Mildenhall Roofers installs new roofs in Soham and the surrounding villages, and this page explains how to look after a new or recently repaired roof so it performs well for years without needing further work.
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A new pitched roof starts with stripping the existing covering back to the timbers, inspecting every rafter and purlin for rot or movement, replacing any damaged timber, and then laying a breathable underlay before battening out and fixing the chosen tiles or slates. Ridge tiles are either traditionally mortar-bedded or dry-fixed with a mechanical system. Lead flashings are cut, dressed and fixed at chimneys, valleys and abutments. Skipping or skimping on any of these stages creates problems that may not show for several years but will show eventually.
On flat roofs - garages, porches, extensions - the deck must be in sound condition and laid to the correct fall before any membrane goes on. EPDM rubber and torch-on felt systems both perform well when correctly installed, but neither will compensate for a deck that is soft, uneven or draining poorly.
A new roof is not maintenance-free. The materials are specified to last, but a roof that is left completely unattended for years can develop small faults - a loosened ridge tile, a dislodged flashing, a blocked gutter - that allow water in and turn a minor problem into a major one. The good news is that most of these issues are easy to spot and cheap to address if caught early. The expensive repairs happen when they are not.
The most effective thing a homeowner can do is carry out a simple visual inspection once or twice a year, typically in autumn before the worst of the weather and again in spring. You do not need to go on the roof yourself. A pair of binoculars from ground level will let you check for slipped tiles, open ridge mortar, debris accumulation in valleys and the condition of visible flashings.
Blocked gutters are the single most preventable cause of roof-related water damage. When a gutter fills with leaf debris and moss, water backs up and can work its way under the lowest course of tiles or into the fascia and soffit behind. Clear gutters in late autumn after the leaves have fallen, and check the downpipe outlets are flowing freely. On a new roof, it is also worth checking that the gutter is correctly positioned - it should sit just below the line of the tiles so that water falls cleanly into it.
Moss on roof tiles retains moisture and can, over time, lift tile edges and block the channels between interlocking tiles. It also adds weight. A light growth on an older roof is not an immediate crisis, but on a new or recently replaced roof it is worth treating early. Biocide treatments applied by a roofer - either sprayed on for the moss to die back naturally, or with a gentle soft-wash - are safer and less damaging than high-pressure jet washing, which can force water under tiles and strip surface material from concrete tiles.
Lead flashings at chimneys, dormers and abutments are a common point of failure. Lead is a long-lasting material but it does move with temperature changes, and mortar pointing at the top of step flashings or around chimney back gutters can crack and open up over time. A quick visual check to confirm that the lead is still dressed tightly and that there are no open mortar joints costs nothing. If you spot a gap, get a roofer to repoint it before water works its way in.
Traditional mortar-bedded ridge tiles can shift in high winds. After any significant storm, it is worth scanning the ridge line from the ground to check that no tiles have moved. A ridge tile that has rotated or lifted slightly can let water in directly and is straightforward to re-bed if caught quickly. Dry-fixed ridge systems are more resistant to wind lift, but the clips and fittings can still be checked visually.
The loft is your early-warning system. After a period of heavy or driven rain, a quick look in the roof space with a torch will show any daylight coming through, any damp patches on the underlay, or any water marks on the timber. You do not need to see active dripping to know there is a problem - staining on rafters or a damp smell are enough to investigate further. Catching an ingress at this stage, before it reaches ceilings or insulation, saves significantly on repair costs.
Valleys - where two roof slopes meet - collect leaves, twigs and moss, and can block up enough to cause water to back up under the tiles. Check valley areas in autumn. You can often dislodge debris from ground level using a long-handled brush, without needing to go up. If a valley is persistently blocking, a roofer can fit a simple mesh guard.
Chimney stacks are exposed on all four sides and are subject to more weathering than any other part of the roof. The flaunching - the sloped mortar around the base of the pots - cracks over time and allows water into the stack. The pointing between the brickwork courses also degrades. A chimney inspection every few years, or after any period of frost, is good practice. A failed chimney stack can allow significant water ingress without any obvious tile problem at all.
If a visual inspection reveals something that needs attention - a slipped tile, an open flashing, a damaged ridge - arrange for a roofer to look at it promptly. Most issues of this kind are inexpensive to fix when caught early. Leaving a single slipped tile for a season allows water to saturate the underlay beneath and potentially damage the timber below it; what was a £150 repair becomes a much more involved job.
Do not attempt to go onto the roof yourself. A roof surface is not designed to be walked on in the way a floor is, and tiles or slates can crack underfoot even when you are trying to be careful. Working at height without the right equipment and training is genuinely dangerous. A roofer will have the access equipment and the knowledge of where to tread.
EPDM rubber flat roofs should be inspected annually. Check that the membrane is still bonded at the edges and upstands, that there is no pooling water (which indicates a fall problem or a blocked outlet), and that any roof lights or penetrations remain sealed. Felt flat roofs should be checked for surface cracking, blisters and open seams. If you notice any of these, have them assessed before they develop into active leaks.
Keep flat roof surfaces clear of debris. Leaves and dirt accumulate around outlets and can cause localised ponding even on a correctly laid roof. A once-a-year clear of the surface and outlets takes minutes and can add years to the membrane's effective life.
We install and maintain new roofs in Soham and the surrounding area. We also work in Mildenhall, Barton Mills, Icklingham, Lackford, Cavenham, Elveden and other villages in the wider area. Call us for a new roof survey or to arrange an annual inspection of an existing roof.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
