Have you ever walked in to your home and felt a headache coming on, or rushing to open the windows?
It’s natural to think of polluting cars and air pollution outside your home, but could it be something inside your home?
Take a good look around your living room and bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. What do you see and smell that could be affecting your health?
If a mould and moisture problem goes unaddressed long enough, structural damage is likely to result, and one of the most important and most overlooked places is your roof.
The roof over your head, your “hat” so to speak, protects your building from any kind of weather. If a roof is allowed to leak long enough, water ingress and damage potentially weakens ceilings, walls and floors by keeping building materials damp and potentially feeds mould.
Routine inspections of roofing should be carried out at least twice a year. If your roof is flat, surrounded by overhanging trees or is older, more frequent inspections are advised.
Ask someone – either a qualified roofer, or someone who knows the roof well, to carry out the inspection on a dry day, being mindful to wear good non slip shoes and not to damage the surface.
How to inspect your roof for damage
- Remove accumulated leaves and twigs.
- Check for holes or splits in the surface.
- Check joins and laps are intact.
- Check the edges and roof flashings are in place and not torn or damaged.
- Check gutters and drains are clear of debris, rusting, holes or signs of algae.
- If water can be seen pooling after rain, note where it is (water can track under failed joints and bubble under surfaces).
- Check for any corresponding damp areas on the eaves outside and ceilings inside.
- Check the roof cavity area by going in via the man hole.
- Check supports and insulation for dampness, odours, water marks.
- Check for rodent and pest occupation. If present call a pest professional for further assessment.
When mould is suspected, call in a Building Biologist to investigate. If it is causing damage to the structural integrity of the building, a structural engineer with relevant expertise should be consulted.
How often do you inspect your roof? Answer in the comments below!
Towards healthier living Carol Parr ♥
Our passion comes from pure necessity that we can all live natural and healthy lives, we can all contribute to human wellbeing and preservation and determine the future health of our children and their environment tomorrow.
As a result of working with us, families thrive, sensitive occupants heal. They’re healthier, they’re alert, they’re happier, more relaxed, more productive, and enjoying life.
Together we bring about healthy indoor environments and create rooms that provide calmness, healthy sleep, relaxation and restored energy for you and your family.
By maintaining indoor spaces to close as possible more natural conditions, occupants are healthy and happy, it’s nice that it sustains our planet’s ecology, you’d agree.
