How to check your roof for winter damage

After a wet and windy winter, checking your roof for damage is an excellent idea. Water can find its way in over the winter, and finding leaks now helps you avoid further damage. Spring is also a good time to check for damp before it dries out and goes unnoticed until autumn.

Check for signs indoors

Start indoors. Damp patches on walls or ceilings, especially after rain, are often the first sign. Subtler signs include slight discolouration or walls that feel damp to the touch, which often come before mould or puddles appear.

Go up into the loft and look for damp or damage. A cold loft is not usually a sign of damage, just a sign your insulation is working. Look for cracks of light, obvious water entry or other potential problems.

Look at the roof from outside

Safety comes first. Start from ground level, where you should be able to spot missing tiles or suspect areas. If you use a ladder, make sure it is strong and stable, wear gloves for grip, work with a partner holding the ladder and avoid stepping onto the roof itself.

Check whether tiles have cracked, shifted or gone missing, and look in the gutters. Leaves and muck build up over winter and can overflow, causing damp inside, while snow and ice can buckle plastic gutters or loosen their fixings.

Hire an expert

The better alternative is to have an expert check the roof for you and make any repairs needed. It is the most efficient and safest way to make sure your roof has survived the winter intact.