Maintenance and safety
What to check on your roof in autumn
In brief
An autumn roof inspection should begin by identifying which elements are most exposed to standing water and debris. Check above all that gutters, valleys and outlets are clear, and assess the condition of flashings at chimneys and walls. Do not rely on a ground-level view alone – inspect the roof from accessible, safe positions, noting displaced flashings, unevenness and loose items. Photographs from the previous season are helpful for spotting changes. Bear in mind that the scope of the inspection should match the roofing and the building’s conditions.
Which inspections should you start with?
First inspect the roof from accessible, safe locations. Look out for displaced flashings, unevenness and items lying on the roof slope. Photos from the previous season are helpful. They make it possible to spot a change that could easily be mistaken for an old mark. It is also worth noting in what weather leaks or unusual noises at the edges occurred.
Not all defects can be assessed from ground level. If an inspection on the roof is required, proper access and safeguards must be provided. Wet trapezoidal steel sheet and leaves reduce grip. The inspection should not begin by climbing an arbitrarily positioned ladder. Preparing the work is part of the inspection, not an addition after the first problem is noticed.
What should you check in the gutters and at the drains?
Remove leaves, twigs and deposits, then check the flow to the downpipes. Cleaning only the visible section of the gutter is not enough if the bend or the rainwater gully is blocked. Water should drain away without overflowing onto the façade. It is worth inspecting the joints, the fixing of the brackets and the places where the gutter has moved away from the correct eaves line.
Damp patches on the wall may indicate a leaking joint or overflow, but the cause must be confirmed. Also check the final water discharge. A blocked outlet at ground level can push water back towards the pipe. If the problem recurs despite cleaning, an assessment of the slope, cross-section or arrangement of the outlets is needed. Not every problem is caused by leaves.
Why do roof valleys and chimneys require separate attention?
A roof valley collects water from adjacent roof slopes and also traps debris. Leaves can form a wet blockage and direct water under the covering. The flow and the condition of the flashings must be checked. Deposits should not be removed with a sharp tool that cuts through the coating. Both clean flow and preservation of the protective surface of the steel matter.
At chimneys and walls, inspect the joints of the flashings and the seals intended for the given detail. A crack or detachment may let water through only during driving rain. A temporary covering of everything with a thick layer of compound does not always help. The repair should restore the correct drainage path instead of covering an unknown cause of the leak.
How should you assess the coating, laps and fixings?
Look for local cracks, deposits and damage from previous work. A rusty spot may come from a left-over metal filing, but requires assessment. Minor damage is repaired in accordance with the coating recommendations. A large area should not be painted straight away with an arbitrary product. Such a repair may give a worse result and make it harder to identify the actual problem.
The condition of the fasteners and seals, as well as any visible deformation of the laps, should also be checked. A loose screw should not automatically be tightened with great force. First, it must be established whether the substrate and the hole still provide correct fixing. With insulated sandwich roof panels, the contacts between panels and flashings are also important. Changes should be assessed with reference to the documentation of the system used.
What can be noticed in the attic?
Inspect the accessible timber, insulation and the areas around roof penetrations. New discolouration, damp patches or a musty smell require clarification. A mark does not have to correspond to the leak location seen from outside. Water can migrate through the layers. It is worth taking photographs and noting when the surface was wet and when it was dry.
In autumn, the importance of moisture generated inside the house also increases. Condensation on the underside of the roof can result from leaks in the air layer and ventilation problems. It should not immediately be confused with a hole in the sheet metal. The diagnosis should cover the construction of the building envelope and the way the rooms are used. Sealing further openings without identifying their function can make the situation worse.
How to determine the order of repairs?
First, defects affecting safety and tightness are rectified: loose components, blocked drains and damaged details. Repairs to the coating and minor corrections can then be planned. An active leak should not be postponed until spring just because the stain is small. Prolonged dampness can damage layers that are not visible from outside.
After the inspection, it is good to keep a short list of findings and photographs. Record the repairs carried out and the locations to be observed further. The frequency of subsequent checks should correspond to the instructions and the surroundings, especially trees or heavy soiling. The autumn inspection should end with clear drainage and rectified defects, not merely with confirmation that the roof still looks even.
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