With strong winds being a common occurrence in the UK, there are a few actions that can be taken to maximize the protection of your property in its constant battle against every day weather conditions. By doing the following, you will be doing all possible to identify any early sign of what could be a costly emergency in the future. Check your roof. Have a close look for any damages such as loose or missing tiles. If you do spot any damages to the tiles on your roof, they should be taken care of as soon as possible. .Check your chimney. All of the surrounding pointing should be intact with no holes or cracks. · Check your gutters. Neglected gutters are responsible for many of our emergency callouts. Often, these calls are being made due to gutters being faulty or blocked. As a guideline, you should clean and check your gutter at least once a year. If they are blocked they will inevitably overflow and will cause your walls to dampen. · Get rid of any loose or unwanted TV and radio aerials.
Is snow and ice on roofs and in gutters a problem?
Thick snow on a pitched roof can be extremely difficult to get rid of, especially if the 
weather has been so severe that it’s left it frozen. Ideally, snow that has set on a pitched roof should be removed as soon as possible because a build-up of snow can cause structural damage to the property. However, you should never try to remove the snow yourself as roofs are dangerous at the best of times, never mind in severe winter conditions. If anything were to happen, causing harm to you or a passerby, the emergency services might have difficulty in reaching you – especially if the weather is anything like the snow fall we experiences in 2010.
Don’t forget, we are available to contact should you require any free help and advice.
Plastic gutters can be corroded by ice and snow. To prevent expensive damages, you should have them cleaned and cleared of blockages before the winter months. If gutters are blocked and become full with water, freezing temperatures will cause ice to form which will cause harm.
When it comes to choosing the right roofing contractor in an emergency …
Here are some useful tips you can use when it comes to choosing a good quality, professional roofing contractor, and not the kind who will leave you with a badly done job: · You should never employ a door-knocker. Those who go around houses saying they can fix this and that for you at a discounted price do not have prestigious reputations for professionally done jobs and great customer service. Generally, they will not give you an official receipt recognized by insurance companies and will always ask for a cash payment. · You should never pay cash for a service that will not give you a receipt. If the roofer’s work is below standards, you have no proof of payment.
