Roofing problems this winter
At DPR, we are always conscious that roofing problems can occur when you least expect them. Although with most roofing problems there is a noticeable cause such as wind, sometime there isn’t and the problem may only surface a period of time after this initial event.
Currently in Yorkshire we are experiencing very high winds and rain which although not uncommon for this time of year, does cause considerable problems for domestic and commercial roofs. Roof tiles falling off is particularly noticeable at this present time. When a tile falls off a roof it creates an opening for water to get access inside. If this occurs frequently, damp patches will form and this can have an adverse effect on health of the occupants inside.
As a professional roofing company with multiple years’ experience, we know that you want to get the problem solved as quickly as possible and that is why we offer a 24 hour emergency hotline should you have water coming into your property during out of hours.
Sometimes roofing problems can worsen over time and are not caused by a specific incident such as a hurricane or a tornado. This is more common in older or grade 1/2 listed buildings as they have had to face the strain of weather and rain for a long period of time.
Should you live in Yorkshire primarily, Leeds, Wakefield or Bradford and be worried about the state of your roof please do not hesitate to contact one of our roofing professional teams today. We have local roofers available every day of the week so that we can attend your needs when they occur.
Any problem that is left will never ever get better so it is always worth checking out any small issues with a roofing professional before they become a large problem. We have many case study examples of situations where the occupant has left the problems over a period of months, and eventually they get so bad that the roof has needed a full replace, at a greater financial cost.
Had they contacted us in the first place when they notice the initial problem, DPR roofing are sure we could have solved many of the issues within one visit at much less of a cost. We also would have taken last time at less disruption.
If you are worried about the state of your roof please do not hesitate to contact our team today.
Lead roofing stolen off of NHS Hospital
DPR Roofing are saddened to hear of lead roofing being taken from West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
In the past 12 months, the hospital said that multiple items had been taken from the hospital, including bizarre items like a scone. They were themselves disappointed at the number of thefts and had struggled to come to terms with the obscurity of the items stolen.
In a press statement, one of the Hospital staff said: “We take security at the hospital extremely seriously and do everything we can to prevent our patients, visitors and staff from becoming victims of crime.
“We operate CCTV systems across our buildings, employ a security manager, have installed panic alarms in sensitive areas and work in close partnership with the police. We encourage anyone who notices any suspicious activity around the hospital site to report it and will take further action wherever appropriate.”
Lead roofing can have a high re-sale value so it is little wonder the hospital, which is vast in size, has been targeted. Still this does not make it right and as roofers ourselves, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this news.
Should you be unfortunate enough to have lead stolen off your roof in Yorkshire and require a repair, our team can carry out comprehensive repair projects quickly, professionally and for a good price. For more information please do not hesitate to contact our team.
Severe weather warning issued in Yorkshire
Winds of up to 90mph are expected to hit areas of Yorkshire in the next 24 hours as storms hit the region. Severe weather warnings have been released by the Met Office across the North of England including Yorkshire and people are being advised to be careful.
The weather front has been brought about as two storms have raced across the Atlantic gathering speed from America. The worst hit areas are expected to be out in the countryside and people are being warned about going out unless it is an emergency.
Some cities such as Leeds have already taken precautions and have put road closures and diversions in place to limit the impact the winds have. This is expected to cause disruption in the rush hour on Thursday night and Friday morning.
DPR would like to remind people that if you notice anything fall off your roof in the high winds, you should seek professional help as soon as possible. Should you be concerned about any part of your roof you can call us on the number at the top of the page.
5 of the most common roofing problems
Every roof will have a problem during its lifespan, whether that is caused by natural wear and tear or a more serious weather incident.
Although you can never be in-charge of the strong winds, there are a few things which can be done on a regular basis which should prevent wear and tear taking its toll on your roof quicker than anticipated. Below our leading roofing experts have a look at five of the most common roofing components which can lead to roofing problems.
The Fascia
The fascia or the roof trim as it is sometimes referred is designed to provide a protective barrier between the edge of the roof and the outside elements, mainly water. They also provide the good look factor too.
Problems arise when moisture gets in your fascia, with signs of this happening often shown by rot. If you notice any signs of moisture in the fascia, you should contact a roofing professional as soon as possible.
Soffits
Soffits play an important role in ventilating your roof space and controlling temperature and thus any damage to them could lead to a serious problem. Soffits could crack, rot or show the appearance of small holes. This then makes them susceptible for easy water entrance and entry by animals looking for shelter.
Flashing
Flashings are the things that are used to seal roof system edges, walls, drains, and any other area where the roof covering is interrupted. These are used to help seal any of the voids in the system.
Problems with this component of the roof usually arises during periods of freak weather or oxidisation, however they can just come loose. Thankfully, for a professional roofing company they are very easy to replace.
Guttering
Gutters and guttering is used to safely transport water away from your roof as well as safeguarding the structural integrity. Gutters can become clogged up easily so it is very important that you check or get a professional company to periodically come and clean your gutters.
When your gutters are full of debris, they do not allow water to run off the roof properly which can lead to other more serious water damage problems. Gutters can also start to sag when the debris gets too heavy leaving to greater problems.
If you notice an issue, you should start with a thorough check and clear of your debris. If this does not solve the issue please seek professional help at your earliest convenience.
Shingles
Shingles offer great protection for your roof but can be prone to curling. Missing shingles can make wood which is underneath susceptible to damage, which could include rotting, water damage or hole formation.
Discolouration is a sign of damage to the shingles so should you notice this at any time, seek professional help.
These are five of the most common roofing problems. Should you have an issue over the festive period, please contact us on Monday 5th January and we will send someone out to visit you as soon as possible.
DPR wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas
DPR would like to wish everyone, including past and present customers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This year we have been involved in some amazing commercial projects which includes roofing work at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, Castleford College, SITA in Huddersfield and Finlays Beverages in Pontefract.
We have also carried out a number of roof repairs, new roof builds, guttering checks and flat roof replacements for domestic clients across the whole of West Yorkshire.
DPR will be closing for the Christmas Holidays on the 19th December and will resume on the 5th January.
Customer reports his own roofers
At DPR, we are meticulous in our health and safety procedures, ensuring that every roof we work on is completed to the strictest of guidelines.
We know that for many homeowners this is a very important part of how roofers work, and can be the difference between getting a repair contract or not. Not only do they want a roof repair or new roof build that is completed to the highest of quality standards, but also to be completed safely and without compromise.
This is also very important regarding commercial sector work. Some local councils like Leeds and Wakefield have slightly different standards so it is important to understand this to.
The extent at which homeowners will ensure roofing work is completed safely was also brought to light recently as a resident in the town of Windsor sent photos of the roofers repairing his roof to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Many of the photos show that the roofers had no fall prevention or fall arrest measures in place and the householder commented that at no point did they see the three workers taking safety into consideration. Some of you may think this is the fault of the workers but as the HSE inspector comments that it is the company first and foremost.
In a statement he said: “The company put the lives of three of their workers at risk by carrying out the roofing job in a totally unsafe manner. Anyone falling from the roof of a two-storey house would likely be killed and that type of disregard for safety is totally unacceptable.
“If the work had been planned correctly, more suitable equipment, such as a scaffold, and effective fall protection measures would have been in place. Where practical when working on roofs, there should be fully-guarded platforms or good edge protection in place to stop falls happening.”
Although this is not always the case, erecting scaffolding and safety equipment can add money to jobs and it is one of the reasons why people often work without the correct safety equipment.
At DPR we take roofers safety very seriously and it is one of the many reasons we have a high access boom, which allows us to complete work at a higher level safely. If you, like the gentleman from Windsor, want to commission roofers that work to the safety criteria, please do not hesitate to contact our local roofing team today.
Small house-builders are to be let off from zero carbon standards
It was announced yesterday that the government has planned to propose exemption on smaller sites regarding the zero carbon homes policy standards.
According to the reports, from 2016 it was meant to be that all new homes that are built in the UK would have to be ‘zero carbon or carbon neutral’. This means that there should be no carbon emissions generated from the energy needs to a) light and b) heat the home.
However, the government has now made a u-turn after they claimed it is not always feasible on a technical and economic level.
To make it fair, the government is saying exceptions will now only occur based on site size. Ideally this would be ten units or fewer. It also wants to ensure that larger companies do not split sites into smaller units to avoid meeting these standards. This is to both cover the big companies buying smaller sites by splitting into subsidiary firms.
This is good news for us as roofers as it means that more smaller firms will still be able to offer great housing, with top quality roofs without having to stretch their resources to meet the standards. Although we always strive to meet the standards needed and we have a proud tradition of being accredited with some of the very best roofing and construction standards, this news is very welcome.
One of the main reasons behind this move is because the number of small builders has steadily been declining since 2007. Speaking in a recent interview, the CEO of FMB said: "The FMB is supportive of the zero carbon objective but we are concerned about the disproportionate cost implications for smaller house-builders. The Allowable Solutions element of zero carbon will be added in 2016 and could result in smaller building firms paying out an additional £2,000 for every single detached home.
The changes are much needed for the industry and will hopefully have a positive effect on the whole house building and construction industry as a whole.
If you are builder based in Yorkshire and require an expert roofer for your construction needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Is your roof ready for winter?
Making sure your roof is ready for each season is important, especially the winter months. If you live in areas of Yorkshire which are exposed to the harshest of weather, such as in Barnsley then this is even more important.
If you already have concerns over a part of your roofs, you should get this inspected by a Barnsley roofer right away. Someone with local knowledge will understand the problems the climate has on roofing structures in the area, as well as where to get the matching tiles from quickly.
If you do not get any minor problem solved quickly, this could escalate into a serious problem quickly. Missing tiles, cracks around the chimney and loose materials are all signs of a small problem which could become worse during any cold weather, so be sure to look properly when checking your roof.
Make sure you remove any debris from your gutters before the heavy rains come. Right now we are experiencing a mild period of weather which gives you time to get out and clear debris from your gutters. If you are unsure how to do this, we offer a professional service. If you are doing it yourself, also look out for wear and tear and any items which look like they may have come from off your roof.
If you are checking your roof, be sure to note down anything which you think may look a little suspect. If this is the case monitor this during the next few weeks and if anything appears to get worse, please seek professional advice urgently.
If you have a flat roof, make sure you look out for water pooling on the roof during the wet weather. If your flat roof has been installed in that last 5-10 years it should be quite sturdy, however if it is older, you may want to check this too as a weak spot could potentially lead to large amounts of damage.
You may be asking why we are recommending you have a look at your roof so carefully, but there are many reasons why. Winter weather places a lot of stress on your roof and an older roof is more likely to become susceptible to damage. Although the roof might have been fine for years, it could have a slowly developing problem which if you leave could cause a major problem. For this reason, an early inspection is highly recommended.
For more information about what else you can do, or to arrange for a professional visit from our leading Barnsley roofers, call us on 01226 920061.
How to test roof gutters for leaks
Water is life giving, but it can also be dangerous if it enters your home; potentially causing untold damage to electrical wiring, as well as your possessions. In addition, water breeds mould, and will create and intensify issues relating to the structural integrity of a building, costing you an awful lot of time and money to fix.
The cause of leaks is commonly blocked guttering, which can get logged by things leaves, twigs, and other debris. Yet this can be avoided by undertaking a few simple tests on your guttering. Here’s how to test your gutters:
Maintenance
Clean your guttering twice a year, ideally once in autumn, and once in spring. When the guttering is free from debris you can carry out the necessary to find any issues and carry out the necessary repairs.
Test
Step 1: Find a position to start from by looking for a spot around the property from which you can access the guttering easily, and set up a ladder.
Step 2: Set up and turn on a garden hose, before taking it to your chosen position. Place the hose inside the gutter so that water runs into it. To make sure it stays in position, either find a way to fix it in place, or ask a helper to hold it in place for you.
Step 3: Walk around the perimeter of your house, looking for water draining down through the guttering in places that it shouldn’t be doing so. Move the hose into different positions at set intervals to test all guttering for leaks. Use a torch in dark areas, and be thorough.
Step 4: Make a note of any problem areas
If you have leaks
Most leaks can be patched pretty easily, although if left the area will get worse so undertake repairs as soon as possible. If the problem area is beyond repair, the piece of guttering will need to be replaced.
You can patch small leaks with roofing cement, or use a metal patch repair kit. For aluminium gutters, you can use aluminium flashing. When hole-patching isn’t effective, damaged gutter sections can be replaced with a new piece. You can purchase gutter repair kits from DIY stores.
Alternatively, our Barnsley roofers offer a bi-annual maintenance service. For more information call DPR Barnsley on 01226 920061.
Why is it important to check your roof?
Whereas some projects like painting your house are quick and easy, fixing a roof ravaged either by age or by harsh weather conditions on the other hand is arguably not one of those. The main considerations are based on the notion of risk vs. reward.
Whereas perhaps the only genuine risk involved in painting a room – which can be done in a single day - is the inconvenience of family being unable to use the room, fixing a roof requires much more planning, skill and time, not to mention a head for heights.
Yet the reward of fixing a roof is arguably much greater than painting walls in room, as undertaking the necessary repairs on roof can save you a lot more time, money, and inconvenience; ignore broken roof tiles and leaks at your peril!
We have our fair share of storms in England, as well as high winds, rain and snow, all of which can wreak serious havoc on your roof. While one or two roof tiles broken in a storm may be harmless at first, as soon as the next storm comes, you could well be in for a nasty surprise.
We would recommend that you inspect your roof twice a year, ideally in spring and autumn; this costs you nothing and could help you save further damage therefore time and money. If you have a head for heights, go up on the roof to inspect and endeavour to replace or repair any broken or missing tiles.
While you’re up on the roof, look for any trees that might pose a threat to the integrity of the roofing structure if blown over or if branches land on your roof during the next bout of harsh weather.
For more information on how to look after your roof, call DPR Roofing on 01226 920061.