Keep a lid on roofing problems

I F THE weather in this country was as bad as most of us think, nothing would ever get built. We are currently supervising the replacement of a large roof and re-pointing of a property which commenced in August.

Due to delays of one sort and another, the weather has now caught up with us. However, as someone who is dependent upon fair weather to create buildings and provide work, rain, which is the worst problem appears to me to be less prevalent and it depends whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, as to whether the weather forecast is working with you or against you. In this context I believe that the weather is exactly as I like it. Sometimes however, too much rain does lower spirits.

This brings me to the subject of roofs. Currently in one of our offices, which is a listed building, we are suffering damp and like everyone, I have been putting off the inevitable day when we re-roof. However, the important thing is to find a good roofer and get him to check your roof during the summer months when they are less busy, because from November I assure you it is very difficult to get someone to come and do significant jobs.

At home I have concrete interlocking tiles which are about 40 years old. With trees around, my nightmare is moss. Constantly moss is coming off my roof and my neighbours have resorted to re-coating what are still perfectly good tiles, which is one solution.

Tomic & Daly

Print voucher

Lots of great quality designer name homeware gifts boxed and ready to wrap. Dont just buy mum any old rubbish, grab something beautiful - find us at 37 High St Whitstable, open till 5:30.

Contact: 01227 208369

Valid until: Sunday, December 22 2013

I am less keen on this unless it is well done as it does look like a coat of paint, rather than giving you the texture of tiles. However attacking moss is another issue. In America, where they are little more canny about this subject, they place a strip of copper along the tops of their roofs, just under the top row of tiles, for the length of the roof. The rain falls and the acid in the rain turns the copper to copper sulphate which runs down the roof and kills the moss. It is a very slow process, but it is one I would be keen to try and plan to do so next summer. It is a cheap, but permanent solution. Although of course the copper does eventually dissolve completely, before then the roof will need renewing in any case. I aim, before then, to avoid a paint job!

Original post:
Keep a lid on roofing problems