Roof Replacement

New Roof & Re-roof In Essex

A well-built roof should last at least 25 years, even longer if it is well maintained. Normally people start thinking of replacing the roof after a leak in the ceiling or something else as dramatic. Often a roof repair is enough to save you from any bigger catastrophes. Unfortunately sometimes replacing the roof is the most reasonable and only thing to do. A roof replacement is a huge project and investment though, so you want to make sure you are doing it properly. 

Warning Signs That You Need A New Roof Or Repair

No matter what type of roof your home has, the signs that your roof may need repairing or replacing tend to be the same. Common things to look out for include:

Water Damage or Water Ingress – In unfortunate cases, it can be all too obvious when a roof has sprung a leak – time to grab a bucket! More often than not, water ingress is less severe and takes the form of stains on your walls or ceilings.

Daylight – If you can see daylight coming through your roof, for example in the loft or attic, your roof needs to be repaired. Anywhere that daylight can get through, water can too.

Broken or Missing Roof Tiles – It’s incredibly common for roof tiles or roof shingles to become damaged or removed entirely – for example, due to strong winds or animal activity. Even just one damaged or missing roof tile can cause a leak.

Moss or Mould Growth – If moss is visible on your roof, or mould is visible inside your home, this is likely due to water ingress.

How To Inspect Your Roof

How often do roofs need to be replaced?
A standard roof should be expected to last at least 20-25 years, but it’s worth inspecting your roof at least once per year.

By conducting a visual interior and exterior check on your roof, it should be relatively easy to identify the common signs of roof damage detailed above.

However, there are also some specific areas you should examine which may not be so obvious such as:

Chimney flashing – Chimney flashing should be visible around the base of the chimney. Usually made from metal or dark PVC, the flashing prevents water from pooling where the vertical chimney meets the roof. If the flashing is visibly worn, damaged or missing, your roof may suffer from water ingress.

Granules in roof guttering – It’s normal for roof guttering to collect various types of debris. However, you should check to see if granules from your roof tiles or roof shingles are present, which may indicate that those materials are deteriorating.

Loose guttering – Roof guttering may come loose due to damage to their brackets, which can be easily repaired. However, it can also be a sign of damage or rot to the roof itself.

Roof Repair vs Roof Replacement

If your house roof is showing signs of damage or deterioration, you should take action as soon as possible. Damage to a roof, particularly one that is no longer water-tight, can lead to further damage to your outside walls, interior walls and other parts of the home.

The good news is that addressing roof damage doesn’t necessarily mean re-roofing your home.  Repairs such as replacing roof tiles and fixing damaged chimney flashing are examples of jobs that do not require new roofing.

However, in addition to the visible damage, there may also be unseen issues underneath problem areas. You should always contact a local roofing expert who can thoroughly assess the condition of your roof and make a professional recommendation.