Pontefract winters bring wind-driven rain, frosts and the odd freeze–thaw cycle. Exactly the conditions that expose weak spots in a roof. A small crack in September or October can become a drip by November and a ceiling stain by Christmas.
Here’s how to keep the weather where it belongs… outside.
Start with a look, not a ladder
Unless you’ve spotted something obvious (like a slipped tile, a damp patch or a rattly ridge), the first step is an inspection. Ideally, call in a professional. We’ll do the height work; you keep your feet on the ground.
What a proper check includes:
- Tiles/slates, ridge and hip lines, verges and valleys.
- Lead flashings around chimneys, dormers and abutments.
- Gutters and downpipes (we’ll look for sags, blockages and loose brackets).
- Flat roofs for ponding and split seams.
- A quick peek in the loft for red flags like daylight where it shouldn’t be, blocked ventilation and any tell-tale condensation.
From that, you get plain-English notes and a simple plan. Then we book the work before autumn beds in, and well before winter tries its luck.
Small fixes that stop big leaks
1. Clear the gutters and valleys
Pontefract’s leaf-drop can turn a good gutter into a water feature. When downpipes choke, water backs up under the first course of tiles. Clearing takes minutes. Drying out eaves takes weeks. We’ll re-clip any sections pulling off the fascia and fit leaf guards where they make sense.
2. Secure ridges, hips and verges
Wind goes for the high points first. Re-bed any loose lengths or (better yet) upgrade to a dry ridge/hip system. They’re mechanically fixed, tidy and far less faff than mortar.
3. Sort the flashings
Most “mystery” leaks are failed lead. If it’s split, lifted or cut short, water will find it. We’ll dress or replace it properly, repoint where needed, and make sure trays and soakers actually do their job.
4. Replace cracked or slipped tiles/slates
One gap is all water needs to track onto felt and into the loft. We’ll swap the offenders and check the underlay beneath.
5. Flat roof once-over
Cold makes old felt brittle. We’ll look for ponding, blisters and split laps, clear outlets, and talk options if it’s at end-of-life.
A quick word about the loft
Good insulation is great. Smothered vents aren’t. We’ll make sure eaves vents are clear, add discreet tile or ridge ventilation if winter condensation’s a theme, and lag tanks and pipes so they don’t sweat or freeze.
What to DIY (safely) vs what to leave to the pros
You can do a surprising amount from the ground or inside the loft. Think prevention, not peril. Here are some easy wins you can do yourself to prevent your roof from leaking as temperatures drop:
Your 2-minute ground check (after rain or wind)
From the pavement or an upstairs window (or with binoculars/phone zoom), look for:
- Fresh gaps in the roofline or a wavy ridge
- Overflowing or sagging gutters and hoppers
- Debris collecting in valleys
- New ceiling stains (especially under chimneys and valleys)
Keep gutters honest
In leaf-fall season, gutters fill faster than a packet of Pontefract cakes disappears at tea time. Keep yours clean and:
- Scoop leaves from accessible ground-floor gutters with a telescopic gutter brush.
- Flush downpipes from the top with a watering can if they’re reachable from a window. Check that water exits freely at the shoe.
- Re-seat loose downpipe clips you can reach from ground level. Note any broken sections for a pro.
Loft once-over (quarterly)
Lay a scrap board across joists. Pro tip: Bring a head torch and keep to the timbers. Once you’re up there, look for: dark patches on felt, beads on nail tips (“nail-drip”), damp insulation or daylight where it shouldn’t be.
- Make sure insulation isn’t blocking eaves vents. If it is, pull it back an inch to let air move.
- Check bathroom/kitchen extract ducts. They should vent outside, not into the loft.
- Pop lids on water tanks, lag any bare pipes and check for slow weeps.
- Drop in a £10 hygrometer. Aim for 40–60% RH. Persistent 70%+ suggests poor ventilation.
Tidy the roofline zone
- Trim small, reachable branches that touch the roof or dump leaves into gutters.
- Clear ground drains and gully grates so water has somewhere to go.
- Inside, outline any ceiling mark with pencil and date it. You’ll quickly see if it’s growing.
Make a mini roof file
- Take time-stamped phone photos of checks/changes.
- Keep invoices and notes in one place so a roofer can hit the ground running.
- Safety note: If you’re not totally comfortable, stop. None of the above should require walking on a roof or leaning out dangerously.
“Maybe” tasks (only if you’re confident and not at height)
- Snap-in leaf guards on short, ground-floor gutter runs you can reach from a sturdy step with someone footing it.
- Swapping a downpipe shoe or reconnecting a push-fit joint at ground level.
If it means a tall ladder, awkward reach or working near a drop: it’s a no.
Leave these to the pros (always)
- Anything on the roof surface. We’re talking tiles and slates, ridges, hips and verges, valleys, and anything else at height.
- Lead flashings and chimney work (including repointing).
- Flat-roof membranes and upstands.
- Skylights, solar mounts, satellite fixings.
- Dry-ridge/hip upgrades and mortar re-bedding.
Never try to replace a tile yourself, try your hand at mortaring at height or “just silicone the flashing” around the skylight. That last one keeps us (and possibly the emergency department) busy for all the wrong reasons.
Ready when you are
Whether you’ve spotted a red flag or just want peace of mind before the weather turns, an inspection is a great place to start. We’ll get up there, take a look and return to ground level with a simple action plan. Getting your inspection done in September means there’s plenty of time to schedule any fixes before the cold sets in.
Planning to sell in the spring or summer? An inspection is a great way to arm yourself with knowledge (or potentially a brand new roof) when it comes to the negotiation stage.
Ready to get ahead of the weather? Book your inspection today with DPR Roofing Pontefract and we’ll take it from there.