Older roofs in Linden
Linden grew from farmland that was divided into plots at the turn of the 20th century. It became a suburb in 1901 and joined the City of Johannesburg in 1937. It sits in the foothills of Northcliff Hill, mostly on a slope, with houses laid out along its numbered avenues. Many of the older houses have been restored, and old-fashioned verandahs are a feature.
Roof timbers are almost always pine, and pine lasts roughly 65 years under a roof. If your home dates from Linden’s earlier decades, the frame may already have been replaced, or it may be near the end of its life. Either way, the timbers are worth checking along with the tiles or sheets.
Verandah roofs deserve a look too. Where a verandah roof meets the house, the flashing has to seal the join and the water has to be led away properly. If it is not, the water ends up on the wall or in the ceiling.
Worth checking on roofs like these
- A sagging ridge line, or tiles that keep slipping
- Water staining on the timbers in the roof space
- Leaks where a verandah roof meets the house
- Rust on older metal sheets, nails and screws
- Old patches of waterproofing that have cracked
