Water is showing on a ceiling
Think about the weather and check the loft for fresh damp if there is safe access.
Roof repairs and common roof faults in Blackpool
Roof Repairs in Blackpool
Roof leaks are not always where they first appear. Water can get under a slate, around a chimney or behind a roof edge, then travel some distance before showing up on the ceiling below. Blackpool homes also take a fair amount of wind-driven rain, so a roof that stays dry in ordinary rain may leak when the weather comes from the wrong direction.
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What has happened?
A slate or tile has moved
If only one slate or tile has moved, the fault may be local. If several have shifted, the old fixings may be starting to fail.
The chimney area is damp
The lead flashing, the mortar joints and the chimney stack itself all need to be looked at.
A gutter is overflowing
Watch the water during rain and follow it towards the outlet.
A flat roof is leaking
Start by checking the edges, the outlet and the place where the flat roof meets the wall.
The roof only leaks in strong wind
If the leak only appears when the wind blows from one direction, mention that. It can help show which side of the roof is taking the rain.
Older Blackpool roofs often combine slate, bays and long terraces
Blackpool Council's Foxhall guidance describes dense terraced streets where brick and slate are a strong part of the character. The council's town-centre conservation guidance also records that many older roofs were originally laid in Welsh slate and that a good number still retain it.
On older Blackpool terraces, a slipped Welsh slate can sometimes be re-fixed rather than replaced. Bay roofs and chimney flashings need a different approach because small splits or failed joints can let water travel into front rooms even when the main roof slope is sound.
Other roof problems found on Blackpool homes
Coastal exposure
On exposed roofs, metal fixings and roof edges can wear more quickly than they do in sheltered areas.
Foxhall terraces
Older brick-and-slate terraces often have bay windows, several chimney stacks and long roof slopes running across more than one house.
Town-centre roofs
Many older buildings still have Welsh slate roofs and traditional details around chimneys, gutters and roof edges.
Roof repair costs
A cheap slate or tile can still lead to an expensive repair if the roof is difficult to reach.
Before buying
Look for fresh damp in the loft, areas that have been patched several times and roof parts that would be difficult to reach for repairs.
Roof inspection
A few checks from the ground and, where there is safe access, from the loft can show whether anything has moved or started leaking.