Winter is when a roof is tested hardest. Driving rain, frost, gales rolling in off the South Downs, and the constant damp of a Surrey or Hampshire winter all find the weak spots a roof gets away with hiding in summer. A little preparation in autumn saves a lot of stress — and money — when the weather turns. This checklist walks you through what to look at before the cold sets in, and what to leave to a professional.

Why Winter Prep Matters in Surrey & Hampshire

Our part of the country combines mature tree cover with a damp, mild climate — perfect conditions for moss, blocked gutters, and slow-developing leaks. Many homes around Guildford, Woking and Epsom are tile-hung Victorian and Edwardian properties with original clay tiles or natural slate. These age beautifully, but their fixings and flashings need watching. A small fault that lets water in during a November downpour can freeze, expand, and turn into a much bigger repair by February.

The good news: most winter roof failures are predictable. They start with a blocked gutter, a slipped tile, or tired lead flashing — all things you can spot early.

The Ground-Level Checklist (Safe to Do Yourself)

You should never climb onto a roof or balance a ladder against guttering. Almost everything useful can be checked from the ground with a pair of binoculars.

  • Scan the roof slopes: Look for slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates. Gaps and dark patches where a tile has moved are the most common winter leak source.
  • Check the ridge line: The ridge tiles along the top should sit straight and even. A dip, a wave, or visibly loose mortar between them needs attention before high winds arrive.
  • Look at the chimney: Crumbling mortar, leaning stacks, and dark staining around the base point to failing pointing or lead flashing — the single most common cause of leaks we see.
  • Inspect fascias and soffits: Peeling paint, soft timber, or staining suggests water is already getting behind the gutter line.
  • Assess moss coverage: A green, spongy covering — common on north-facing and tree-shaded roofs across Surrey — traps moisture against tiles and blocks drainage channels.

Clear Your Gutters Before the Rain Does It for You

Blocked gutters are behind a huge share of the winter callouts we attend. Leaves from the area's heavy tree cover collect through autumn, and once a gutter overflows, water runs down the wall, soaks into the fascia, and can track back under the lowest course of tiles.

If you have a single-storey extension you can safely reach with a stable ladder and a helper footing it, clearing debris by hand is reasonable. For two-storey homes, or anything near power lines, leave it to a professional. Our guttering team can clear, realign and seal the whole run, and check the downpipes are flowing freely while they're up there.

Deal With Moss the Right Way

Moss is more than cosmetic. As it grows it lifts the edges of tiles and slates, holds water against the surface, and accelerates frost damage when that trapped moisture freezes. Pressure-washing it off yourself is a false economy — high-pressure water strips the protective surface of tiles and forces water under them.

Professional roof cleaning uses soft-wash methods and biocide treatments that kill the moss at the root without damaging the covering. It is best done in autumn so the roof goes into winter clear and draining properly.

Check Inside the Loft

Your loft is the early-warning system. On a bright day, head up and look for pinpoints of daylight through the boards — a sign of slipped or missing tiles. Then look for damp patches, water stains on the timbers, or a musty smell, all of which point to a leak that has not yet shown on your ceilings. While you are there, make sure insulation is dry and hasn't been pushed away from the eaves, which causes cold spots and condensation.

Don't Forget Flat Roofs

If you have a flat roof over an extension, garage or dormer, winter is when older felt and ageing coverings give up. Check for ponding water that never drains, blistering, splits, or lifted edges. A flat roof that is already tired will not survive a hard frost well. Our flat roofing team can advise whether a repair will see it through or whether replacement is the sensible call.

Your Winter Roof Checklist at a Glance

  • Scan slopes and ridge for slipped, cracked or missing tiles
  • Check chimney pointing and lead flashing for cracks and staining
  • Clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris
  • Treat moss professionally before the first frost
  • Inspect the loft for daylight, damp and displaced insulation
  • Check flat roofs for ponding, splits and lifted edges

When to Call a Professional

If you spot any of these warning signs — or you simply want peace of mind before winter — the safest move is a professional inspection. As Surrey & Hampshire roofers with over 10 years of experience, we provide free, no-obligation roof checks across Camberley, Guildford, Woking, Basingstoke, Eastleigh and Epsom. We photograph anything we find, explain it in plain English, and give you an honest quote with no deposit required. Every job we carry out is covered by our 10-year insurance-backed guarantee and £2M public liability cover.

If something fails mid-winter, we also run a 24/7 emergency line. Call us on 07470 744247 or message us on WhatsApp for a free quote — whether you need a quick winter once-over or an urgent repair.