Getting a roof repair done properly in Soham is only half the job - the other half is knowing how to look after the roof afterwards so you are not calling a roofer back in two years.
A roof repair carried out well should hold for years. But a roof sits exposed to rain, frost and wind every day, and small problems develop in the gaps between professional visits. The good news is that most of the issues that lead to a repeat call-out are preventable with simple, regular attention from the ground. You do not need to go on the roof yourself - in fact, you should not.
Brandon Roofers carries out repairs to pitched roofs in and around Soham, covering slipped tiles, cracked ridge caps, lead flashing failures, blocked valleys, chimney defects and storm damage.
Before getting into aftercare, it helps to understand what a roof repair typically involves so you know what to watch for afterwards.
Maintenance does not mean climbing onto the roof. It means paying attention and acting early. The following habits significantly reduce the chance of a repair becoming a major problem.
After strong winds or heavy rain, take five minutes to look at the roof from the garden or the pavement. You are looking for obvious tile displacement, ridge tiles that have shifted, or anything that looks out of place. Binoculars are useful. You can also look from a neighbouring vantage point if you have one. A slipped tile spotted within days of a storm is a straightforward repair. The same tile left for months allows water into the felt and battens below.
Also check the gutters from the ground. Large amounts of grit in the gutter after a storm suggest the surface of concrete roof tiles is beginning to break down - a sign that the roof covering is ageing and worth monitoring.
Blocked gutters are one of the most common causes of water damage to roof structures and external walls. When a gutter overflows persistently, water runs down the fascia board, soaks the rafter feet and in time causes rot in the timber structure immediately below the roof edge. The roof repair itself may be sound, but a persistently blocked gutter will undo work at the eaves quickly.
Clearing gutters at least once a year - ideally in late autumn after the leaves have fallen - is the single most cost-effective piece of roof maintenance a homeowner can carry out. If you are not comfortable on a ladder, a gutter-cleaning service is inexpensive compared with replacing rotten fascia boards and rafter feet.
Moss holds moisture against the tile surface and, as it grows, the root system works into hairline cracks and gradually widens them. On north-facing slopes and in shaded areas it can build up quickly. The approach that causes the least damage is to apply a biocide treatment (available from builders' merchants) and allow the moss to die back and wash off in rain over several months. Physically scraping moss off a roof disturbs tiles, dislodges ridge mortar and can crack older slates - it is not a job for a casual visit and pressure washing from above is actively harmful to most roof coverings.
If a ridge re-bed or flashing replacement has recently been done, light moss treatment the following season protects the new mortar work and extends the life of the repair.
A slow or intermittent leak often shows first as a small damp patch or a faint tide mark on a ceiling, not a dripping tap. Check the ceilings of upstairs rooms and the loft space after prolonged rain. A stain that grows between one rain event and the next means water is getting through somewhere. Catching it at this stage means a repair job rather than a plastering and redecoration job on top of it.
If you have a loft, a quick check with a torch after heavy rain tells you a great deal. Look for wet timbers, damp insulation and any daylight visible between tiles or at the ridge.
Once a repair has been carried out, there are a few things worth knowing. New mortar on a ridge re-bed takes time to cure fully. In cold or wet weather, curing is slower. The repair should be left undisturbed - no foot traffic near the ridge, no pressure washing, no further prodding of freshly pointed areas for several weeks at minimum.
Newly dressed lead flashings need time to settle as well. The lead is soft and workable, which is why it is used, but that also means it can be displaced if walked on or knocked. It should be left alone and inspected visually from below or from a safe distance.
If a repair has been made to tiles in a section where the felt below was already aged, keep a closer eye on that area. The repair addresses the immediate problem but old felt beneath sound tiles is a background risk worth noting - your inspection report should flag this clearly.
Some signs should prompt an immediate call rather than a watchful wait. Active dripping in the house, a large section of displaced tiles, a ridge tile that has fallen or shifted significantly, or any sign of structural movement in the roof are all reasons to call a roofer straight away.
Call us to discuss your location if you are unsure.
If it has been a while since anyone has looked at your roof properly, or if you want a report on the condition of a recent repair, call Brandon Roofers. A thorough inspection with a written report gives you a clear picture of what needs attention now and what to watch in the months ahead.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
