Larke's Roofs

Roof problems

What each common roof fault actually looks like, what causes it and what the repair involves.

Roofer inspecting a damaged section of roof covering to trace a leak

Finding where a roof leak actually starts

For homeowners who can see damp inside but cannot tell what is causing it.

Lead flashing dressed into brickwork at a chimney stack

Chimney flashing leaks

For anyone with damp appearing on a chimney breast or in the loft beside a stack.

Emergency repair being carried out on a storm-damaged roof

Storm damage to a roof

For property owners dealing with wind damage right now, and the insurance claim afterwards.

Pitched tiled roof with replacement tiles being fitted

Slipped, cracked and missing tiles

For owners who can see a gap or a displaced tile from the ground.

Ridge line of a tiled roof being re-bedded and pointed

Ridge tile repointing

For owners who can see cracked mortar along the top of the roof or have had a ridge tile come down.

EPDM rubber flat roof with edge trim and outlet detail

Ponding water on a flat roof

For anyone who has looked at their garage, extension or dormer roof and seen a puddle that never dries.

Close view of a flat roof covering showing surface condition and edge trim

Blisters, splits and cracks on a flat roof

For owners deciding whether a tired flat roof can be patched or needs replacing.

Underside of a pitched roof showing membrane and roof timbers

Loft damp that is condensation, not a leak

For homeowners with wet timbers, black mould or dripping felt but no obvious hole in the roof.

Tiled roof slope and guttering being cleared of moss and debris

Moss, debris and blocked gutters

For owners of shaded or tree-lined properties where the roof is greening over.

Slate roof on a period property showing the ridge and slope line

Sagging roof: a roof that is dipping or bowing

For owners of older properties worried about a visible dip in the roof line.

Lead valley detail between two pitched roof slopes

Failed valleys and crumbling verges

For roofs leaking where two slopes meet, or losing mortar along the gable edge.

Commercial flat roof and gutter line on an industrial unit

Leaks on commercial and industrial roofs

For property managers and business owners with water coming into a working building.

Water-stained ceiling below a roof leak being inspected inside a Norfolk home

Damp patch on the ceiling: leak or condensation?

For anyone who has just spotted a stain and wants to know whether to ring a roofer tonight or in the morning.

Exposed coastal roof with weathered verge and ridge detail on a Norfolk property

Why a roof leaks only in driving rain

For owners of exposed properties where a roof is watertight in a downpour but wet in a gale.

Rainwater gutter and eaves being checked from a ladder on a Norfolk house

Water is pouring over my gutter in heavy rain

For anyone watching a curtain of water fall past a window every time it rains hard.

Small flat garage roof covering being examined for splits and failed laps

My garage roof is leaking onto everything

For anyone who has opened the garage door and found drips on the car, the freezer or the tools.

Aged mineral felt surface showing crazing and a split along a joint

The felt on my roof has started to crack

For anyone who has looked at a flat roof and found the surface breaking up like old paint.

Roof window flashing and surrounding tiles inspected on a pitched roof

Water is coming in around my roof window

For anyone with a drip, a stain or a puddle on the sill of a roof window or rooflight.

Loft space with mineral wool insulation between joists being inspected

The insulation in my loft is wet

For anyone who has put their head through the loft hatch and found the quilt dark and heavy.

Dormer cheek and flat top with lead flashing on a pitched roof

My dormer is letting water in somewhere

For anyone with a stain in a loft conversion or a bedroom built into the roof.

Chimney stack with lead flashings on a pitched roof being inspected

The chimney breast is damp inside the house

For anyone with a tide mark on the chimney breast in a bedroom or on a landing.

Natural slate roof with slipped slates and exposed battens

Slates keep slipping off, one after another

For anyone who has picked a third slate off the lawn this year and wondered where it ends.

Small lead covered bay window roof meeting a brick wall abutment

The little roof over my porch keeps leaking

For anyone with damp above a front door or over a bay window.

External brick wall with a dark water stain running down from the eaves

There is a wet streak running down my outside wall

For anyone looking at a green or dark stripe on the brickwork and wondering where it starts.