Signs Your Roof Needs Repairing

From The Ground

Stand back from the house, on the pavement or in the garden, and look at the roof in good light. Binoculars help. Look for:

• Slipped, cracked or missing tiles or slates
• Ridge tiles that look loose, uneven or have gaps in the mortar
• Gaps or damage along the verges at the gable ends
• Lead flashings that are lifting, split or hanging away from the chimney or wall
• Moss, weeds or debris building up on the roof or in the gutters
• A sagging or uneven roof line

In The Loft

Look with a torch on a dry day, and do not step between the joists. Signs include:

• Daylight coming through the roof covering
• Damp patches, dark stains or mould on the timbers or the underside of the roof
• Wet or sagging insulation
• A musty smell or condensation

Inside The House

• Brown or yellow stains on ceilings or upper walls
• Peeling paint or bubbling plaster
• Damp patches that appear or grow after heavy rain
• Water dripping during or after rain

Water often travels along timbers before it shows, so the stain may be a long way from the actual hole.

Gutters And Roofline

• Gutters overflowing, sagging, leaking at joints or full of moss
• Rotten, peeling or cracked fascias and soffits
• Water running down the outside wall

When To Get Help

If you notice any of these, it is worth having the roof inspected. Small repairs cost far less than putting right the damage once water has been getting in for months.

Not sure what you are seeing? Try our free roof health check or download the free roof checklist.