By Andrew Lockwood, MRICS on the 13th of December 2025.

In the colder, wetter and windier months of the year, the condition of your roof becomes essential in maintaining a warm and dry property.

The elements can take their toll on your roof, resulting in costly repairs if preventative measures are not taken.

In this article, we'll cover essential steps for preparing your roof. We discuss the necessity of a professional roof survey, effective methods for preventing leaks, and why hiring an RICS Chartered Surveyor ensures expert guidance.

We also address common questions about roof inspections and winter preparations, providing you with the knowledge needed to fully protect your home.

Why is Preparation Important?

Preparation for winter is an essential preventative measure. When things go wrong, it is usually at the most inconvenient time.

Here's why it's important;

Extend the lifespan of your roof covering: Catching issues early before they develop into more costly defects is particularly important.

Prevent water ingress: Snow and ice accumulation such as icicles and ice dams can result in damage to your roof covering but also penetrating dampness into you property. Ice dams form when snow sits on the roof for a period of time and goes through a melt and freeze sequence. As the snow melts, water travels downwards and freezes when it reaches the eaves of the roof. If the roof is not properly insulated and heat manages to escape through the tiles, it will start to melt the snow. Once this sequence of melting and freezing takes places continuously, the ice builds up and forms a dam at the edge. Addiitonally frost can damage roof tiles due to freeze-thaw cycles, where water seeps into the porous material, freezes, expands, and cracks the tile over time. This damage typically appears as spalling or delamination, where the outer surface crumbles, exposing the inner tile. This can occur to roof tiles, but also ridge and hip tiles and generally occurs on sheltered or north facing aspects.

Overflowing valley, horizontal or standard roof perimeter gutters will allow rainwater to enter the property, resulting in spoilt finishes, rot, decay or potentially structural damage. Once a wall is saturated, particularly a solid norfolk red brick or solid flint or clay lump wall it will take considerable time to dry. This will of course intially rely on repairing the source of the moisture and drying times vary depending on aspect. We generally estimate a mm / day to dry a solid wall. This is extended disruption you want to avoid as this translates into an approximate 9 month drying period for a solid wall on a Victorian terrace.

Loose slipped tiles can either fall or allow moisture to penetrate.

Fatigued, split or loosening flashings to the roof junctures or chimneys can degrade overtime or have suffer physical damage or loosening. If there is a chimney or wall above then rainwater that hits this surface will run towards the defective flashing which will cause leaks.

Freezing temeperatures combined with inapproriate repairs/materials can also result in damage to hidden walls, such as parapets, as well as chimney brickwork whereby the faces of the bricks degrades (known as spalling) or pointing joints erode or fail. Selective work to the joints and/or bricks in some cases means only minor repointing of eroded joints will be required after. With buildings pre-dating c1900, lime mortar and not cement should be used to minimise evaporation through the bricks and consequent deterioration of their faces. Damaged bricks themselves can often be carefully removed and then reversed to hide the decay.

Improve Energy Efficiency: A well maintained roof with adequate levels of insulation and ventilation will keep your property warm and dry. It will also reduce your energy costs.

What is a Roof Survey?

A roof survey is a detailed internal and external inspection of the covering and roof void, conducted by an experienced Chartered Surveyor. This identifies items of disrepair or areas where potential problems may develop and advises on improvments.

Be sure to read our Blog: How Does a Drone and Pole Camera Survey Improve Property Inspections

How to Prepare Your Roof for the Winter

Good maintenance is important to buildings of all ages and types. Some deterioration of a building over time is inevitable but regular maintenance helps slow the rate and lessens the need for large-scale, costly work further down the line.

1) Schedule a roof survey.

2) Check for damaged or slipped tiles.

3) Check and unblock gutters and downpipes.

4) Check flashings and seals.

5) Check hidden roof adjonin elements like parapet walls and chimneys.

6) Cut back overhanging trees.

7) Insulate your roof void and ensure ventilation is satisfactory.

8) Clear moss and lichen.

Why Choose Lockwood Chartered Surveyors?

  • We are a small local practice based in south Norfolk therefore have a broad knowledge of the local area and the different property types and their defects.
  • We have over 15 years experience in the property industry within Norfolk and Suffolk. 
  • We take our time and only work with a few clients per week ensuring a more thorough inspection and a more personable service.
  • We comply with the stringent guidelines set out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to produce comprehensive and understandable reports.
  • We have a proven record of delivering quality advice to our clients. 
  • We remain on hand to answer queries following receipt of your report. 
  • Our fees are competitive and value based.