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Climbing up that ladder to inspect the roof isn’t something that we all want to attempt. But if you are up for a job at height, then it can be a good idea to inspect your roof on a regular basis or after a period of bad weather. It pays to inspect these inspections with those done in detail by a professional roofer too. So, if you are carrying out your own roof inspection, what should you look for?
Start at ground level
There are inspections you can do before you get the ladders out and are good for people who can’t manage heights. There are elements of the roof you can easily see from the ground and these needs to be inspected for signs of a problem.
Fascia’s and soffits, for example, are the areas that hold the guttering in place in most houses. If there are signs of peeling paint or the guttering is sagging away from the wall, this can be a sign of a problem. So, from the ground, you can visually inspect the guttering and these areas.
While doing this, also check the ground for signs of debris from the roof. Any small pieces of material that look like your roofing material could be a sign of a broken or damaged roof tile. With the rain and high winds we have experienced in Cheltenham and around the country in recent years, more roof tiles have been damaged by extreme weather so any signs of this kind of debris is a good point to call a roofer to inspect further.
Up the ladder
Next step is to get that ladder out and climb up to the roof. Only do this if you are confident and can safely use the ladder – have another pair of hands around to hold it in place, for example. Once you are up at the level to view the roof, obvious signs of problems include missing or damaged roof tiles. Look for any signs of the roof not being flat or any of the tiles not being on the same pitch as the rest.
However, other problems might be with the flashings around elements such as roof windows or chimneys as these can allow water into space below. These are metal elements that cover joints in the roof and are usually extremely durable but can still be damaged by an impact, such as tree branches.
In the loft
The final step of a loft inspection is to go into the loft of your house. Turn out any lights and carefully look around. If you can see any spots of daylight, then this could mean you have a leak somewhere.
Turn the lights back on and inspect walls and the floor of the loft for any signs of leaks. Puddles of water are the obvious ones but brown stains can show where water was but has now evaporated. And any signs of damp such as black mould also mean that water may be leaking through the roof.
