Roof Maintenance

You could save yourself time and money by keeping your roof in excellent condition with our annual property checks. Our roofing maintenance tips provide useful guidelines and advice on general property maintenance.

Flat roof life expectancy anything from 10-20 years.

If you would like to arrange a roofing check with our company, please do not hesitate to contact our firm on 0131 467 4442 or 07876 711 138 and we will inspect your roof and highlight any problems that may require professional repairs.

Annual Property Checks.

Sloped roof coverings

For sloped roofed coverings there are several problem signs you can look out for including loose slipped slates, any dampness appearing on walls and ceilings and slates or debris overhanging on gutters.

To keep your sloped roof coverings in the best condition possible we suggest that you have your roof checked by a professional at least once a year, make sure that your roof and gutters are free of debris and plant growths and check and repair any slates that are lose, broken or have slipped.

Flat roofs

When it comes to maintaining flat roofs, it is important to check your roof for any loose edges, cracks or splits. Dampness on walls and ceilings and a build up of moss and debris on your roof are also telltale signs that can be easily remedied and repaired if they are spotted quickly.

To ensure that your flat roof stays in the best condition, you should have your roof checked every 12 months, remove any debris and plant growths from the roof and gutters and ensure that the rainwater outlets and overflows are free of debris so that water does not collect on the roof. Depending on what materials are used, flat roofs can have a limited life expectancy of around 10 years. We recommend replacing your flat roof entirely if previous repairs have proved to be unsuccessful.

Gutters (parapet, valley, box)

Gutter damage can have a knock on effect and cause damage to the structure of your roof and your property. Look out for the build up of moss and debris and any lose edges, cracks or splits and try and keep your gutters clear so that the rainwater can pour through the overflow. If dampness appears on walls and ceilings then check your gutters as a simple repair to them could stop the problem from worsening.

Eaves gutters & downpipes

To spot potential damage to your eaves gutters and downpipes keep an eye out for dampness appearing on the building at gutter level and moss and debris building up and overhanging the gutters. If dampness appears on internal walls and ceilings or there are drips from gutter joints then this could also signal problems with your eaves gutters and downpipes.

To avoid these problems we recommend that your gutters are cleaned every 6-12 months depending on the tree and leaf fall in your property’s surrounding environment. Try to keep rainwater outlets and overflows free from debris and ask a roofing professional to help if there are any further problems.

Flashings, secret gutters etc.

If there are obvious signs of misplaced flashings on your chimney or damp patches appearing on the walls and ceilings of your property, you could be having problems with your flashings and secret gutters. To avoid these problems you can get your flashing checked during your annual roof maintenance, ensure that the secret gutters are free from roof debris and replace slipped metal elements temporarily.

Rooflights, cupolas

To ensure that your rooflights and cupolas are kept in the best condition possible, look out for any broken or slipped glazing, damp spots appearing on walls and ceilings or loose or flaking paint from the internal timbers of the roof’s cupola. Make sure that these elements are checked during routine roof repairs and keep secret gutters free from debris. Keep your roofer up to date if you believe that any of these issues need attention.

Chimneys

ERL Roofing offer a comprehensive chimney repair and maintenance service. We have extensive experience refurbishing and rebuilding chimneys including repair, chimney pointing and repointing, leadwork, replacement and repair of damaged pots and chimney brickwork and chimney restoration. We also do Letho mix repairs.

Visual defects to chimney pots, cowls or render and dampness appearing on walls and ceilings could be signs that your chimney needs some attention and repairs. To avoid issues with your chimney, ensure that the flashing, pots, cowls and render on your chimney are checked during routine roof repairs. It is vitally important that your chimney reforms efficiently extracting all combustion gases and fumes including carbon monoxide which can be fatal. Regular maintenance is essential to safeguard the welfare of you and your family. If you have not commissioned a survey of your chimney in recent years, we recommend that this is done as a matter of priority.

Main stonework, including pointing

To avoid issues arising with your stonework and pointing you should monitor the growth of plants and ivy and repair any loose or flaking stonework. Clean gutters will help you avoid issues in the future such as dampness appearing on your walls at gutter level.

Roughcast/render

Take care of the roughcast and render at your property by keeping any eye out for any damp appearing at gutter levels and lightly tapping cracked sections to sound for “bossed” areas. If cracks appear or there are problems with loose stonework and pointing, contact Edinburgh Roofing and we will help.

Cement skews (fillets)

Look out for dampness appearing on walls and ceilings and ageing cement mortar that has become loose and forms a gap between slates and tiles. Keep a look out for any gaps and cracks in your property’s cement skews and have your roofer check them during your annual roofing check.