Derby Roof Inspection Checklist: Before Winter

The best time to find a roofing problem is before winter arrives, not during it. A small issue in September — a cracked tile, a loose ridge section, a blocked valley — becomes an urgent and expensive problem in January when Derby’s Pennine-edge weather delivers sustained rain and frost simultaneously. This checklist is designed to be completed from the ground. Do not get on your roof.

The Ground-Level Check (10 Minutes)

Stand at the front of your property and work systematically across the roof from one end to the other. You’re looking for:

1. Ridge Line

The ridge is the horizontal line of tiles along the very top of the roof. It should be straight and uniform. Look for: any tiles sitting higher or lower than their neighbours, gaps in the mortar pointing visible between tiles, or a tile that appears to have shifted sideways. On Derby’s older concrete tile stock (Normanton, Chaddesden, Mackworth), ridge tile displacement is now the most common pre-winter finding.

2. Tile Surface

Scan the main roof surfaces for missing tiles (obvious gaps), cracked tiles (visible split lines, often with a different colour or texture), or tiles sitting at a noticeably different angle to those around them (a sign the fixing below has failed). Binoculars are useful here if you have them.

3. Verges and Bargeboards

The verge is the tiled edge running up the gable end of your roof. Look for open gaps in the mortar beneath the verge tiles, tiles that overhang further than others, or the wooden bargeboard below showing signs of rot or moisture damage.

4. Chimney Stacks

If you have a chimney, look at the lead flashing at its base — the metal strip where the chimney meets the roof slope. It should lie flat against the roof surface with no visible lifting, gaps or mastic patches. Look also at the mortar pointing on the brickwork of the stack itself — crumbling or absent pointing is a common finding on Derby Victorian terraces ahead of winter.

5. Gutters and Valleys

Autumn is valley-blocking season in Derby, particularly for properties near Darley Park, Allestree Park or the Derwent woodland. Look for debris visible in gutters from the ground. If you can safely access gutters from a ladder, check the outlets are clear. A blocked valley or outlet heading into winter means the first heavy rainfall will find a way through.

Inside the Loft (5 Minutes)

A quick loft inspection often reveals problems that aren’t visible from outside. Take a torch and look for:

• Daylight visible through the roof structure (should be none)
• Damp or dark staining on the underside of the roof felt or on timber rafters
• Wet or compacted insulation, particularly near eaves
• Any debris that might have entered through an open joint

Damp staining in the loft does not always correspond to an obvious external problem — it’s often caused by condensation against failed underlay rather than a direct tile leak. But any damp presence in the loft ahead of winter should be investigated before it worsens.

When to Call a Professional

Call a roofer if your ground-level inspection finds any of the following. Don’t attempt to fix these yourself:

• Any displaced, missing or visibly cracked tiles
• Ridge or verge mortar that is visibly crumbling or absent
• Lead flashing that is lifted, gapped or has been previously patched with mastic or tape
• Chimney pointing that is crumbling or absent across a significant area
• Damp staining in the loft of any extent

A pre-winter inspection call-out — where we check the roof and provide a written condition report with no obligation — typically takes 30–45 minutes and costs nothing. The repairs identified are almost always cheaper to fix in September than in December, when emergency rates apply and access in wet conditions carries additional risk.