What to check from inside the house
- Marks, stains or peeling paint on ceilings, especially in the corners.
- Damp patches near the top of walls.
- Marks left from last year's rain: these show where the water came in.
What a mistri should look at on the roof
- Cracks and open joints, and the edges where the roof meets the wall.
- Old coating that has cracked, bubbled or lifted.
- Outlets and drain pipes: they must be clear of leaves, dust and rubbish.
- Places where water stands after the roof is washed.
Timing and safety
Coatings and sheets need a dry roof and some dry days to set, so book the work well before the rains, not when water is already coming in. Please do not climb onto the roof yourself to clear it in bad weather, at night, or near an edge without a wall, and stay away from wires that pass close to the roof. A trained mistri should do roof work.