We all know that carrying a raincoat and sunglasses is a necessity in Britain, with its unique and unpredictable weather. Your house can bear the brunt of these changes and prove costly when it comes to energy bills. Here are some tips to help make sure you’re not caught out with any sudden weather changes.

Help your roof do its job

The roof is your home’s umbrella – keeping it dry and protected from the elements. It’s best kept free of leaks before they cause damp issues in the rest of the house.

Holes can be difficult to track down. The easiest way is if you have loft access – use a torch to look for any signs of water stains or mould. If you can’t get into the loft, you may need to get on the roof itself. Look for water, stains or mould around anything that projects through the roof, such as plumbing, vents and the chimney.

A roofing specialist can help you find and repair any damage to your roof. They get busy when we have a bit of rain, so if you haven’t had your roof checked in a while, it may be worth finding a roofing specialist in good time to make sure your roof’s in good shape to protect you against inevitable downpours.

Sloped roofs are designed to let gravity do its work, allowing water to flow in to gutters. With the mix of damp weather and sun, your roof could become a breeding ground for moss and lichen. While it might add character, water could be pooling in areas, leading to porous tiles letting water in or cracking them as the water freezes.

Read more: a guide to removing moss

Make sure water is going where it should be

Rainwater needs to be channelled away safely to avoid any water damage to the rest of the house and its foundations. Keep an eye out for any damp patches on walls and ceilings as well as stains or plant growth around the gutters themselves. Any water collecting around your house can also be a sign that water isn’t draining away correctly.

Cast iron guttering and components can rust and crack. You can check for these using a torch (and mirror to check the back). Plastic guttering is prone to developing problems due to the expansion and contraction that occurs with weather changes. Leaves and silt from the roof can get trapped and then wear away rubber gaskets with this movement or pop apart the joints.

To keep them in good order, it’s advisable to get your gutters and rainwater pipes checked once a year. A roofer will be able to help you look for issues and sort any problems that might be identified.

Stay dry with a conservatory or summerhouse

Conservatories and summerhouses are cosy spots to enjoy your garden whatever the weather. The main difference between them is that a conservatory is usually made almost completely from glass, including the roof. A sunroom can feel like more of an additional room in the house as it’s normally made with a tiled roof. The only way you can tell it apart from another room in the house is that there are more windows and they can be disconnected from the main house and located further into the garden. During BBQ season, both structures can help keep your guests nice and dry, as chances are it’s going to start raining when you least want it to.

Read more: designing your perfect conservatory

To start off a conservatory or summerhouse build, you’ll want to check if you need planning permission. Often, you won’t need it, however it’s recommended that you check the planning portal to keep up to date with current regulations. If you need help with the planning as well as the building, a conservatory specialist can take care of everything right through to the project being finished.

The post Tips for protecting your home from UK weather appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Winter’s not the best time to get large-scale roofing work done, but it’s certainly the time to scope out what work needs doing and get those smaller jobs sorted. You won’t want to have your roof replaced when it’s blowing a gale, raining or snowing, unless it’s an emergency. But winter offers the chance to spot any roofing problems. It’s also a great time to catch roofers for repair work, as they may be less busy than in spring and summer, when they undertake most of their bigger jobs.

Below, are the most common roofing problems and advice on how you can identify and deal with them.

Don’t be afraid of looking up

Most roofing jobs aren’t big ones so don’t be afraid to look up or just ignore a problem in the hope that it’ll go away. A roofing contractor will be able to put you at ease and start work to get any roofing issues sorted. Leaks are often down to minor issues or wear and tear above the supporting structure that makes up your roof. Look up and check what’s going on up there and be sure to do it from as many angles as you can. If you’re friendly with the people across the street, then you may find that looking from their upstairs window is a help, giving you a better view of your property. The roof is designed to repel water evenly so any areas where water appears to be gushing off or absent in the rain may indicate a problem.

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Get up in the loft

Winter is a great time to check your roof’s watertight. It should be warm and dry. There may be the odd bit of breeze if it’s very cold and windy but there shouldn’t be any visual signs or smells of damp. Check the upper corners and around the chimney stack if you have one. It’s also a good time to check a water tank isn’t leaking.

Beware of strangers bearing roof tiles

Good roofing experts don’t need to knock on your door and tell you about the roof tiles that they’ve found on the pavement after a storm. Unless you happen to live next door to a friendly roofer then this is likely to be a scam. If you have any doubts, then simply bring in a reputable roofing contractor to have a look for you.

Common problems

There are lots of small problems that can affect a roof. In most cases you’ll only need some small repairs doing. Common problems include missing, loose or cracked slates or tiles, blocked gullies or gutters and worn or cracked flashing (the lead finishing around the tiles or slates). If you have skylights, then you can also get leaks coming in if they were poorly installed. Damage to the roof is often caused by wind, with items such as TV aerials sometimes being blown over and causing damage. In most cases your roofer may have to use scaffolding to complete the work. Do ask about this when they’re giving you a quote for the work.

If it all goes wrong

If there’s something seriously wrong with your roof then it may need a more serious repair or even replacement. Do bear in mind that the average lifespan of a roof is around 25 years. This could mean that the felt and tiles need replacing or removing and renovating. If your roof is bowing or you’re losing a lot of tiles, then your roof may be on its way out. In some cases, you can need the actual structure replacing or repairing, which may mean new wooden beams. This is fairly rare and often results from poorly-installed roofs or other subsidence or structural problems. This may cause the wooden supports to warp or twist. A full replacement roof will cost around £5,000 for the average home.

Considering a different roof? Check out metal roofs and let us know if you love it or loathe it!

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