Getting Your Roof Ready for a Scottish Winter

Scottish winters are hard on roofs — wind, driving rain, frost and the odd bit of snow. A little care in autumn saves a lot of trouble later. Here is a simple checklist.

Autumn roof checklist

• Clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and moss so water drains freely.
• Look for slipped or missing tiles and cracked ridge or flashing.
• Check the loft for daylight or damp after heavy rain.
• Trim back overhanging branches that could come down in a gale.
• Check the chimney pointing and flashing.

Why it matters

Most winter roof emergencies start as small, fixable problems in autumn — a slipped tile or a blocked gutter. Sorting them before the storms arrive is far cheaper and less stressful than a leak in January.

Not confident checking yourself?

A quick professional survey spots the things that are easy to miss and gives you peace of mind for the winter.