A Guide To Repairing Your Roof

Follow our guide, whether you're buying a new house, renovating an old one or repairing an unwelcome leak.

By Caroline Rodrigues

Help, My Roof Is Leaking!

If water's coming through the roof, contact the National Federation of Roofing Contractors to find a local registered contractor - or search for local qualified roofers through MyBuilder.com.

Climbing onto the roof should be left to the professionals, but if you absolutely must, remember that the rafters may not bear your weight. A special roof ladder with wheels to speed it along the tiles without damage and a large hook to hold it in place can be hired from HSS Hire.

How To Check A Roof's Condition

Whether you've noticed signs of damp or just want to pre-empt potential problems, make some basic checks. Stand on the opposite side of the road or in the garden and use binoculars for a closer inspection. Look out for:

* Loose or missing tiles or slates.
* Sagging gutters and loose brackets.
* Blocked gutters.
* A leaking joint in a gutter or downpipe.
* Defective or missing flashing (the lead or zinc sheet used where the roof adjoins any parapet walls or chimney stack).
* Loose, cracked or crumbly mortar or render.
* Plants growing out of the roof or guttering.
* A leaning chimney stack or parapet wall.
* Evidence of birds or vermin.

Checking From Inside

* From within the loft, check all the main timbers and joints between timbers and wall. Joints should be tight, timbers dry and solid, and there should be no evidence of rot or damage from insects.
* In an old building, when looking up from within the loft, you can see the battens supporting the tiles (unless covered over by felt). If you can see daylight, this is evidence of a missing or damaged tile or slate.
* Damp patches on the ceilings are a tell-tale sign of roof problems.

Flat Roofs

Look out for:

* Pooling on the lowest part of the roof.
* Blocked gutters, or leaves or moss built up on the roof.
* Splits in the roof covering.
* Small repairs can be made to the covering but if leaks have led to structural damage to the timbers, the roof covering may have to be lifted to allow access, and then completely replaced.