Roof leaks

The first sign of a roof leak is often indoors: a mark on the ceiling, a damp corner or a drip during rain. The temptation is to point straight above it and order a repair there. A better investigation starts with a record of the symptom and checks the roof before settling on the cause.

Note when the problem appears, whether it follows particular weather and whether previous work changed it. Photographs taken from the same safe position are easier to compare than a collection of close-ups with no location recorded.

Give the inspection a useful brief

Include the affected room, approximate roof age if known and details of earlier repairs. Say when information is uncertain. “Repaired before we bought the house” is more accurate than guessing a date or material.

Tell WWR Roofing about any visible change in the covering, chimney, flashing or guttering near the affected area. These details help describe the problem, but none should be treated as a confirmed cause before assessment. Water appearing indoors needs to be considered alongside the relevant roof construction.

Distinguish observation from diagnosis

A report should identify what was found and how it relates to the symptoms. A photograph of a cracked tile is helpful, but the proposed repair should explain why that defect is considered responsible. Where the cause remains uncertain, ask what further investigation is recommended.

Do not climb into an unsafe roof space or onto the covering to supply evidence. A contractor should arrange suitable inspection access. If water is close to electrics or a ceiling appears unstable, keep people away and obtain urgent professional assistance.

Close the loop after repair

Keep before-and-after photographs, the invoice and the description of the work. Record whether the original symptom recurs after subsequent rain, and report changes promptly. Redecoration should follow resolution of the moisture problem and appropriate drying, rather than hide evidence needed for follow-up.

Our roof repairs service is the route for a repair enquiry. The article on condensation and roof leaks explains another important distinction when damp appears around the roof space.