A new roof in Soham is a significant investment, and straightforward maintenance in the years after installation is what keeps it performing well and avoids costly problems returning early.
A full roof replacement removes the accumulated faults of the old covering and gives the structure a fresh start. The old tiles or slates come off, the membrane and battens are replaced, structural timbers are checked and repaired, flashings are dressed or replaced, and the ridge is finished properly. When it is done well, it takes a significant worry off your hands for many years.
What it does not do is make the roof maintenance-free for ever. Roofs are exposed to wind, rain, frost and the slow growth of moss and lichen throughout the year. Small things left unattended have a way of becoming larger problems. The good news is that the maintenance tasks that prevent most premature problems are simple, inexpensive and do not require anyone to go onto the roof.
Before thinking about maintenance, it is worth knowing what a properly completed replacement should look like. This matters because the quality of the original work affects how much attention the roof will need in subsequent years.
A well-finished replacement will have a breathable membrane under the battens and covering, so moisture vapour from the living space can escape without condensing on the timbers. The ridge will be either neatly mortared with a flexible mix (not a rigid sand-and-cement that cracks with frost) or fitted with a dry-fix mechanical system. Flashings at chimneys, walls and roof windows will be fully dressed in lead, not simply filled with mastic or foam. Gutters and downpipes will be correctly aligned to carry water away from the fascia and wall.
If any of these points were not addressed in the replacement, they are likely to be the first things that cause trouble. Know what was done before the scaffold came down.
The most useful inspection you can carry out costs nothing and requires no specialist knowledge. After any significant period of wind or frost, take a few minutes to look at the roof from the ground - from different angles if possible, including from an upstairs window looking down at lower slopes. You are looking for:
A loft inspection after heavy rain is particularly useful. You do not need to see active dripping to identify a problem - damp insulation, water staining on the timbers or a musty smell can all indicate water finding a way in.
Blocked or overflowing gutters are the single most common source of avoidable damage to a roof and its surrounding structure. When a gutter fills with debris and overflows, water runs down the face of the fascia board and into the top of the wall. Fascia boards rot, rafters and wall plates behind them become damp, and the eaves start to deteriorate from the inside.
Gutters should be cleared of leaves and debris at least once a year - more often if there are trees close to the property. The fall of the gutter should allow water to drain freely to the downpipe outlet. A gutter that holds standing water after rain is either blocked, sagging, or incorrectly installed.
Check that downpipes discharge properly into a drain or soakaway. A downpipe that has come away from its bracket and is discharging against the wall will cause damp problems within a season or two.
Moss and lichen grow on most roof coverings over time, particularly on north-facing slopes and under the shade of trees. A modest covering of moss does not necessarily mean the roof is failing. However, heavy moss growth holds moisture against the tile surface and can work its way under the tails of tiles and slates, eventually lifting them and allowing water in.
Biocide treatments applied by a roofer - either sprayed on or applied as a strip fixed to the ridge that washes down in the rain - are an effective way to control moss without the physical damage that pressure washing causes. Pressure washing should not be used on pitched roofs because it drives water under the covering and can dislodge tiles or damage the surface coating on concrete tiles. Any roofer suggesting a pressure wash of a slate or tile roof is not giving you sound advice.
After a biocide treatment, dead moss can be gently brushed from the surface once it has dried and loosened - this is a job for a professional with safe roof access, not a DIY task.
Lead flashings and mortar pointing around chimneys, parapet walls and any abutments tend to be the first elements to need attention on an otherwise sound roof. Lead is durable but moves slightly with temperature changes, and over time the pointing that holds it in the masonry joint can crack or fall out. This is a straightforward repair if caught early - the lead is still sound and just needs re-pointing. Left alone, water tracks behind the flashing and into the wall, causing far more expensive remediation.
If your replacement included mortar-bedded ridge tiles, it is worth having these inspected after five to seven years. Ridge mortar that has cracked all the way through allows tiles to rock and eventually slip, and can allow water into the roof space. Re-bedding or switching to a dry-fix system at that point is much cheaper than dealing with the consequences of a ridge tile that falls.
Some things should not be left for the annual check. Call a roofer promptly if you notice active water ingress after rain, a ridge or hip tile that has visibly shifted, flashing that has pulled completely clear of the masonry, or any sagging visible in the roof line. These are not jobs that will wait safely for several months.
A prompt call for a minor repair is almost always cheaper than waiting until the problem has spread. Water in a roof space can saturate insulation, stain ceilings, and begin rotting timbers within a single winter if left unaddressed.
Brandon Roofers carries out roof replacements in Soham and across the surrounding area, including Thetford, Mundford, Feltwell, Methwold, Lakenheath, Weeting and nearby villages. Call us to arrange a survey and a written quote, or to ask about maintenance checks on an existing roof.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
