The old phrase ‘fix the roof when the sun is shining’ is not always apt. Sometimes the sun can seem very bright on a winter’s day, especially when there is lots of reflective snow lying around.

At this time, a flat roof can be covered in the stuff and with the recent wintry weather hitting the north of England hard, many will wonder what the effects of heavy snow might be on such a roof. There are a couple of real problems to consider.

Firstly, while pitched roofs won’t hold a lot of snow as it slides off, it can pile up and weigh down a flat roof, damaging the structure.

This may not mean collapse, but even small cracks can be a problem, as these may widen through the freeze-thaw effect and also allow more water to seep through, causing rot and other kinds of water damage, including to items stored in the space below.

The weight of snow alone can be made worse by the second issue; when snow melts, it has nowhere to go. The weight of the pooled water is still a problem and can cause sagging, which in turn encourages it all to pool in one area of the roof. If it re-freezes overnight, that adds to the freeze-thaw effect.

Of course, you can take action yourself (or bring in a professional to help) by clearing the snow and ice off the roof, as well as making sure the gutters are cleared to help improve drainage. However, if it is too late to stop the damage you may need work doing.

We are now in the time of year when snow is most likely. For all that people romanticise the idea of a White Christmas, January and February are the snowiest months. That means between now and March is the time to pay the most attention to your flat roof and get some repairs booked if necessary.