How do I know if my roof needs repairing?
Common warning signs include slipped, cracked or missing tiles, damp patches, damaged flashing, recurring leaks, sagging areas, daylight visible in the loft and pieces of roofing material appearing in gutters. One defect does not automatically mean you need a new roof, but visible changes should be investigated before water causes more extensive damage.
Signs Your Roof Needs Repair
Roofs rarely fail suddenly. Most give clear warning signs — the trick is knowing what to look for from ground level, from the loft, and inside the house.
Slipped or missing slates and tiles are the most visible sign, especially after a storm. Look for straight lines that have gone crooked, dark patches where underlay is exposed, or debris on the ground below.
Sagging ridge lines suggest failed bedding mortar or timber movement. A ridge that dips in the middle needs attention before it takes a course of tiles with it.
Damp patches in the loft — especially around chimneys, valleys or roof windows — usually mean flashing or lead detailing has failed. Torch inspection after heavy rain is the fastest diagnostic.
Blocked or overflowing gutters aren't just a gutter problem — water backing up under the tiles causes damage to fascias and wall heads.
Moss and lichen aren't harmful in themselves, but heavy build-up traps moisture and accelerates freeze-thaw damage.
If in doubt, a drone inspection gives complete coverage without scaffolding — you get evidence rather than opinion.