How to spot the warning signs before a failing roof becomes an emergency, from the team at Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd.
By Max, Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd | April 2026
Surrey's climate is tough on roofs. Wet winters, occasional storms and temperature swings all take their toll. Knowing when to repair and when to replace can save you thousands. Here are the seven signs we most commonly see on Surrey properties that indicate a roof is approaching end-of-life.
Most concrete tile roofs have a serviceable life of 30-40 years. Clay tile roofs can last longer, but the felt underlayer beneath typically fails after 25-30 years regardless of the tile condition. If your roof is approaching or past this age, a full inspection is wise.
A few slipped or cracked tiles is normal wear. But if you're getting multiple tile failures in quick succession, it often indicates the entire roof is deteriorating because the substrate beneath has failed, causing tiles to move and break.
If we've repaired the same roof multiple times and it keeps leaking, the underlying felt or batten structure has likely failed. At this point, patch repairs become false economy.
If you can see daylight through the roof from inside your loft, you have gaps that are allowing water ingress. This is a clear sign of structural failure requiring immediate attention.
Any visible sagging, dipping or distortion of the roofline indicates structural timber failure, which is potentially serious and requires urgent professional assessment.
While surface moss can be treated, extensive growth penetrating between tiles indicates the roof covering has deteriorated significantly, allowing moisture retention that accelerates further damage.
If leadwork around chimneys, valleys and abutments is cracking or lifting repeatedly, it may indicate the roof structure is moving due to batten or rafter deterioration beneath.