Warning on Winter Roof Danger
Story by
November 16, 2017
Homeowners are being warned of the dangers of DIY winter roof maintenance as the UK weather takes a turn for the worse.
Professional roofing company JTC Roofing claim autumn is a danger time as the change in season makes aging roofs susceptible to leaks.
Now they have called on the government to make it illegal for homeowners to venture up onto their own roofs without professional help.
Around 100 people die, and hundreds more are injured, every year in the UK after falling from or through a roof and while many victims are construction workers and youngsters, a significant number are home owners trying to affect a repair.
JTC Roofing say that much of the UK’s housing stock consists of properties with aging roofs which are prone to suffering perished slates and tiles.
When mortar and slate fastenings erode over many decades of keeping out the rain they become highly susceptible to water ingress.
But by the time rain water finds its way through ceilings into a family home it can have migrated many metres from the source of the leak.
Now the company has written to Housing Minister Alok Sharma asking for a change to the law to prevent home owners from taking the matter into their own hands. They say that such a law could save dozens of lives every year.
A spokesman for JTC Roofing said: “Climbing on to a roof is one of the most dangerous tasks anyone can undertake.
“Any fall from the roof of a house is likely to result in a serious injury or death so it is vitally important that all homeowners are made aware that they are literally dicing with death when they decide to go up on the roof.
“Call in a roofer who will have all the necessary safety equipment and training. Do not try to DIY when it comes to your roof. “
