How to Protect a Roof from Rain and Snow

It’s that time of year when our lives are affected by the wet stuff that falls from the sky. You could argue that it’s a reality all year round in the UK, as the few blue skies we see never seem to last long. 

This is usually just rain, but in winter it becomes sleet, snow, and hail. Whatever the weather, we’re always glad when there’s a roof over our heads. But even the toughest roofs take a battering from the elements and need care if you want to stay warm and dry. 

Can Rain Damage a Roof?

Consistent and/or heavy rainfall can damage your roof in several ways. These range from devastating to inconvenient, so let’s go over a few you should be aware of. 

First, how rain damages roof tiles. Your tiles are naturally designed to resist rain, funnelling it towards your gutters so the water can be drained away. There are a number of types of roof tile, from the common concrete and slate to the rarer composite or metal variety. All have different durabilities, but none are indestructible.

Over time and after stormy weather, tiles will crack or dislodge, leaving part of your roof vulnerable. If you miss this damage, you’re at risk of leaks, and mould and damp can build up fast. Repairing roof tiles is a job best left to professionals like us who can assess the damage thoroughly and organise the necessary repairs. This is because you may be able to fix a few tiles, but lack the experience to spot others that won’t last much longer. 

The Importance of Keeping Your Gutters Clear

With rain comes dirt, mud, and foliage. In wild winds and wet weather, all of this lands on your roof and, if you have a sloped roof, makes its way down to your gutters. When it’s just rain, this isn’t a problem, but if mud and leaves are clogging them up, they stop working. 

But the water still has to go somewhere. At best your gutters will overflow, and you’ll get dirty water splattering on your windows. At worst it can start to seep inside, creating damp patches at the top of your walls. This will grow mould, a nightmare to deal with in winter. 

Your gutters could even collapse because of the extra weight, which can lead to flooding and other damage until they’re repaired. To avoid this, you need to clear out your gutters as soon as the blockages start forming. However, this comes with its own challenges. 

As most guttering is made of plastic, they aren’t the strongest. So if you lean a ladder against them, if they’re already damaged you’re putting yourself in danger. And once you’re up there, a solid mass of mud, twigs, and leaves isn’t easy to remove by hand. The sooner you notice the buildup, the easier it becomes. If you’ve had a lot of rain recently, head outside on a dry day and check how your gutters are holding up before they start to let you down. 

How Frost and Snow Damages a Roof

When the weather is especially cold, your tiles are at risk of something called freeze-thaw. In sub-zero temperatures, standing water will freeze and then thaw again, which can crack your tiles. If this is happening across your roof, large areas can be damaged in a short amount of time. 

Snow can cause a similar issue. As light and fluffy as fresh snowfall seems, when it’s building up on your roof the extra weight can cause a big issue. A foot of snow across your entire roof can weigh around 8 or 9 tonnes, which few roof tiles are designed to handle. With that weight pressing down, your home is at risk of structural collapse. 

Clearing snow from your roof isn’t an easy task, but it’s very important. If you’ve experienced a lot of recent snow, and it isn’t falling off your roof naturally, try to help it along in a safe way, or call in someone who can help you. This issue can be even worse if you have a flat roof. Clearing the snow off is tougher, and you also have to deal with standing water trying to fight its way inside. 

We all know how painful a hailstorm can be if you’re caught in it. Your roof tiles may be immune to the pain, but not the damage hailstones can cause. Some tiles are weaker than others, and the pelting of ice can wear them out. The hail can also get into cracks and gaps, causing the freeze-thaw we talked about earlier. 

But that’s enough doom and gloom! No matter what type of roof you have, or what issues you’re worried about, we have the perfect solution. 

The Best Way to Protect Your Roof

Roof repairs aren’t cheap, and maintenance isn’t easy. Wouldn’t it be better if your roof was naturally more resistant to rain and snow? 

Our revolutionary thermal coating helps to protect your roof tiles from the weather, no matter what material they’re made of. It will improve the water runoff on sloped tiles and prevent puddles from forming on a flat roof. It’s a small change, but the results speak for themselves. 

The change may be small, but you’ll notice a visual difference too! By sealing your roof it will repel dirt, grime, and mildew, helping it to look its best for years after the treatment has been applied. 

If it is time for a clean, our roof cleaning team is ready and waiting to give it a freshen-up. Sometimes a clean is all you need to keep a roof in good shape. Our experts will wash every inch, using the best products available. If they see any issues with your roof, such as damaged tiles, guttering, flashing, and more, they’ll let you know and we’ll help you organise some replacement or repair. 

And that’s not all! The sealant we use helps to insulate your home, saving you a fortune on energy bills. So not only do you no longer need to pay for an expensive new roof, you’ll even save money in the future. It’s a win-win!