Six Roof Warning Signs Not To Ignore

Roofs rarely fail without warning. They give small signals for months, and homeowners miss them because they're not looking at their own roof. Here's what to check, from ground level, twice a year.

1. Day light in the loft

On a bright day, go up into the loft and turn the light off. Any pinprick of daylight is a hole — usually a slipped tile or a failed flashing. This is the cheapest inspection you'll ever do and it catches problems early.

2. Damp or dark patches on ceilings

Even a small brown stain in the corner of an upstairs ceiling means water has been getting in. It won't dry out and heal itself; it will spread.

3. Granules in the gutter

Concrete tiles shed grit as they age, but a lot of it means the tiles are coming to the end of their life. Half a handful after a storm is worth noting.

4. Moss in quantity

Moss itself isn't fatal, but it holds water against the tiles, lifts them as it grows, and blocks gutters when it sheds. Kent's damp climate grows it well. A mossy roof isn't an emergency; it's maintenance you're overdue.

5. Tiles sitting out of line

From the ground, look along the roof line. If a tile looks out of step with those around it, it's slipping. One is a small repair. A run of them means the battens or fixings are going.

6. Water down the outside wall

That's gutters, not roof, but it damages the wall and can get inside. Check the gutter isn't overflowing and the downpipe isn't blocked before assuming anything worse.

What we'd say about timing

Small repairs done promptly are cheap. The same problems left through a Kent winter become interior damage, damp and much larger bills. If you spot two or more of the above, it's worth a survey rather than watching it for another season.