What to do, and when

Look in the attic after heavy weather

The attic shows a leak long before the ceiling does. After any serious storm, take a torch up and look at the underside of the deck around penetrations and valleys.

Cut back anything touching the roof

Branches abrade the surface in wind and drop debris that holds moisture. Keep growth well clear of the covering, and clear of the gutters while you are at it.

Deal with growth properly

Cleaning a roof aggressively does more damage than the growth was doing. Gentle treatment, patience, and a strip at the ridge to stop it returning.

Keep the penetrations honest

Rubber pipe boots are the single most common source of leaks on an otherwise sound roof, and they are cheap to replace before they fail.

Clear the gutters before the wet season

Gutters full of grit are not just a drainage problem — the grit is your roof, and its presence tells you something about how far along the covering is.

Twice a year, from the ground

Walk the perimeter with binoculars if you have them. You are looking for missing or lifted material, dark patches, sagging lines, and anything growing where it should not be. Ten minutes, twice a year.

In short

Put two dates in the calendar, one either side of November through March. That is the whole programme.