when you end up with a problem… normally right when you need it least!
Winter is one of our busiest time for emergency call outs. However, by following these simple roof maintenance tips provided by the roofers in Stafford, you can be confident your roof will shrug off the worst of a British winter.
Trim those trees
Do you have any trees near your property? In the case you do, you will have to get out there and check whether or not the tree or its branches are overhanging your property. Naturally, trees grow a lot over the summer resulting in branches overhanging your roof where previously there would have been none. And equally important is to inspect for dead branches and limbs of the tree. With strong winds, the normal time for these to fall is over the winter months. You would be astonished at the damage caused even by a relatively small size branch if it falls on your roof. So it is important to make sure that any overhanging branches are cut and trimmed.
Clean your gutters
This is one of the most important tip! Gutters area important component of your roof and are vital for them to work effectively. Water is the number one enemy for your roof and it is crucial to have a well-designed gutter that allows rainfall to run away effectively and quickly. In the case where your gutters are clogged up with leaves then rainwater can’t flow away. This in turn results in it backing up and possibly pooling on your roof (especially in the case of flat roofs). This standing water normally can start to damage and cause issues to your roof. In case of having a pitched roof, the gutters aren’t clear and the overflow can potentially cause damage to the fabric of the building and damage the fascia boards. Hence, clearing your gutter and ensuring that they are in good working condition will possibly save you a ton of grief along with expensive roof repairs.
Check for damages
When was your roof last checked? Odds are your roofs have not been inspected while you have had your oil or gas boiler serviced annually. The issue is that when a roof starts to leak, then the damage can be extensive. And that damage usually happens pretty quickly. It is a bit all or nothing when it comes to roofs. If you have got easy access to your roof and are pretty confident about checking it yourself then do so. Otherwise, you can undertake a visual check from the ground or better yet you can get a roofer to undertake an inspection of your roof. A professional roofer knows the most likely weak points of your roof and can properly check for damaged felt, slipped tiles, gutters, rotted fascia boards and flashing that has lifted. It is well worth the money to have your roof inspected as it will significantly reduce the cost of undertaking repairs after water has entered the property or damage caused to the roof.
Insulation and your attic
This is often overlooked, it is important to get up into your attic to check for any issues you can see inside your roof space. You can look for condensation which can indicate lack of ventilation. This is a good time to check out your roof void insulation as well. Energy bills are getting expensive and if your roof insulation hasn’t been replaced or checked in a while then you are likely losing an extensive amount of heat through your roof. Replacing your roof insulation with more modern insulation materials could save you some significant amount of cash on your bills as well as doing your part to help the environment we live in.
And what if the worse happens?
If, despite all of your best efforts, winter or rains or winds does manage to damage your roof it’s crucially important you don’t delay calling out a roofer to fix any damages. The smallest of issues or leaks can quickly get bigger and what might have been a simple issue to fix could turn into months of renovation work (trust us, we have seen this happen lot of times). Any sign of traces of damp marks on ceilings or water in your property should be checked and fixed urgently. What might potentially appear as a small amount of water could end up hiding a much larger leak than you would think.
Here at Unifix Roofing Ltd, we provide extensive range of roofing services in Stafford and Staffordshire. Our highly qualified and insured team work across Stafford and Staffordshire. Our customers value the honest advice and high standards we operate in. Get in touch with us for a free and fast no obligation quote or just to get a friendly advice on your roof. Get in touch with the best roofers in Stafford for honest advice.