Why You Should Get Your Roof Sorted Before Autumn Rain
If you’ve lived in Lincolnshire long enough, you know what autumn means: shorter days, plenty of rain, and a fair bit of wind. Most of us get the garden tidied up before winter, maybe clear out the shed, but the roof? That often gets forgotten. The trouble is, once the rain sets in, even small roof issues can turn into costly problems.
Now is the time to get your roof sorted, not when the weather has already turned. Here’s why.
Moss and Algae Love Damp Weather
Moss is one of those things you barely notice until it’s taken over. It loves damp, shady conditions — which we get plenty of as autumn rolls in. Once the rain comes more often, moss soaks it up like a sponge and keeps your tiles wet for longer.
That extra moisture adds weight to the roof and slowly wears away at the structure beneath. Timber battens can rot, and fragile tiles crack more easily. If we get a frost, the moss freezes and expands, nudging tiles further apart each time.
I saw this first-hand in Woodhall Spa last year. By the time we were called out, moss had taken hold across the whole roof. The gutters were overflowing, water had started trickling down the walls, and the repair bill was climbing. A simple clean in late summer would have prevented the lot.
Gutters Can’t Cope When They’re Blocked
Autumn isn’t just about rain; it’s also about falling leaves. Mix leaves with roof moss, and your gutters don’t stand a chance. Once they’re blocked, rainwater has nowhere to go except down the walls. That means damp patches inside, water stains outside, and in the worst cases, damage to the foundations.
In Lincoln, we revisited a property we’d cleaned a couple of years earlier. This time it was a straightforward maintenance job: clear the gutters and spray the roof with biocide. The whole thing didn’t take long, but it gave the homeowner peace of mind going into winter. Their gutters now run freely, and their roof will stay cleaner for another couple of years.
Prevention Always Costs Less Than Repairs
It’s easy to ignore a roof until something goes wrong. But once you spot a leak, it’s already too late — and usually more expensive than it needed to be. Roof maintenance is one of those classic “spend a little now, save a lot later” jobs.
A customer in Retford put it perfectly after we cleaned their roof last autumn: “I’d rather pay for a proper clean once every few years than a full replacement down the line.” And they’re right. A full roof clean and treatment costs a fraction of what major repairs — or worse, a new roof — would set you back.
Why Pressure Washing Isn’t the Answer
Some people are tempted to blast their roof with a pressure washer. It’s quick, it’s dramatic, and it looks clean straight away. The problem is, pressure washing is brutal on tiles. It can strip away protective layers, crack fragile tiles, and force water underneath the roof. In the long run, it causes more damage than it solves.
At The Moss Man, we do it differently. First, we scrape the moss away by hand so there’s no damage. Then we apply a professional-grade biocide spray that kills off spores and slows regrowth. It’s the safe way to clean, and it actually lasts longer.
A job in Skegness last October is a good example. The customer was thinking about hiring someone with a jet washer. We explained the risks and instead used our scrape-and-treat method. The result? A roof that looked great, stayed cleaner for longer, and hadn’t been damaged in the process.
A Roof That Lasts Longer
Getting your roof sorted before autumn rain isn’t just about appearances. It’s about protecting one of the most expensive parts of your home. Roofs aren’t cheap, but a little care here and there makes a huge difference.
Manufacturers recommend a roof inspection at least twice a year, and autumn is the perfect time. A quick clean and treatment now will keep moss under control, extend the life of your tiles, and save you from nasty surprises when winter weather hits hardest.
Don’t Leave It Too Late
So, why get your roof sorted before autumn rain? Because moss, algae, and blocked gutters don’t wait. By acting now, you’ll head into winter with a roof that’s clean, protected, and ready for whatever the weather throws at it.
If you’re in Lincoln, Louth, Skegness, Retford or anywhere across Lincolnshire, we can help. Book your free quote today at www.themossman.co.uk and give your roof the care it needs before the rain really starts.