Weather Warning: The Importance of High Quality Roofing

In response to the sudden cold weather and snow warnings, managing director of PermaRoof, part of PermaGroup, Adrian Buttress has shared his thoughts on how to prepare roofs against potential weather damage, and why it’s so crucial for long-term cost-effectiveness.

WITH 40cm of snow expected across parts of the UK and significant disruption likely, it’s never been more important to protect roofs against the effects of harsh weather, according to leading roofing firm, PermaRoof UK. With yellow weather warnings issued and the Met Office predicting temperatures could fall as low as -15C, the situation could cause major issues for people across the country who haven’t equipped their buildings – both commercial and residential – for the extreme conditions.

Adrian Buttress, managing director of PermaRoof UK, part of PermaGroup, said: “When considering the impacts of severe weather, people’s first thoughts are for the roads and railways but roofing is an essential part of infrastructure that can often be forgotten.

“The first issue to consider is the weight of the snow on the roof. While we don’t often get enough snow in the UK to cause concerns regarding weight, it’s always good to be prepared and ensure your roof won’t buckle under pressure. Additionally, the snow itself can be harmless to flat roofs but the concentrated volume of water that comes once it has melted does pose issues.

“If not correctly waterproofed, or poor-quality products have been used at the installation phase, water ingress, sagging and even complete failure can occur, depending on the state of the roof. “While it’s not possible to fully eradicate the risk of damage, particularly when we’re experiencing such extreme weather, there are several factors that can help to minimise the likelihood of serious damage, like we’re expecting to see in the coming days.

“At a time when cost is at the forefront of people’s minds, it’s important to understand that a higher upfront cost is likely to save money in the long run, as it all but eradicates the risk of premature failure, which is crucially important during ever-changing weather like snowstorms when our roofs are put under more pressure than ever.

“Investing in high-quality products ensures you’re investing in a warranty – covering your roof for its expected lifespan. It also means that, should any issues arise, the parts are trackable and can be reviewed and replaced by an equally high-quality product that works within the full system.

“It’s not just snow that people need to be aware of either. Heavy rain or flooding, extreme cold snaps and even dramatic heat waves can all cause premature ageing of a roof and other challenges.

“We always say that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and, for anyone concerned about how their roof is going to fare against the unpredictable weather, it’s always worth seeking specialist advice. A simple roof survey will be able to identify any weaknesses or issues hiding below the surface that may be able to be rectified before a failure takes place.”

About PermaGroup

PermaGroup sources the very best in innovative products that provide permanent solutions to age-old problems. Operating from its head office in Derbyshire, PermaGroup originally began trading in 1999 as a felt roof company, before setting up PermaRoof UK – one of the largest importers and distributors of the revolutionary Elevate RubberCover and single ply EPDM rubber roofing systems.

Since then, the company has expanded into a growing group of brands all operating under the PermaGroup umbrella – including high-quality artificial grass via PermaLawn, maintenance-free metal fencing solution PermaFence, cost-effective steel-framed buildings through PermaRoom, and The Skylight Company.

PermaGroup has established links with some of the biggest names in our industry thanks to our reputation of excellence. Read more about becoming a supplier or stockist here.