Townsville’s wet season, from November to April, puts your roof through a lot, with heavy rain, strong winds, and cyclones all taking their toll. A little preparation before the season starts can help you catch small problems early and avoid bigger headaches when the wild weather hits.
Most cyclone roof damage starts at the screws and straps holding the sheets down, so that’s where this checklist starts. Each item covers what you can check yourself and when you need a roof plumber.
TL;DR
- Check roof screws and fixings: Look for cracked rubber washers, rust around screw heads, and signs of loose fixings that could let rainwater in.
- Inspect the roof space: Use a torch to check for rust, water stains, damp timber, termite damage, and daylight coming through roof gaps.
- Check flashings and penetrations: Look for cracked sealant, damaged rubber, rust, or loose flashing around pipes, vents, skylights, and solar mounts.
- Check roof attachments: Look for corroded brackets, loose mounting rails, and damaged straps on solar panels, hot water systems, air conditioners, and antennas.
- Wash salt from sheltered roof areas: Gently rinse accessible eaves, fascia, and areas behind solar panels every three months near the coast or every six months further inland.
- Trim overhanging branches: Look for heavy or rubbing branches and leaf-filled gutters. Trim only branches you can safely reach from the ground, and leave high branches to an arborist.
- Keep maintenance records: Take dated photos of roof issues, keep repair invoices, and ask professionals for photos of completed work to support your insurance records.
- Prepare when a cyclone watch is issued: Stay off the roof, secure loose outdoor items, check gutters from the ground, prepare your car and emergency supplies, and shelter indoors when conditions worsen.
Cyclone Season Roof Maintenance Checklist: 7 Areas to Check
Before you start the roof maintenance checks below, please remember to stay off the roof. It can be steep, damaged, or difficult to access, and climbing up could put you at risk of a fall. Instead, walk around the outside of your property and use binoculars to check for visible signs of damage from the ground. If you spot anything concerning, leave the closer inspection to a professional.
Check Roof Screws and Fixings for Rust and Movement
Townsville’s salt air, humidity, and intense UV rays can damage the rubber washer under each roofing screw. As the washer hardens and cracks, water can seep around the screw and cause rust, weaken the fixing, and lead to roof leaks.
Daily temperature changes also cause roof sheets to expand and contract. Over time, this movement can loosen screws, which leaves gaps where rainwater can enter and damage the roof or stain your ceilings.
You can check for these common problems from the ground using binoculars to get a closer look at your roof:
- Cracked or damaged rubber washers: Look for washers that appear cracked, flattened, or out of place beneath the screw heads. These signs may indicate that the washers are no longer sealing properly, allowing water to seep in.
- Rust around screw heads: Look for rust streaks running down the roof sheets from screw heads, as these can indicate water getting past the seal. If you notice rust or signs of damaged fixings, arrange for a licensed roof plumber to inspect the area and determine whether the screws, washers, or roof sheets need repair or replacement.
Inspect Inside the Roof Space with a Torch
Some roof problems, like rust, leaks, and timber damage, aren’t visible from the ground. So, before the wet season starts, take a torch into your roof space/attic if it is safe and check for these early warning signs. Catching them now can save you from bigger repairs when heavy rain arrives.
- Rust on metal components: Shine your torch along the underside of the roof sheets, battens, straps, bolts, and fixing plates. Look for rust stains, flaky metal, or corroded fixings.
- Water stains or damp timber: Look for watermarks, dark patches, or timber that feels soft. Pay extra attention to roof joints and where the roof meets the walls, as leaks often start around these areas.
- Signs of termites: Look for mud tubes, damaged timber, or wood that sounds hollow when you gently tap. If you spot any of these signs, arrange a pest inspection to find out whether termites are present and what treatment is needed.
- Daylight coming through the roof: Look for small gaps or pinpoints of daylight around roof joints and openings for pipes or other fittings. Check the surrounding area for water stains, as these gaps can let rain in during strong winds.
If you found something that doesn’t look right, contact our licensed team at 1Touch Plumbing. They will inspect your roof, identify the problem, and recommend the repairs needed to get your roof ready for the wet season.
Roof Flashings and Penetrations
Pipes, vents, skylights, and solar mounts create openings in your roof where water can seep through if they’re not sealed properly. Flashings fit around these openings to keep water out, while sealant closes small gaps around the flashing. Over time, strong UV rays can crack the sealant or damage rubber flashings, increasing the risk of leaks.
Look around each pipe, vent, skylight, and solar mount for cracked sealant, damaged rubber, rust, or loose flashings.
If the sealant appears cracked or is peeling, but the flashing appears firmly in place and undamaged, make a note of it so the sealant can be checked and replaced if needed. If the flashing itself looks cracked, badly rusted, bent, or loose, arrange for it to be repaired or replaced.
Secure Solar Panels, Hot Water Units, and Other Roof Attachments
Solar panels, solar hot water systems, air conditioners, and antennas all need secure fixings to handle Townsville’s Wind Region C cyclones. Strong winds can pull them loose, damage your roof, or turn them into dangerous flying debris. Salt air can also rust metal brackets, rails, and screws over time, weakening the fixings that hold everything in place.
From the ground, use binoculars to check your roof attachments:
- Solar panels: Watch for rusted brackets, corroded screws, or mounting rails that appear to have shifted. If anything seems loose or damaged, contact your solar installer to inspect the mounting system and arrange repairs.
- Solar hot water systems: Check for rust on the tank’s support frame and straps, or signs that the tank has shifted. If you notice anything concerning, get in touch with 1Touch Plumbing. We can arrange for our licensed plumber to inspect the system and carry out any necessary repairs.
- Roof-mounted air conditioners: Look at the visible brackets, supports, and straps for rust or damage. If the unit appears loose or out of position, ask a qualified air conditioning technician to inspect its mounting and cyclone restraints.
- Antennas and satellite dishes: Watch for tilted equipment, rusted brackets, or fixings that seem to be pulling away from the roof or fascia. If you spot any of these signs, contact a qualified installer to check and secure the equipment.
Wash Salt from the Sheltered Parts of the Roof
Rain washes salt off exposed parts of your roof, but sheltered areas like the underside of eaves, fascia, and spaces behind solar panels don’t get the same rinse. Salt builds up on these surfaces and, when mixed with moisture and dust, can speed up corrosion.
To remove the buildup, gently rinse accessible areas with a garden hose. Avoid pressure washing, as it can damage protective coatings or force water under roof seals.
If you live in coastal suburbs like The Strand or North Ward, rinse these areas every three months to remove salt buildup. If you live further inland, cleaning them every six months should be enough.
Trim Branches Over the Roofline
Branches hanging over your roof can break during Townsville’s storms and cyclones, damaging roof sheets, skylights, or solar panels. Smaller branches can also scratch the protective coating on COLORBOND and Zincalume roofing, while leaves and twigs can block your gutters. Regularly cleaning your gutters helps prevent debris buildup and keeps rainwater flowing properly during the wet season.
Walk around your property and look for these problems:
- Overhanging branches: Heavy branches extending over your roof that could break and fall during strong winds.
- Branches touching the roof: Branches rubbing against roof sheets, ridge capping, or solar panels.
- Leaves and debris in gutters: Check whether leaves, bark, and twigs from nearby trees are collecting in your gutters.
Once you’ve identified which trees are causing problems, you can trim small branches that you can safely reach from the ground with suitable tools. Leave high or heavy branches to a qualified arborist. Please don’t trim branches near power lines yourself and contact Ergon Energy on 13 16 70 for advice.
Before removing a tree or cutting back large branches, check Townsville City Council’s vegetation rules to see whether you need approval. Some trees are protected by law, so you can’t remove or heavily prune them without permission. A qualified arborist can assess your tree and help you work out the best way to manage it.
Keep a Record Before the Season Starts
As you work through the checklist, take dated photos of anything you find on your roof, and file away the invoice each time a professional carries out a repair. It also helps to ask them for photos of the finished work, so you have a before-and-after record of every fix.
These records matter most when you need to make a claim. Insurers look closely at the difference between storm damage and wear and tear, and photos and invoices from before the season show that you kept your roof in good condition. That makes it much easier to show the cyclone caused the damage.
Your own checks will pick up most warning signs, but the fixings and flashings need a closer look on the roof itself. So get in touch with our team at 1Touch Plumbing to have your roof inspected before the wet season. We’ll check for damage and leak points, explain what needs attention, and give you a report to keep with the rest of your records.
Act Fast Once a Cyclone Watch Is Issued
As soon as the Bureau of Meteorology issues a cyclone watch – which it does when gale-force winds are expected within 24 to 48 hours – shift your focus from routine roof maintenance to the immediate precautions that can help protect you and your property as the cyclone approaches.
Here’s what to focus on before the weather worsens:
- Stay off the roof: Leave unfinished repairs until the cyclone has passed, and it’s safe to work. Gusty winds make roof work dangerous.
- Clear the yard: Secure loose items like outdoor furniture, trampolines, pot plants, bins, and children’s toys. Tie down sheds and caravans or move them into a garage if possible. Move chemicals to higher ground if flooding is a risk.
- Check your gutters from the ground: Look for visible blockages and clear them only if you can safely reach them from the ground. Make sure downpipes direct water away from your home.
- Get your car and essentials ready: Fill your car with fuel and park it under cover or on higher ground if flooding is a risk. Close windows and blinds, move pets to shelter, and prepare your emergency kit, drinking water, and essential supplies.
- Know when to shelter: As the winds strengthen, go inside and stay away from windows. If the wind suddenly drops, don’t assume the cyclone has passed. You may be in its eye, a calm period before dangerous winds return from another direction. Stay indoors until authorities confirm it’s safe to go outside.
Final Thoughts
By doing this basic roof maintenance yourself, you can spot early signs of damage, prevent leaks, and avoid bigger repair bills down the track. But remember, these checks are only the starting points. If your roof has serious damage, loose fixings, or corroded sheets, you’ll need a professional to take a closer look.
A licensed roof plumber knows what to look for and can spot issues you might miss, helping you sort them out before heavy rain and strong winds make things worse. It could save you a lot of stress and money later.
At 1Touch Plumbing, we offer expert roof inspection in Townsville to help you get your roof ready before the wet season kicks in. We’ll check for damaged roof sheets, loose or corroded fixings, worn flashing and sealant, potential leak points, and other signs of damage that could cause trouble during a storm. We’ll explain what we find, talk you through anything that needs attention, and recommend the right repairs for your roof.
Contact us today for a professional roof check.
FAQs
How often should a roof be inspected in Townsville?
It’s a good idea to have your roof professionally inspected at least once a year, ideally before Townsville’s wet season starts in November. You should also arrange an inspection after a severe storm or cyclone, especially if you notice loose roof sheets, leaks, or other signs of damage.
Is it safe to check my own roof before cyclone season?
You can check for visible signs of damage from the ground, such as loose roof sheets, overhanging branches, and blocked gutters. However, climbing onto your roof can be dangerous, particularly if the surface is wet, steep, or damaged. Leave roof-level inspections and repairs to our licensed team.
Does my older house need extra work before cyclone season?
Yes, older roofs can have worn fixings, corroded sheets, deteriorated sealant, or other issues that affect their ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. Our roof inspection can help identify what needs attention and whether any cyclone-resilience upgrades are worth considering.
How much does a pre-season roof check cost?
The cost depends on your roof’s size, accessibility, condition, and the type of inspection required. If repairs are needed, these will add to the overall cost. Contact us for advice on your roof inspection needs and a quote for the work.
