Have a brilliant Christmas everyone!

If you’ve been following our blog posts throughout December and have got the home maintenance bug, there are plenty more bits and pieces scattered over Roofapedia.

It's critical that, when you encounter a problem with your roof, you ask plenty of questions.

Lead has been used for hundreds of years due to the flexibility and durability of the material that enable installers to create complex waterproof seals at roof junctions.

Despite spray foam insulation being a good solution for older roofs and can improve the thermal efficiency of your roof, there is growing concern that it could increase the cost of future re-roofing.

Your roofer will be able to ensure you have an efficient, effectively insulated roof.

Whether you’re building a new house, refurbishing an old property or replacing an old, tired roof, you will be choosing from a wide and diverse range of coverings and battens will be a major consideration.

There are a number of reasons why your roof might leak. Here’s a quick run down of them.

While you’re taking a look at your roof, look for missing, broken or cracked tiles too and scan the junctions (where the roof meets a wall) for visible signs of damage.

Slate is a roofing material that has been used in the UK as far back as 1296!

Slate is a roofing material that has been used in the UK as far back as 1296!

Have you spotted a patch of moss on your roof that you don’t like? Before I explain how to rid your roof of moss, I should point out that there is every chance that it will have little to no impact on the function of your roof and roof tiles.

As mentioned in the 9^th entry to this advent calendar (which we hope you’re learning plenty from!), you may well need planning permission if you are making any changes to more than 25% of your roof.

Do you know your Batten Voids from your Fascia boards? If the answer is no, you’re not alone!

It’s important that, as well as insulating your home, you must ventilate the roof space to ensure that the roof space does not retain moisture.

It’s a common mistake among homeowners to just select the first name in the Yellow Pages when finding a roofing contractor, but it’s of the utmost importance that you hunt around, get at least 3 quotes, request references and ask plenty of questions.

There are numerous different styles of roof which all suit different sizes and shapes of houses.

Have you noticed that the mortar in your verges (where the sloping part of your roof meets the wall) is breaking away in places?

Despite roofing materials not changing drastically over many decades, the form and function has evolved somewhat in recent years.

It’s important that you check the building regulations relevant to your roof and property before commencing any improvements or maintenance.

A great man once said “learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present”. What better place to start that by looking at the history of roofing tiles in order to know how to preserve and maintain your roof in the present and prevent any problems in the future?

It is a good idea to inspect the inside of your roof annually.

It’s worth noting that it’s not just an increase in weight that could be dangerous to your roof, lighter roof tiles could mean the roof structure becoming lifted in high winds so it’s best to stick to the original loading.

Do you know the difference between Plain Tles and Pantiles? It’s the first lesson in roofing school to learn what sort of tiles are on your roof and what options you have when looking for a change.

Insulation is a key issue, as it's essential to meet the changing standards when undertaking any roofing project. However, it’s a good thing and starts saving you money on your bills straightaway because it keeps the warmth in the house, which saves energy.

When undertaking a full re-roofing project, there is one thing that is suprisingly easy to forget - weight!

You don't normally need planning consent to change the roof tiles on your roof, but before carrying out work like this, you should always check with your Local Authority to find out if there are any local planning constraints on your house.

The British weather is being temperamental as always. Which isn’t helping either the progress of my roofing project or my mood.

Just a quick one – it’s important to appreciate the impact any work you do on your roof has on the homeowners around you.

On close inspection, the workmanship on my roof is pretty dire. It's fairly typical of big house builders to cut corners, but I wasnt expecting so many mistakes.

It’s easy to leave the choice of roof tiles up to the roofer, or to make a choice based on colour and cost. These are all important – you should ask your roofer for recommendations, but you should also do some research yourself, as selecting the tile will be the single biggest decision you have to make when re-roofing your home.

Taking off an entire roof might sound like a nightmare situation, but with every cloud comes a silver lining.  

I saw mortar dropping from the verges of my roof the other week, I knew I needed to take a closer look and check it wasn’t a sign of a bigger problem. At the very least, they needed re-bedding. Anyway, I’d been meaning to re-paint or replace the fascias for a long while.

Hello - and welcome to my brand new blog.