Tips

Much like the roofs of our house, our chimney stacks are exposed to all of the elements up there above our homes. From battling winds and flying debris, to rain and heat exposure, they remain standing through it all. Or… so they should do! It is important to keep check of your chimney stack regularly to ensure that it can remain standing. We have created a guide of the top three things to look out for surrounding your chimney, allowing yours to remain in the greatest condition for years to come. (more…)

Being out of sight, roofs often become out of mind. We are not always certain of the age and life span of our roof or who may have fitted it, but the truth is that these are the factors which could cause faults for us over time. When damage does occur, there is always confusion over opting for repair work, or choosing to have a full replacement. Today, we will guide you through four highly common faults that appear within roofing and what is required to fix them. (more…)

With all the rain that we have had recently, you may have noticed that the felt on your shed roof is showing signs of wear and tear. It may look a little tired or you may have spotted cracks, tears or holes in it. Worse, you may have found that your shed is leaking if the damage has gone through to the roof structure itself. For those DIYers amongst you we have put together a quick guide on how to re-felt your shed roof and protect it from the elements. With the sun now beating down on it, you want to avoid any further degradation and be ready for the winter when it comes back around. (more…)

Finding the source of a leak on a flat roof can be a frustrating job. Approach it methodically, though, and it need not be too difficult or frustrating. It’s always trickier to find the source of a leak on a flat roof than on a pitched one because water can flow in any direction on a surface that has no incline. As with any water leak, you want to find it early on before it turns into a much bigger one that can lead to more serious problems inside your property. We take a look at how to go about finding that leak this month. (more…)

Fascia and Soffit. Two parts of the roof build up that many may have never heard of, but both can play an important part in reducing your roof / home maintenance. Also known as eaves or rafters, essentially they are the underside below your roof overhang. Your Fascia and Soffit are located at the base of your roof overhang, normally forming the front and underside of what looks like a box. The Soffit is the underside and the Fascia is the front section, both providing that seal between your walls and roof. Why are they so important? We explore the reasons why in this month’s article. (more…)

Ever hear that unsettling sound of something moving around in the attic above you? It could be nothing, but then again it is possible that animals have managed to squeeze in and either become trapped or built their home in your warm roof or attic space, particularly if it’s cold and wet outside. (more…)

With winter well underway, the inevitable conversations about whether it would be a white Christmas started a while ago. We all tend to enjoy that first flurry, but irritation creeps in for some of us as train journeys are delayed, pipes freeze, and driving conditions become a little treacherous. (more…)

Whether you have been hanging the Christmas lights outside for years or this is your first attempt, the time is nearly here to get festive. Follow our easy tips to get those lights up and before you know it you will be brightening up everyone’s evening and getting into the Christmas spirit. (more…)

Enjoying the sunshine and warm weather – or should that be heatwave – this year? If you’re anything like us, you’ve loved it for a while but now you are happy that it has cooled down a little. Your roof may be feeling the effects of the hot summer too and could be hoping for a little relief. Which is why we thought we would put together a short guide on how the summer sun can affect it and what you can do to manage that this month. Read on for all the details… (more…)

Roof flashings are not something most people think about unless there is a problem and they need to be replaced. While it may not be at the forefront of your mind, flashings are a critical element of any roof. Roof flashings are designed to create a seal between your roof coverings – such as slates, tiles or flat roof materials – and the roof penetrations and abutments, i.e. chimney stacks, parapet walls and property walls. Properly installed roof flashings are designed to protect your home by providing cover, and channelling water away from potential leaky areas. While lead has been used for many years, new alternatives are now available on the market so our focus in this month’s article is on the pros and cons of both lead and synthetic alternatives to help you make an informed decision when the time comes to have your flashing repaired or replaced. (more…)

With winter over it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the summer. With the hottest bank holiday on record, you may have already started the summer season and forgotten all about your roof – after all, it was fine over the winter so there’s nothing to worry about. But the abrupt changes between hot and cold temperatures can play havoc with your roof joints, or the age of your roof may mean it is starting to show signs of wear and tear. We have had a lot of rain as well and let’s be honest, the UK summer does typically mean rain at times. This month we focus on those little new leaks that you may find and how to deal with them immediately to avoid them getting any worse. (more…)

When installing a new roof you are will be faced with a choice: slate or tile? The main difference between the two materials is that slate is a natural stone which is mined, while tiles are manufactured and therefore man-made. However you can also get a fibre cement slate, otherwise known as a man-made slate, which is an alternative to a natural slate. This month we take a look at the differences between these two materials and offer some thoughts on the most suitable applications for each to help you make a decision for your own home. (more…)

It’s getting to that time of the year when you are thinking of getting the fire going for a cosy evening indoors. You have checked and cleaned the grate and flue, bought the wood and kindling, and are ready to throw those logs on and get a roaring fire started. But have you inspected your chimney from the outside as well? Before you light that fire there are a couple more things to think about and check so that your fireplace and home are safe throughout the winter.

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With the cooler mornings and the days beginning to shorten noticeably, it’s inevitable that winter is around the corner. While the weather is still good and the autumn rains haven’t kicked in yet now is the time to make sure that your roof is ready for whatever this year’s winter is ready to throw at it. (more…)