A roof that gets through the year fine can still fail under the specific stresses of winter: driving rain, high winds and freezing temperatures all put pressure on weak points that never showed themselves in calmer weather. A pre-winter check catches those weak points while they are still cheap and easy to fix.
This guide sets out a practical inspection list for before winter arrives, what a professional check adds over a DIY look from the ground, and what it typically costs.
What to Look For From the Ground
Start with a walk around the property looking up at the roofline: any tiles or slates that look slipped, cracked or missing, moss build-up that has thickened noticeably, and gutters that look sagging, overflowing, or pulling away from the fascia. Binoculars help spot detail that is hard to judge from directly below.
Check downpipes are securely fixed and not cracked, and look for any damp staining on external walls below the gutter line, which usually indicates a leak at that specific point even if the rest of the guttering looks fine.
What a Professional Check Adds
A pole camera inspection gives a much closer, clearer view of gutters, valleys and roof edges than is possible from the ground, picking up early moss growth, cracked joints, or debris build-up before it becomes a blockage. This kind of inspection can be paired with the gutter clear itself, so the same visit both checks and fixes any issues found.
For roofs with a lot of moss, a professional can advise honestly on whether treatment is needed now or can reasonably wait, since not every mossy roof is in urgent need of attention, and unnecessary treatment is a cost worth avoiding if the moss is still light.
The Priority Order
Gutters and downpipes come first, since a blocked or damaged drainage system is the fastest route to winter water damage. Roof tiles and moss come next, since loose tiles are a wind risk and heavy moss holds water against the roof surface. Render and brickwork checks matter too, since cracks or failed pointing let water in more readily during driving winter rain.
None of this needs to be expensive if caught early. Most pre-winter problems are cheap fixes; it is the ones left unnoticed through a whole winter of storms that turn into expensive repairs.
Typical Costs
A gutter clear and check for a semi-detached house typically runs £60 to £120, with a pole camera inspection often included as standard rather than charged separately. If moss removal is needed on the roof itself, that is a separate job, typically £400 to £1,200+ depending on size and method.
Booking a pre-winter check in September or October, ahead of the seasonal rush, usually secures a better appointment slot than waiting until the first storm has already caused a problem.
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