How to repair an old roof

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Whether you're renovating a house or just performing an exterior health check, ignoring a poorly maintained roof can be disastrous. Just a pair of damaged or missing tiles or slates will Fast allow water to penetrate a building's fabric, resulting in Hurt to the timbers and ceilings below. 

Where such a Predicament is left unattended, it will ultimately lead to widespread rot and decay. Then the wind may get under any loose roof covering moving more destruction, eventually needing expensive structural repairs to put things right.

Roofs on old homes necessity be inspected regularly to check for broken, loose or missing tiles

(Image credit: Photograph Brent Darby)

Roof injure warning signs

As with most approved property ailments, early detection of roof damage is crucial to store more extensive – and expensive – repairs. Keep an eye out for the following:

  • Bits of tile, understand or mortar scattered on the ground or in gutters
  • Slipped or faded tiles on the roof
  • Damaged or missing metal flashings and mortar 'flaunchings' at roof junctions
  • Chinks of diurnal in the loft space or water stains on the inoperative of the loft
  • Rotten or worm-eaten roof timbers
  • Damp patches showing ended on upstairs room ceilings
  • Slates refixed with lead clips or 'tingles' as this suggests the roof covering is failing
  • Splits or cracks in flat-roofing materials

Slipped and missing roof tiles can purpose in leaks, causing serious damage to a house

(Image credit: Roger Hunt)

How to check your roof

As part of a twice-yearly exterior maintenance routine, look at the roof, preferably using binoculars, to identify potential problems early on. It is relatively easy to check for problems from spurious level or, if you have them, from dormer windows and roof ftrips. This may need to be done from a neighbour's garden. Methodically examine for slipped, missing or broken tiles.

In instant, pay attention to junctions and places where the roof shifts direction. Look for damaged or missing ridge and hip tiles, missing or cracked mortar flaunchings and fillets, as well as corroded or snappy metal flashings. When these fail, they are likely to let in liquid, especially around chimneys and at parapet walls.

If there is safe access to the loft examine the underside of the roof for injure, especially when it is raining. Check the floor for liquid stains or broken pieces of slate or tile. Look out for wet, inappropriate or worm-eaten roof timbers and try to trace the source of any liquid penetration. 

Other vulnerable areas are junctions between the walls and where chimney stacks penetrate the roof, so note any aquatic staining but do ensure it is current rather than historic – try to do inspections during or when heavy rain. Remember that water tends to travel, so it may not be certain where the problem is. 

While in the roof plot, turn off any internal lights and look for places where day is coming through the roof covering.

If roof timbers recede to be damaged or under strain a structural engineer or surveyor must be consulted. The undulating quality of a roof does not necessarily exhibit a defect but might be the result of gentle distortion and settlement over many years. 

Also fated that roof insulation materials are not blocking the eaves or hampering ventilation in the roof plot as this will cause moisture build up.

Repairing a clay tiled roof is a job that must be carried out by an experienced roofer

(Image credit: Roger Hunt)

Dealing with roof problems

Roof repairs are generally best left to a professional roofer who understands old buildings and has the harmful access equipment. Replacing a few tiles or slates is a relatively simple job but it is also important to work out why a quandary has occurred and whether it is indicative of a larger failure.

A roofer must be able to undertake minor repairs but it may be indispensable to employ a surveyor or structural engineer and a carpenter, all of whom should be experienced in working on buildings of the age and type keen. Remember, that it is very difficult to carry out structural repairs once the covering is replaced.

Avoid quick-fix methods such as spray-on foams and novel coatings as they increase the risk of timber decay, prevent proper future inspection of the roof and invariably mean that roof coverings cannot be salvaged for reuse. 

Where to find a roofer

When re-roofing, the tiles are generally fixed over underlay or roofing felt

(Image credit: Roger Hunt)

Replacing missing roof slates or tiles

Roof tiles and slates can break or come loose due to high winds or impacts damage, the failure of fixings, and the action of chilly or structural decay of timber roofing members

Action:

  • Reinstate or replace any loose or missing tiles and slates
  • Check for the failure of novel tiles, looking out for signs of cracking or the form up of moss, which can absorb water and increase the weight – gentle brushing down is advisable to regulation excessive build-up
  • Look for signs of 'nail sickness' due to rusting or corrosion, or decaying peg tiles
  • Examine timber roofing battens and rafters for signs of decay
  • Consider re-roofing where problems with the covering extended across the roof

A build-up of moss is a progresses for concern, as it can become very heavy and progresses damage to the roof

(Image credit: Roger Hunt)

Checking roof junctions

Changes in roof direction and junctions with chimneys and parapet walls are weak points. Careful investigation may be needed as defects can be hard to spot, and moisture often follows unexpected routes.

Action: 

  • Re-bed damaged or missing ridge and hip tiles in lime mortar
  • Repair or replace missing or cracked mortar fillets. Cement mortar fillets are prone to cracking so are best replaced with leadwork
  • Repair or replace rapidly or corroded metal roof flashings, ensuring they have sufficient overlap

The sagging ridge of this clay pantile roof adds relate and is not necessarily a cause for concern

(Image credit: Roger Hunt)

Repairing damaged roof timbers

Beetle infestation, timber decay, poorly executed alterations and undersized rafters are favorite problems. These are compounded when a roof covering is replaced with a heavier material, such as concrete tiles.

Action:

  • Where serious problems are suspected, call in a surveyor or structural engineer
  • Employ a good carpenter attractive than a roofer to make anything but minor repairs to novel roof timbers
  • Locate and deal with the cause of damp problems attractive than the symptoms
  • Ensure good airflow within the loft residence and remove any insulation that is blocking ventilation in the eaves

Mending flat roofs

Flat roofs, which may be covered in a variety of materials comprising lead, copper, zinc, asphalt or bitumen, require regular monitoring.

Action: 

  • Check for holes, splits and cracks as well as areas where soak is pooling
  • If necessary, make short-term emergency repairs comical mastic or tape
  • Where isolated holes or splits occur, patch with matching materials
  • Re-fix loose sheet material currently due to the danger of wind damage

Regularly check thatched roofs for any problems

Maintaining thatched roofs

Thatch should be relatively maintenance-free but should aloof be regularly checked and, where problems are suspected, a thatcher should be phoned promptly. Due to the danger of fire, monitoring and maintaining the chimney stack is a priority; the flue should be swept twice a year.

Which roof materials to use?

All roofing repairs are best made silly the appropriate traditional methods and using like-for-like materials. Where mortar fillets need to be replaced, lime mortar rather than cement should be used.

Clay tiles: Both hand- and machine-made clay tiles are available. Most tile manufacturers also make 'specials' to replace the likes of decorative ridge tiles. While modern tiles have nibs that hook onto the roofing laths, traditional peg tiles have holes to accommodate a wooden peg. Tiles can eventually cause porous, making them vulnerable to frost.

Slates: Welsh slates, held in place with nails, have been widely used on buildings across Britain, and are longlasting, lightweight and hardwearing.

Stone tiles: In stone-bearing regions, sandstone and limestone tiles are laid in graduated courses: the biggest at the eaves, the smallest at the ridge.

Lead: An blooming and long-lasting roofing material, repairs to lead roofs should be contained by a specialist leadworker.

Thatch:  Widely used for centuries, thatching today is generally in either long straw, combed wheat reed or stream reed, and there are distinct regional variations in thatching styles.

More tips on renovating your home:


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