Moss looks soft and harmless, but it traps water against your roof. Over time that moisture can shorten the life of shingles, cause leaks, and overload gutters. Moss grows fastest on cool, shaded, damp roof areas, especially under trees and on north-facing slopes. That’s why you often see the worst build-up beneath big evergreens and on the north side of a house. Before you start: safety first Roofs are slippery when wet and even more so where moss grows. Use basic fall-preve

Flat roofs are a popular choice for modern homes and extensions, especially when adding roof lanterns or skylights. A well-built flat roof provides a clean, contemporary look, allows for good insulation, and can last for decades with proper construction and maintenance. This article explains how a professional team sets out, assembles, and finishes the structural timber framework of a flat roof — including joists, noggins, upstands, and furring strips — and how everything w

Flat roofs are practical and durable, but when the drain fails, you’ll know it fast — puddles form, leaks appear inside, and water doesn’t flow where it should. Most of the time, it’s because the old drain cracked, pulled loose, or wasn’t installed right in the first place. The process shown here uses a cast-iron drain on a modified bitumen roof , but the same steps apply to most flat roofs. Understanding the Problem The original roof in this project had a PVC drain that fa