We’ve already been visited this autumn by Agnes, Babet, Ciaran and Debi, and no doubt they’ll be bringing along plenty of their friends soon. So you need to be ready for them.
I’m talking about this year’s storms, of course. They’ve done plenty of very visible damage, but they can have less-obvious effects — and even normal autumn weather can cause problems, too.
With leaves falling anyway, the wind is likely to be blowing them into your gutters and downpipes. And if the winds are strong, twigs and other debris can end up blocking your guttering, too.
This is a problem because it prevents your gutters and downpipes from doing their job — directing the rain that falls on your roof safely down into the drains. If the guttering is blocked, the water will either pool on your roof or spill over onto the ground below.
The first of these can result in water getting into the roofspace, causing damage and resulting in mould or mildew growing — both health hazards. In the second case, the water can get into the foundations and damage them, or even cause flooding in your home.
And the worst is that, if you have to make an insurance claim for the damage done as a result of blocked guttering, the insurer’s loss adjuster could refuse your claim on the grounds of negligence.
Take Care of Your Roof
You need to get your gutters and downpipes repaired and cleared — if possible, before the next storm hits us. If you’re confident about working on a ladder, you can simply brush the debris out of the gutters, but rodding the downpipes is a more substantial job and may need a professional. And, while you’re doing all this, don’t forget to inspect the guttering for any damage.
That isn’t the only part of the roof, though, that the loss adjuster will expect you to maintain. If you have a pitched roof, check at the same time as you’re doing the guttering whether any of the tiles or slates are broken or missing. A flat roof can develop tears, and all these types of damage can let the water in. For any of these, you’ll need to get a professional roofer in to repair them.
Safeguarding your guttering and other aspects of your roof will ensure that it can do its job of protecting you through the winter. If you need to make an insurance claim, though, you’ll need evidence that you’ve maintained it properly, so keep fully itemised receipts and have someone take photos of any work you do yourself.
Then Allied Claims can make sure you get everything you’re entitled to from your claim.
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