Slipped or cracked slates
Medium urgency- Warning signs
- A slate on the lawn, a gap in the roof line, or a damp patch after rain.
- Usual cause
- Nails corrode over the years ("nail sickness"), so slates slide out of place. Frost and storms crack older slates.
- What to do
- Fix within weeks
Leaking flat roof
Medium urgency- Warning signs
- Pooling water, blisters or splits in the felt, drips inside an extension or garage.
- Usual cause
- Old felt roofs dry out and crack after 10–20 years in the sun and frost.
- What to do
- Fix soon
Damp around the chimney
Medium urgency- Warning signs
- Damp patches on the chimney breast or ceiling near it, especially after heavy rain.
- Usual cause
- Cracked flaunching, failed lead flashing or porous brickwork lets water in.
- What to do
- Fix within weeks
Sagging roof line
High urgency- Warning signs
- A dip or wave along the ridge or the middle of the roof slope.
- Usual cause
- Rotten or overloaded timbers, often from long-term leaks or a heavy replacement covering.
- What to do
- Get it checked now
Overflowing gutters
Low urgency- Warning signs
- Water pouring over the gutter edge, green streaks on walls, damp inside.
- Usual cause
- Blocked gutters or downpipes, or joints that have pulled apart.
- What to do
- Fix this season
Moss on the roof
Low urgency- Warning signs
- Thick green moss on slates or tiles.
- Usual cause
- Shade and damp. Moss holds water and can lift tiles and block gutters.
- What to do
- Keep an eye on it