Today, we want to walk you through the various types of roofing problems in the UK. Issues regarding roof installation, structure and damage can be difficult to solve, but every problem for roofing standards has a solution.
General Roofing Problems
Regardless of the type of roof you have in your home, roofing repair issues will reveal themselves at some point in your life. There are lots of general roofing problems that can occur, and often times these issues are hard to avoid.
Poor ventilation in houses
Most roofs provide ventilation for warm air to naturally rise, and a poorly ventilated roof can lead to unregulated temperatures and moisture. These build-ups can cause damage to particular components of your roof, leading to mould and mildew developing within your roof’s structure.
Improving and fixing this issue will be easier when you understand the signs that reflect poor roofing ventilation. These signs are commonly the buildup of mould and mildew, and roof leaks. Once these signs have been identified, it’s important to start implementing new equipment to ensure that your roof’s ventilation system is properly regulated. We recommend installing exhaust vents to allow the hot air to escape your home. Insulation is a fundamental component of all roofing systems.
Water damage - how much can water damage a roof?
Water damage is fairly common for roofs when you live in a place where heavy rain occurs. Water damage comes from roof leaks, and doesn’t just create ugly spots on the ceiling and walls, but can also lead to mould buildup and mould spreads - which can deter your roof’s performance.
To fix water damage from a roof leak, simply identify the problems that show your roof has water damage. This can be as simple as seeing water coming through your ceiling, an indication that water has made its way through layers of roofing materials. After this, it’s a matter of finding the source of the leak which you can do by simply following the leak, or using things such as drones for roofing inspections.
An alternative way to check leaks is to also turn off your water. If your water meter continues to climb once it’s off, you may need to call a plumber and have the pipe leak fixed.
[H3] Punctures & penetrations
Extreme weather conditions can often damage your roof, and these damages can include puncturing or penetrating your roofing material. These punctures and holes can create entry points that let moisture seep into your home, allowing mildew to develop.
Signs of punctures and penetrations are easier to find as the indication of the damage is much more accessible. However, these damages can also find their way into different points of your roof’s structure, positions which are easy to miss. Start by looking at the roof uphill from the stains, from here, you can normally find roof penetrations much easier.
Blocked drainage pipe
Your roof’s drainage system is designed to transport water from the top of your roof to the drainage pipe that allows water to flow down the sewer. This feature is often easy to maintain, but on occasion can start to become blocked. Particularly in the autumn season when leaves are starting to fall, your drainage system can start clogging up when the rain starts to pour down.
Check your gutters regularly to ensure that your drain is not blocked by external debris. You can check if it’s clogged by feeding a hose down the roof drain until it sits against the clog and turning on the power. This will usually loosen the clog anyway, as long as you put the power to its highest capacity.
The Most Common Roofing Systems in the UK - Which One Should You Choose?
Roofing systems can vary between pitched roofs or flat roof construction for a building, or even waterproofing systems or insulation systems for roofs.
Below are the most common roofing systems found in the UK.
Rubber Membrane Roofing System
Rubber membrane roofing systems (or EPDM) are synthetic rubbers used to apply a variety of features to your roof. EPDM roofing systems are heat and weather-resistant, making them an ideal roofing material for flat roofs. While these membranes are only a portion of the roof, they can procure some problems that deter the full capacity of your roof.
Improper Installation
Proper preparation is the key to EPDM installation, and even the slightest error can guarantee your EPDM membrane damage.
Solution: Ensure that everything you install is properly installed. This means that the membrane you choose (whether it’s HERTALAN or RESITRIX) is ideal for your roofing structure, the damp is dry, and the equipment you have are not faulty.
Wrinkles Into Roof Seams
Roof creases or wrinkles are found in EPDM roofing systems when moisture is found within the structure.
Solution: You’ll need a heat gun and silicon roller. Lay out your EPDM system flat on a table or your floor, and gently heat the surface of the EPDM membrane using the heat gun. Make sure you work quickly across the creased area, as the heat gun might damage
Roof Shrinkage - Cause And Solution
Roof shrinkage is the shortening of the membrane that coats your roofing materials. Roof shrinkage is usually caused by the ageing of the material, poor installation or UV exposure.
Solution: If you found your EPDM roof system has shrunk, it can be more effective to call a professional to fix your roof. Ideally, it may be better to ensure that the roofing system in mind is properly installed right from the start. We have expert staff that are ready to help you in any way, so feel free to contact us!
Rubber Membrane Roofing System FAQs
How long does a rubber roof membrane last?
An EPDM rubber roofing membrane can last up to 50 years with proper maintenance and care. This material can last an incredibly long time due to its durability and the fact that the rubber recycled and used for the synthetic rubber membrane can’t be damaged under UV rays.
Why is my EPDM membrane bubbling?
In certain, more intense cases, if your EPDM is bubbling, it could mean that the membrane has not bonded properly. Repairing this issue can simply be peeling back the membrane and reapplying it, ensuring that there are no air bubbles within your roof membrane.
What can I put on my EPDM roof to make it better?
To make sure that your EPDM roof works at its best, you can apply timber deckings such as roofing grade plywood or OSB sterling board to increase its quality.
Green Roofing System
A green roofing system is a layer of vegetation over a waterproofing system (such as EPDM) that are ideal for flat roofs. Green roofs are an environmentally friendly option for roofs, with the increased life expectancy and ideal regulation of extreme temperatures. These systems support green life, with a modest roof load that contains plants and other wildlife that support the roofing structure.
Low in Plant Nutrients
When the plants situated on a green roof are maintained improperly, they can absorb fewer nutrients which in turn can rot plants and damage your roof’s structure.
Solution: Providing mulch or fertiliser within your green roofing base should balance out the lack of nutrients. You should also provide some water for your green roof trays to let them absorb the fertiliser better.
Condensation In Your Roof Space
With green roofs, dampness buildup can occur more frequently due to the organic plant life situated on top of the system. Green roofs are incredible at retaining water, and because of this, dampness can happen more times than you might want.
Solution: Ensure that your green roof has the right amount of drainage capabilities available to let a sufficient amount of water get drained. An optimal drainage system will not overcrowd your plants with water when the opportunity arises. Invest in membranes such as HDPE that can collect water effectively. Consider using drainage boards to help your sky garden with any condensation problems.
Green Roof Pests
Like with any green environment, pests can start to invade plant life. It’s the way of nature, and unfortunately, there aren’t too many methods out there that can prevent these pests to become attracted to your green roof.
Solution: Because pests are present on your green roof, you can add additional wildlife such as ladybirds, lacewings and small birds into your garden. These beneficial predators add to the wildlife on your green roof (which can be essential!) while getting rid of invasive ones.
Are green roofs difficult to maintain?
Green roof maintenance is a simple process, and depending on the type of green roof you have, you may not need to maintain it much at all. For instance, extensive green roofs need almost no maintenance, but smaller tasks such as removing weeds and applying fertilizer several times a year.
Can green roofs insulate?
Yes. Green roofs provide both heat and sound insulation, making it very advantageous for many homes and buildings. Green roofs are a great sustainable solution for cities, mitigating the effects of urbanised heat and sound. It’s also suitable for colder climates as they can effectively retain heat, providing cross-seasonal benefits.
What do you need to design a green roof?
A green roof system needs to be designed with careful consideration in mind. There are lots of factors that you need to think about:
- Your roof’s decking standards
- The building’s standards
- Vegetation type
- Aesthetic
- Roof pitch
- The location of your roof and exposure
- Roof accessibility
Once you have decided on these factors, preparing a green roof will become easier.
Slate Roofing Systems
A slate roof is a premium roofing system that’s made out of natural slate tiles, and possibly, other slate roofing materials. Slate roofing systems are commonly heavier than other systems and are also one of the most expensive roof installations. However, the aesthetic finishes that slate roofing systems can provide, as well as its insulation benefits, make it one of the most popular roofing structures available in the UK.
Fractured Slates - Fixing Broken Slate Tiles
Fractured slates can occur over time. Whether it's because of strong weather conditions or other factors that damage them, fractured slates can happen from time to time.
Solution: If there are any broken tiles left, remove them carefully using any necessary tools - but make sure you don’t damage the foundation of the roof further. Apply a thin layer of urethane glue on the spot where the broken tile was, thoroughly covering the spot and the bottom of your new tile. Once done, press the two sections together, matching them up along the break line.
Roof Flashing & Cowls
The flashing on your roof is made of metal strips that are attached to all seams and edges of the roof to protect it. Like tiles, they can also get damaged over time due to their function. Because flashing protects some of the most vulnerable parts of your roofing system, damage can occur more often.
Solution: Roughen the area around the damage using sandpaper, then clean it with a wipe. Cut the patch larger than the hole and affix it with roofing cement. Once done, cover the patch with more roofing cement.
Damaged Roof Structure - Pillars, Walls & Foundation
This problem can occur in any type of roof, and can often affect the entirety of your home as well. Structural damage can come from high winds or strong floods, Structural damage can be found through damaged wires, wet insulation, cracks in the wood structure and hard-to-open doors and windows.
Solution: There is no set solution as there are different symptoms that indicate structural damage to your roof. The best thing to do is to identify these problems, and if you have no knowledge on how to fix this particular structure damage, contact us for help!
What causes slates to slip?
Over time, materials in your slate roof will corrode - often called “nail sickness” when nails corrode. These are the main causes of slates slipping or splitting from your roof.
Other causes also include deterioration of your slates, which can often split into layers, mechanical damage, and wind damage.
How can you fix a slipped slate?
A loose slate can be replaced in a similar way as fixing a damaged slate (by replacing the slate and using urethane glue to fix them). However, it should be noted that slipped slates are often indications that your roofing system is reaching an older age, and should be accepted that replacing a single slipped slate on a roof with nail sickness is only a temporary solution.
Metal Roofing System
A metal roof system is made using metal pieces, tiles and panels, or a mixture of all materials. It’s a part of the roofing envelope that’s designed to provide resistance to air, water, heat and sound. There are different types of metal roofs, ranging from exposed fastener metal roofing to metal roof retrofit and recovery. With a long life span, improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, metal roofs are slowly being used in the UK. A metal roofing system consists of various components, such as metal roof trims and panels.
Corrosion
As many might already know, metal can corrode over time, and it corrodes when it reacts to another substance such as oxygen, hydrogen, an electrical current or even dirt and bacteria. Corrosion can also happen when these materials are under too much stress, causing them to crack.
Solution: It’s ideal to apply a protective coating to prevent corrosion before all pieces are in place for your metal roof. A protective powder coating should be applied on the surface of the metal, which is then heated to form a smooth protective film.
Oil Canning On a Metal Roof
Oil canning is when a metal panel looks wavy or distorted in some way, especially in the broad, flat areas of a metal roof. Fortunately, this type of problem is simply a cosmetic surface-level issue and does not directly affect the structural integrity of the panel system.
Solution: The only solution you can do is to minimize oil canning, which can be done by purchasing a thicker metal material before committing to your metal roofing system. There are other methods you can use, such as using a low-gloss finish (to reduce reflectivity), using a backer rod or purchasing tension-levelled metal
How long do metal roofs last?
Like green roofs, they last for about 50 years and are eco-friendly and recyclable. The difference between metal roofs and green roofs is that metal roofs require a more intensive form of maintenance. Metal roofs can suffer from rust, corrosion and other deterioration when not maintained properly.
Frequent cleaning, identification of rusting or corroding symptoms and proper installation is the best way to maintain your metal roofs. Contact us for more advice.
Is it okay to put metal roofs over shingles?
You can lay down a new metal roof over a shingle roof, which is beneficial as it reduces the cost of tearing off the existing roof you might have. This is the reason why metal roofs are becoming more popular globally, the cost-effective benefits of metal roofs allow them to become versatile in almost any building.
Can you walk on metal roofs?
Yes, but it should be noted that there are some things you must not do to make sure you are safe and to ensure that damage is minimised or prevented.
First and foremost, ensure that you are wearing appropriate footwear. Soft-soled shoes that have a good grip are the best type of footwear to use, as metal roofs are generally slippy. You should also make sure that you don’t have any debris on the bottom of your shoes to avoid scratching your roof.
You should also wait for a clear day. Rain can make the already slippy metal roof much more difficult to walk on. So if it looks like it’s going to rain, it’s best to either wait until the next day, or if you need to do something urgent on your metal roof, wear proper rubber footwear, a safety harness, gloves, and a fall-protection system to minimise the risk of injury.
Got A Question About Your Roofing Problems?
Our team is more than just a leading supplier of roofing equipment and parts, we’re also experts in roof building solutions. So, if you have any further questions, please contact us so we can help you with your roofing needs.
