Why is my chimney leaking and what can I do to stop it?

Have you got a chimney that’s leaking, or think it could be bringing damp into your home? Chimneys leaking is a very common issue for many homeowners and can cause serious issues if left untreated.

What can cause a chimney to leak?

In the past many homes were built when an open fire or log burners were often the only way to heat a home, and chimneys were a necessity to vent smoke from the home. Eventually gas fires became popular and similarly needed a chimney to vent the gas fire away from the home.

In the modern day, most people now have electric fires in their home and many chimneys are now going unused and forgotten about. These forgotten chimneys that are no longer in service anymore tend to be left open at the top and when they’re not being used or heated up, this can cause them to get damp. The open chimney can also be exposed to unwanted blockages which can cause further damp and leaks such as birds nesting.

What can be done to stop a chimney leaking?

Thankfully when it comes to stopping a chimney to leak or get blocked, the answer is simple, just cover over the exit of the chimney on the roof.

You can do this by installing a cowl on top of the chimney pot to prevent as range of issues such as birds nesting, water ingress but it also helps to ventilate the stack.

Send in the professionals!

If you have a chimney that is leaking and would like to have a professional roofer assess and install a chimney cowl, Kidderminster Roofing Contracts ltd can help! We can offer a free, no obligation quotation for any roof concern you have.

Tel: 01562 748270
Email: office@kidderminsterroofing.com
Or drop us a message on Facebook!

Are bird droppings damaging my roof?

Just like a clean car, it is impossible to prevent birds from pooing on your rooftop, and simply something we all need to expect. What might be surprising is that bird poo can be quite damaging to roofing materials if left untreated.

This blog aims to explore just how damaging bird poo can be to your roof, as well as ways to prevent and remove bird poo in the future to protect your roof.

How does bird poo damage a roof?

There are two ways bird poo can damage your roof, through direct contact as well as blocked gutters.

Direct material damage – Bird poo can damage a roof by attacking the surface of materials such as the tiles with direct contact through Ulric Acid. As all birds do not urinate, all bird droppings contain uric acid which is a biproduct as their bodies try and remove any nitrogenous waste from their body. This means their poo appears as am acidic white liquid, which if left alone can begin to erode most surfaces such as concrete, paint, and even roofing materials such as tiles, slates, and plastics.

Blocked gutters and drainage issues – Not only can bird poo directly damage materials, however secondary waste such as seeds which have passed through the bird into their poo can be left in gutters and begin to grow, causing gutters to become blocked with self-seeding vegetation. Bird waste can also build up and re-route roof drainage causing leaks.

How can I prevent bird pooing on my roof?

Trim overhanging trees – If you have any overhanging trees on your property, it is likely birds will be sitting in the branches and their dropping are landing on your roof. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to get a professional tree surgeon to cut back any overhanging branches to prevent birds sitting above your rooftop

Put up bird deterrents – Most birds will learn to avoid the area when they hear the sounds of other birds they want to avoid.

Put up bird houses – If you find that birds are nesting in your roof which is causing a build up of bird waste on your roof, the best thing to do is to put alternative homes around your garden to encourage the birds to nest elsewhere next year.

How can I remove bird poo from my roof?

Wash with a hose – You can remove bird waste from your roof using a powerful garden hose. It is recommended that you avoid a pressure washer as these can damage your tiles more so than the bird poo itself.

Send in the professionals! – Alternatively you could call in a professional to inspect the damage caused to your roof and clean it with minimal damage.

If you are concerned about bird droppings on your roof and would like a professional to take a look at any potential damage, Kidderminster Roofing Contracts ltd can help! We can offer a free, no obligation quotation for any roof concern you have.

Tel: 01562 748270
Email: office@kidderminsterroofing.com
Or drop us a message on Facebook!

Birds Nesting In Roof Eaves

A common question we are asked at Kidderminster Roofing Contracts ltd, is how to stop birds nesting in roof eaves on a house. Customers often complain about noisy birds in their roof eaves and ask if they can remove the nests.

The fact is that it is illegal to remove nesting birds once they have settled, however there are ways to prevent birds nesting in roof eaves the following year, provided the correct work is done during the months that birds are no longer nesting.

We aim to explore why birds may nest in your roof eave as well as explore different ways your might prevent birds from nesting in your roof eaves in the future.

Why do birds nest in roof eaves

According to the RSPB rooftops are vital sanctuaries for a lot of birds due to the loss of a lot of natural nest sites.

Birds that commonly nest on rooftops include:

House Sparrows.
Starlings.
Swifts.
Swallows.
Blue tits/Great Tits.
Jackdaws.

Why nests cannot be disturbed or removed

It is illegal to disturb or remove nesting birds from roof eaves once they have settled under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. This includes removing or blocking a nest’s access. Nests must be left with access until the young have had chance to develop and leave the nest.

The reason for this is conservation. The RSPB have identified many of these rooftop nesting birds are in decline. Swifts have declined with Starlings and House Sparrows now red listed, and House Martins and Swallows now amber listed.

When will I be able to have work done on my roof?

If you require work to be done on your roof that would risk disturbing a bird’s nest, you will have to wait to have the work done in the winter months when birds are no longer nesting (ideally between October and February).

This may be frustrating for both yourself and the client, however legally it is the correct thing to do.

What if I don’t have a choice?

You should always avoid roofing project if you are aware of birds nesting in a roof, however often, bird nests go undetected until major roofing projects or renovation projects begin.

If this happens and the roof cannot go untouched until the young have left the nest, one option recommended by the RSPB is to make an artificial nest box for Starlings or Sparrows by cutting a four-litre ice cream tub.

See the RSPB website for advice on building an artificial nest box.

Ways to discourage birds nesting in roof eaves

There are many recommendations you can help prevent birds nesting in your roof eaves in the future, such as:

Keeping on top of roof maintenance, ensuring to have your roof checked each winter by a professional roofer, (between October and February), ensuring to clean out and seal any holes or gaps as appropriate, to reduce the risk of birds entering to nest or becoming trapped.
Putting out bird houses, providing alternative nesting spaces for birds. By placing bird houses around your garden, you can create safe spaces for birds to nest year after year.

Get in the professional
Need professional advice to help prevent birds nesting in your roof? Here at Kidderminster Roofing Contracts ltd, we can provide a free no obligation quotation for any roof maintenance, repair or re-roof request. Contact us today to see how we can help with you!
Tel: 01562 748270
Email: office@kidderminsterroofing.com
Or drop us a message on Facebook!