As winter challenges continue, we're facing an increase in storm damage and roof deterioration caused by poorly maintained trees. In our webinar Preparing your property for winter, hosted by Clear, Home Repair Network and Envirotrees UK, we shared insight and real-world examples to help you stay ahead of seasonal risks, with a focus areas such as flat roof inspections and tree risk management.
Is your flat roof suitable for winter?
When it comes to owning and managing a property, maintenance is essential and can help reduce the likelihood of damage and risks. In the case of roofs, it’s important to understand the possible seasonal issues which may arise, and their impact depending on the material or angle of your roof.
For example when it comes to flat roofing, the specialists at Home Repair Network note that a flat felt roof has an average lifespan of 10-12 years, and will crack and blister over a period of time.
Once water penetrates through the cracked felt, the boards beneath will start to sag allowing the water to pool on the flat roof rather than drain away effectively. Heavy coverings of moss or debris can also impede water flowing to the guttering system.
What should be inspected, and when?
As per Home Repair Network’s guidance, spring/early summer is the best time of year to carry out a roof survey to allow any recommended works to be undertaken before the winter period. It’s also important to check for any physical disturbance following major storms.
What to look for:
• Cracks, blisters, or punctures to flat roofs
• Clogged drains and gutters
• Pooling water on flat roof
• Signs of sagging or structural stress
• Missing Mortar to verges, chimneys and beneath ridge tiles
• Rot to timbers such as soffits and fascias.
Why are inspections important?
In short, inspections can help support insurance renewals and the defensibility of a claim. During our webinar, the Home Repair Network’s specialists expressed how inspections evidence a proactive approach to property management, meaning any building defects are identified early meaning a claim will be less likely. The impact of this can be lower insurance premiums and lower policy excesses.
Similarly, regular inspections help demonstrate to the insurer that the damage has occurred as a result of the reported event. On all risk policies the onus is on the insurer to evidence an exclusion and due to the aforementioned risks associated with flat roofs, many policies carry specific subjectivities noting the policyholders’ requirement to inspect at defined intervals. Therefore nonadherence to such a policy condition could result in a declined claim.
Flat roofs and tree risk management
Depending on the location of a property and its surroundings, the lifespan of a roof can be determined by the maintenance of nearby trees. In the midst of a major storm, overhanging branches could break off and damage a roof, while in more severe instances trees can be uprooted by harsh weather and pose an even greater risk to the property overall.
As noted by the specialists of Envirotrees UK, property owners must ensure their trees do not pose a threat. Early awareness and intervention of issues can help reduce tree related claims and avoid costly remediation.
What should you look out for?
Alongside threats like overhanging branches/limbs, it’s vital to keep an eye out for the following:
· Building distortion, such as cracks, caused by tree roots
· Residue such as seeds and fruit
· Diseased trees
· Dead and dying trees
· Structural defects in the tree, such as cracks and splits
· A lean (especially if the tree did not lean before)
· Signs of damage caused by a previous storm
Again, some policies may carry a specific ‘tree maintenance condition’ making it a requirement of cover for policyholders’ to inspect, prune and pollard nearby trees as appropriate in order to ensure that cover remains operative in the event of a loss. As such, it is imperative that you understand your policy conditions, have good maintenance regimes in place and ensure that any and all requirements are carried out in line with Insurers’ stipulations to avoid a potential claim being denied further down the line.
Want to know more?
For more information on property risks, flat roof inspection, tree risk management, or to review what was covered in our webinar, refer to the resources below.
Clear Real Estate
Clear – Tree Risk Management Support
Preparing your property for winter - webinar
Home Repair Network
Envirotrees UK
