Why is regular roof maintenance so incredibly important?
Regular maintenance and fixing of any issues as soon as they are identified can save you thousands of pounds and a lot of stress.
What is roof maintenance?
Roof maintenance consists of three major parts:
- regular visual inspections of the condition of the roof for signs of possible damage, deterioration and all kinds of problems,
- prompt repair of any small problems, such as single slipped or broken slates, rusting nails, minor damage to guttering, cracks in mortar and similar,
- cleaning and clearing of gutters and downpipe heads, ensuring free flow of water from the roof and away from the walls of the building.
This set of tasks should be done regularly, and at least once a year - ideally twice, especially for older or otherwise vulnerable houses, or ones exposed to particularly harsh weather conditions due to aspect or location.
What happens if we neglect roof maintenance?
Things get much worse! It is as simple as that: the old saying of "a stitch in time saves nine" could easily be "a slate in time saves nine" (or ninety, and a few sarking boards too).
The end result can be a difference between having your gutters cleaned and a few slates replaced for a few hundred pounds and having to strip off and relay the whole roof, sometimes even including a need to replace roof timbers, which could run into tens of thousands (not to mention the stress, hassle and inconvenience).
Without regular maintenance, small problems such as slipped slates, broken tiles or minor damage to gutters can easily turn into a major leak, causing water damage to your property, inside and out, and sometimes even structural damage.
Regular roof maintenance is absolutely essential for protecting the building, saving you money in the long run, avoiding not just the huge expense, but stress and major hassle of big repairs. It can also help improve your home's energy efficiency and curb appeal in case you want to sell.