The Importance of Maintaining Your Roof

While we wait for updates on our jobs and a drier day, we here at Samuel Sheldon have decided to put out a more general blog this week. You may not have thought about it often, but making sure to get regular roof inspections is rather important especially with the increasing amounts of rain during the winter season. It is recommended that you have your roof inspected and maintained at least once a year. This is important and is better done during the spring or autumn so that you know if your roof, even if properly installed, is ready for the seasons with more extreme weather conditions.

We here at Samuel Sheldon Ltd can perform roof maintenance and repairs for you, be it a gable roof, hip roof, dutch roof and more. There are many signs that a roof is due a service and many of them are found during a routine inspection. It is always good practice to check, and if your roof is due a repair, why not contact us? We can offer premium quality on these repairs.

Some signs of a roof needing to be repaired may not be obvious and can require a professional to inspect. Here is an overview of common signs:

• Cracked, loose or missing roof tiles. If the tiles have come off, then during extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or hail, water can leak into the attic which can cause water damage.
• Discolouration, moss or mould, which can indicate that part of the roof is rotting and needs attention to avoid it collapsing.
• Visible sunlight from the roof or attic, which can suggest that there are cracks or holes in the roof, leading to improper insulation against colder temperatures.
• Flashings that are separating from the rest of the roof – Flashing is the material placed around objects that protrude from the roof such as chimneys. If the flashing is loose, it can result in water leaking into the ceiling or walls – This can cause serious damage over time and may result in irreparable damage.
• Damaged ridges – If a ridge is in bad shape, it can cause the rest of the roof to fail. Ridges are important for blocking off water access.

More serious signs that can suggest a roof needs to be replaced entirely can include:

• Roof sagging – The ridge of your roof should be a straight line. If it isn’t, it can suggest there is structural damage in the roof which can cause it to collapse if left unattended.
• Serious leaks when it rains or snows during the winter, which can cause severe water damage
• Any objects that have fallen onto or through the roof, which will weaken or even damage its structural supports
• With slate roofs, any flaking or delamination of the tiles, or a powdering on the undersides of them. Often, slate can be turned over and reused for repairs, but if these issues come up then the slate has deteriorated too much to be effective and should be replaced entirely.
• For concrete roofs, any sedimentary deposits of the cement tiles ending up in the gutters. This is the result of the surface of concrete tiles oxidizing, turning it into powder, and eroding from wind and rain. This suggests the roof’s structure has become weak, which can cause significant structural damage if ignored.

While these signs can indicate that a roof is reparable, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes the damage, if routine inspections haven’t been carried out, runs too deep for a simple repair and can require a replacement roof. If you are unsure, contact us and we can organize an inspection and any repairs or replacements you may need.

While it may not seem important, regular surveys of your roof, inspections for damage, and following through on repairs are vital as damage to your roof may not be visible from the outside or from a glance. It is best to contact a professional team who can be thorough, quick, and provide you with a variety of options should your roof need repairs or replacement, while also ensuring it is properly waterproofed and insulated.

If you think it’s time for maintenance, why not do it right? Contact Samuel Sheldon Ltd today by phoning us at 01229 773295 or sending us an email at enquiries@samuelsheldon.co.uk.