As autumn begins to turn into winter, we start thinking about spending more time indoors away from the elements. Before the snow and ice set in, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your roof makes it through the coldest season without problems.
Clear the gutters
If you have a tree on your property, you’re probably used to clearing your gutters out regularly. When they get blocked with fallen leaves or other debris, water can’t flow easily from the roof and down to the drains. That can lead to noisy overflows, icicles, and water falling in the wrong place, which can cause damp patches.
Even if you don’t have a tree, it’s well worth making it an annual job to clear your gutters. Birds love to feed off the moss that grows on rooves, but they often only dislodge it to fall into the gutters where it either dies or grows.
Clean the roof
If you have a pitched roof, this isn’t such a problem, but flat roofs can be a haven for leaf material, moss or other debris. If this gets damp and breaks down, it can damage the roof covering and lead to problems in the long run.
If you’re not able to get onto the roof yourself, ask friends to recommend a local company, or look for local groups on social media who can recommend experts in flat roofing in Evesham, such as www.lwroofing.co.uk.
Check for damage
Make a visual inspection of your roof spaces from the outside and in. This does involve using ladders, which are a leading cause of accidents, so this may be best left to experts if you are not confident doing it yourself.
Pay special attention to areas around skylights and dormer windows, which can be a trouble spot.
Airflow
Go into the loft and make sure that you have a good airflow through this space. You want moisture to be able to escape, otherwise you will end up with condensation and eventually mould or damp. Go up on a bright day and make sure that you can see daylight through all the vents and channels.
With those steps taken care of, you shouldn’t have any problems with your roof this winter, whether it’s rain, snow or hail!