Slipped or missing tiles
A gap in the pattern, or a tile in the garden after a storm. Water finds the hole within a season.
A seasonal roofing guide
Your roof, through the year.
What to check, what to book and when to call a roofer. A season-by-season guide from a family that has been on Buckinghamshire rooftops since 1985.
Spring · Mar to May
01 / Spring
Spring is the season to get ahead.
Milder days and active growth make spring the moment to clear the winter's damage, treat moss and get a survey booked before the summer diary fills.
- March. The moss treatment window opens. A chemical soft-wash works now, while the algae is active but before the tile bakes dry. It is also our busiest survey month.
- April. The best month to start a re-roof. Weather is stable, days are long and material lead times are short. This is when our books fill for the year.
- May. Flat roof inspection month. Lifting seams, split felt and ponding water all show up now that winter is over, so year three to five failures get caught before they leak.
When to call us: if a spring look-over turns up slipped tiles, failing flashing or a flat roof past its best.
Summer · Jun to Aug
02 / Summer
Summer is the building season.
Long dry spells and settled weather open the window for the bigger jobs: roof windows, full re-roofs and lead work that needs time to cure.
- June. Velux and roof window installation season. Long dry days, fast-drying plaster and no tile freeze risk. To add a roof window this year, book by the end of June.
- July. Peak re-roofing month. Complex slate and heritage jobs run best now, with good access, cooperative weather and strong material availability.
- August. The chimney and lead work window. Warm weather cures mortar properly, and lead bedded in the dry settles well before the autumn rain returns.
When to call us: to hold a summer slot for a re-roof, a roof window or chimney and lead work.
Autumn · Sep to Nov
03 / Autumn
Autumn is the time to batten down.
As the leaves drop and the first storms arrive, autumn is about protection. Clear the gutters, check the roof over and fix the small faults before they become January emergencies.
- September. Book the gutter clean before the leaves drop. September beats the October rush and lands a crew before the first big autumn rain.
- October. The pre-winter roof check. Slipped tiles, loose ridges and failing flashings. Two hours on the roof now saves a January emergency call.
- November. A full gutter and downpipe clean. Leaves are down and tiles are wet, and blocked gutters are the number one cause of damp on exterior walls through winter.
When to call us: for a pre-winter check if the roof has not been looked over this year.
Winter · Dec to Feb
04 / Winter
Winter: watch, and be ready.
Deep cold, snow load and the peak of storm season. Winter is less about work on the roof and more about keeping an eye out and knowing who to call.
- December. Book a December visit only if it is urgent. Otherwise save the number and rest easy. Our 24/7 emergency line stays live through Christmas and New Year.
- January. Check for snow build-up on shallow-pitch and flat sections, especially north-facing. Sustained snow depth over 40cm can load a UK roof beyond its typical design.
- February. Book the storm check if you have not already. This is Storm Isha and Jocelyn territory. Get the roof past February clean and you are set for spring.
When to call us: any time the wind gets up. Our 24/7 emergency line runs right through winter.
The signs worth a phone call.
Most sudden leaks give a warning first. If you spot any of these between the seasonal jobs, it is worth a quick look sooner rather than later.
Stains on the ceiling
A brown ring or a damp patch upstairs usually means the roof or a piece of flashing has been letting water in for a while.
Grit in the gutters
Piles of granules washed off the tiles or felt are a sign the surface is wearing thin and worth a check.
Daylight in the loft
Light through the roof boards, or damp felt and timbers, means a gap that will only grow through winter.
Your roofing year, in five visits.
Two roofline checks a year, one moss treatment, one gutter clean and one pre-winter look-over. Almost every sudden leak we get called to could have been caught in one of them.
Ready when you are
Book the check that keeps winter quiet.
Every survey is free and without obligation. A member of the family walks the roof, talks you through what it needs and follows up with a fixed-price written quote within one working day.