Wind tends to find the weak spots in a roof. In South Wales, where gales come off the coast and across the valleys, it pays to know which parts fail first, so you can have them checked before the next storm.
Ridge and hip tiles
The ridge tiles along the top of the roof are bedded in mortar or fixed with dry-ridge systems. When the bedding crumbles or the fixings weaken, wind can lift or dislodge them. Re-bedding or re-fixing the ridge is a common storm repair and a good preventive job on older roofs.
Verges and edges
The edge of a roof is where wind gets under the covering most easily. Verge tiles held only with mortar can come loose. A properly fixed verge, whether with mortar and mechanical fixings or a dry verge system, helps hold the edge down.
Old and loose tiles
Tiles that are already slipped, cracked or poorly fixed are the first to go. Old nails corrode, and battens can rot, letting tiles shift. If your roof is old, a pre-winter check is sensible.
Chimneys and flashings
Tall chimney stacks catch the wind, and cracked pointing can let bricks loosen. Lead flashings that are lifted can be peeled back by the wind. Both are common storm repair jobs.
Gutters and fascias
Wind can tear gutters off fascias or lift fascia boards, particularly if the boards are rotten or poorly fixed.
What to do
Have the roof inspected, especially before winter or after a storm, and put right small defects. Fixing a handful of tiles or a ridge costs far less than dealing with a leaking roof.
See our Storm Damage Roof Repairs section or call 07766 547309.
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