Whether you live in an area where bad weather is rife and persistent, or your roof stands proudly with ease, no worries of harsh winds or freezing temperatures, there are common areas of damage that you should be aware of. More than that: you should keep your eyes open for them. This will include general wear n’ tear, making sure that wild animals don’t manage to intrude on your personal space, and preventing the risk of very costly repairs, weeks or months down the line. If you know what to look for in terms of common roof damage problems, you can diagnose a problem early enough to treat it easily and cheaply.



1 - Broken or missing roof tiles.
This is one of the most obvious signs of common roof damage, and if you have tiles or shingles missing from the structure, it’ll be water that gets in, as well as all of the problems that excess water and water damage can bring. Perhaps a few rodents or insects will manage to get inside too? It’s a big, risky game of who-knows-what-might-happen when you ignore damage to your roof.

At the first sign of missing or broken roof tiles or shingles, or ANY obvious signs of damage pertaining to your roof, call in the professionals ASAP. Unless you can repair the damage yourself, of course, but you should be aware of the repercussions that often come with not getting this job done the right way. Shingles and tiles can often become discolored, especially if you have a problem with water damage, and they may even cur up at the corners or split. This could be a sign of water getting down beneath them, or even that you have a moss problem up there.

2 - Moss growth.
While we're on the subject of moss, it is dangerous to let moss — or any other organism — continue to grow on your roof. These areas of growth soak in and then retain moisture, making them heavy. Over weakened areas, the extra weight could lead to drooping or sagging, and with enough time and rainwater, could even cause the entire structure to fall in, or a part of it. Moss should be removed from the roof as soon as you see the beginnings of it start to form, and you should also look at putting preventative measures in place if the problem keeps coming back. Copper or zinc-based strips can be added to the top of the roof, for example, to add a layer of the material to the entire roofing structure as rainwater moves it around. There are other approaches you could adopt, though.

3 - Malfunctioning gutter systems.
The downspouts, eavestroughs, and other areas in the entire ‘guttering system’ need regular maintenance and upkeep just as with the rest of the roof and building, but it's an area that over gets overlooked. You shouldn't wait until you have a problem to unclog or repair the gutters. Instead, you should inspect them at least once per year, removing moss, leaves, and other garden debris as soon as it starts to build up. By doing this, you can ensure that you don’t face issues with moss, standing (and heavy) water, broken eavestroughs, and more. Unfortunately, it’s not just obvious damage to guttering that can cause problems. If the angle of the downpour is just the slightest bit off, the system won't work as it’s supposed to. This is something that we can check for you, during one of our full roof assessments.

4 - Overhanging trees.
Yes, the trees look lovely around your home. Sadly, without proper care and maintenance, those trees could be dangerous for your home. Tree branches might not look as though they could do a lot of damage, especially the smaller or thinner ones, but high winds can make a thin, flimsy tree twig or branch into a fierce projectile. With enough force behind it, a tree branch could easily crack or damage roof tiles in some way.

If tree branches regularly rub against the roof, damage can be caused again. This could include the build up of moss in the shadowed, cool area blow them, or even through the tiles being rub-damaged, with repeated sweeping, full-contact movements from the trees in medium to high winds. Even a slight breeze can cause rub-damage with enough time. If you have overhanging trees or trees that are close to your roof/building, we recommend getting them trimmed back every now and then. Ideally, this should happen yearly, along with your regular roof and gutter inspections (which should also happen at least once per year).

5 - Bad weather damage.
This could come in many forms. High winds can cause shingles to move around, and it could also cause soffits and fascias to become loose, chimney breasts to become unstable, and even other parts of your home to become loose and/or break off completely. These things will not only need to be repaired, causing stress and taking time out of your busy day, but can be fairly expensive to put right. It all depends on the extent of the damage. Fortunately, with regular maintenance, your roof will be in good, stable condition, so a little bit of damage won't affect things too much. Nor will it be costly or time-consuming to put right. All of the common leak problems that we’ve listed on this page are simple enough to resolve when you deal with them quickly, and in the right way. This can mean a quick DIY job in some cases, but it is wise to remember that roofing is quite a specialist subject, with a great deal of things to take into consideration. One wrong move could see you quite literally falling through the roof, and we're sure that's not a problem you'd relish!

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