It's not just the inside of your house that will benefit from a spring clean
The onset of warmer weather, less rain and longer days often spurs many of us into life when it comes to carrying out jobs around the home. From spring cleaning to DIY; gardening to car repairs, the changing of the seasons remains a busy time for this type of activity.
Roofing maintenance and (minor) repairs are not exempt from this, and now is as good a time as any to inspect yours after the winter, while getting it ready for summer…
Before you start
Prior to carrying out any work on your roof – not matter how big or small – it is vitally important to ensure that you are safe. This means performing a number of simple steps to avoid serious injury as a result of falls or other accidents.
Position your ladder at a 75 degree angle from the wall, ensuring that it is equipped with rubber safety feet. Never over-extend the ladder, as this can make it unstable, and always wear appropriate footwear – no sandals or large heels.
Roof ladders can also be advantageous on pitched (sloping) roofs, giving you a sturdy foothold when on steeper surfaces.
Gutters
One of the most popular roofing tasks carried out at this time of year is cleaning the gutters. This may seem like a superficial job, but clearing your gutters and drains is actually an important part of roof maintenance. If your guttering becomes blocked or too full, rainfall will not be diverted away from your home and water ingress can occur, leading to damp and mould.
Use a trowel or specialised gutter cleaner to remove leaves and other debris, before pouring water into them to check that they are flowing freely. This will also help you to spot cracks, and any damage should be repaired immediately as this will save you a lot of headaches come autumn.
Chimneys
If your roof has a chimney stack, or any other protruding elements, checking these should be an important part of your general roof inspection – particularly if your chimney is still in use.
Your stack could be hazardous to you and others if it is structurally unsound, or is not capable of channelling smoke and toxic fumes out of your home.
Inspect the flashing round the edge of the chimney for damage or loose areas. Flashing keeps the join between the stack and the roof waterproof, so is a crucial component in your roof’s health.
Also keep an eye out for any loose brickwork or shingles, particularly in older chimneys, as this could be potentially dangerous in terms of the structural integrity of your stack.
Birds can cause internal damage to your chimney, so check for signs of nesting and remove if necessary.
Other Considerations
Loose or damaged tiles or shingles are generally easy to spot, both from ground level and up on the roof. Don’t attempt to repair these yourself if you are in the slightest bit unsure as to how to do so, as this could cause further, more serious damage.
If possible, get up in your attic during the daytime and look for sunlight coming through any cracks or holes – this may not always be visible externally, so this could be a beneficial check to carry out.
Morgan Asphalte - Professional Roofing Services in London
If you are not confident in scrabbling around on your roof, or are unsure as to how to repair any damage you come across, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals. Morgan Asphalte have over 45 years of experience in the roofing industry, and specialise in carrying out repairs and maintenance on all roofing types, including slate, asphalt, felt, lead, aluminium, liquid roofing and more.
For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Morgan Asphalte today.