Winter is the time of year when your roofline really takes a battering. Strong winds and torrential rains can take their toll on guttering, so if you can find a gap in the weather it’s worth popping up a ladder and taking a quick look to ensure everything is running as it should. Small problems fixed by a short bout of winter roof maintenance will prevent expensive problems developing later. 

1. Safety First

When using a ladder, make sure that is balanced securely on firm ground and that there is somebody ensuring stability with a foot on the bottom rung. You don’t want any accidents.

2. Clear out Any Detritus

Decomposing autumn leaves, bird droppings, odd bits of twig and mossy growths can combine to form a sludgy mess that clogs up guttering. If your gutters can’t effectively drain water away from the roof, it may spring a leak.  Clear it all out and your water should be running freely once more.

3. Check Meshwork

A lot of that detritus you have just removed should not have found its way into the gutter in the first place. Make sure any meshing is properly in place to minimise future unblockaging escapades.

4. Check your Gradient

Proverbially, rough winds do shake the darling buds of May - but over time they also do misalign the slope of your guttering. If you notice pools of water in your gutter, this may be because your gutter is not sloping sufficiently to allow the water to drain. Tightening up your fixings should restore your gutter to the angle at which it was originally installed.

5. Seal Small Leaks

Finally, if you notice any small leaks these should be repaired before they develop into bigger cracks that could result in major roofline reconstruction. You can fix small leaks with a fibreglass resin available from hardware stores.

When it comes to roof maintenance, like any DIY never attempt anything that you don’t feel 100% confident with. Remember, you can always arrange an inspection of your roof and roofline by one of our experienced roofers. Call us on 01603 418818 or drop us an email to enquiries@roofsuk.co.uk.