Everyone needs a roof over their head, and a reliable, durable, waterproof roof is vital to ensure a high quality of life.
Whether you are a homeowner or own a commercial or retail space, maintaining your roof, repairing or replacing it, is a critical part of your maintenance routine.
Roofing issues, particularly for commercial buildings, should be left to the experts, not least because doing so means you avoid one of the most common mistakes that homeowners and small businesses can make with their roofing.
Is The Best Value Roof The Cheapest?
Whilst not a mistake exclusive to roofing, choosing the cheapest roofing option is often the most expensive solution in the long run.
Choosing the wrong materials, lining, felting, or design can cause a roof to be less durable than expected, as well as potentially create clashes with the original property.
The best value roof is the one that looks best suited for your home or place of business, and will last the longest time without you having to think about it again.
Cutting corners or cutting costs not only runs the risk of you having to do the work again sooner rather than later, but it could potentially lead to even more significant issues that can become even more expensive and critical to fix.
Are All Roofing Materials Equivalent?
Because all roofing plays the same role in your home, there is an assumption that all materials are essentially equal, not only in terms of the type of roof but also the materials being used.
Some materials are designed to lower performance specifications, are lighter in ways that can affect how long they last or how effectively they channel water away from the roof.
As well as this, some conservation areas require the use of particular materials, so it is always important when getting a quote to ask which materials have been factored into the price and do some research on whether they are suitable for your roof, both practically and aesthetically.
Ultimately, working with an expert in roof repairs and replacements will ensure that whichever roof you choose will be suitable for your property.
Do You Have Sufficient Roof Ventilation?
A particularly common oversight, but one that can be devastating to your roof, is neglecting its ventilation and airflow.
Airflow is vital to prevent the build-up of moisture, which can lead to the development of mould and structural damage to your roof timbers.
This is a particularly important consideration when replacing the roof of a building built before 1945; older construction methods and materials require the materials to allow for moisture to pass through them, and blocking them with watertight materials can cause condensation and damage to the timbers.
Have You Let Your Local Planning Authority Know?
Whilst replacing the roof does not usually require planning permission, it is vital to let your local planning authority of any work you plan to do to get advice on what you need to do and how to ensure it is compliant with the UK’s Building Regulations.
This is a particular issue if you plan to sell, as a lack of certification of work can lead to more expensive retrospective approval down the line.
