A hands-on guide for Huddersfield homeowners
From the grand Neoclassical Railway Station to comedy nights at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield has lots of personality. So does its wind. It barrels over Emley Moor, roars along the Colne and Holme valleys, funnels down Scapegoat Hill and then does a cheeky pirouette around Victoria Tower, just to see what’s loose.
Bottom line? This isn’t a generic “check your roof every now and then” town. It’s a place where annual, proactive maintenance pays off.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a wind-first checklist tailored to Huddersfield’s housing stock and gust patterns:
1. Know your wind directions
Knowing where wind hits your house is one of the best ways to stay on top of maintenance. Most Huddersfield storms ride in on south-westerlies. So, ridge lines and gable ends that face SW take the brunt and tend to need extra attention. Then come the cross-gusts which can damage gable ends, dormer cheeks and chimney stacks.
Want to check? Stand outside on a blustery day and note which slope whistles, rattles or flexes. That’s your priority when it comes to maintenance.
2. BS 5534 and why it matters (even if you don’t speak “standards”)
Modern roofing rules (BS 5534) expect tiles and ridges to be mechanically fixed using clips and nails, not just sat in mortar. Of course, this is a relatively new update to the British Standard’s code of practice and there are still plenty of Huddersfield homes with mortar-only roofs. In Huddersfield’s gust belts, these types of properties are serial offenders.
Worried your roof isn’t up to par? The best thing to do is call in a professional. They’ll give your roof a once over, check it meets BS 5534 standards and put together an action plan if anything needs to be addressed.
3. Understanding different failure patterns
Knowing the nuances of your roof material is the key to catching issues early. Here’s a quick overview:
Natural slate tiles
“Nail sickness” (aka corroded fixings) lets individual slates slip in wind. If you see tiles out of place after high winds it’s probably time to get your roof checked out.
Clay tiles
Clay tiles are beautiful but can be heavy when wet. In particular, moss at the lower edge adds weight and gives wind something to grab. Yes, it can have a storybook-effect on period properties in areas like Birkby, Edgerton and Lindley. No, it’s usually not worth the trouble.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Concrete tiles are solid but can be vulnerable to damage in high winds. At-risk areas include roof edges, hips, and ridges, where high winds can cause uplift pressure and lead to tile displacement. The tiles themselves can also be affected by wind-driven debris.
4. Check chimneys and abutments
Nothing concentrates wind like a chimney stack. The slipstream scours mortar, tugs at flaunching and whips under lead flashings like you wouldn’t believe.
What you can spot from the street:
- Crooked or differently coloured pots (a sign of past movement).
- A hairline gap under lead step flashing where it tucks into brickwork.
- Rust trails or blue-green verdigris streaks
5. The hidden heroes: underlay, straps and bracing
Even when the outer layer looks fine, wind can pressurise your loft space and make the structure flex. Get your roof ready for stronger autumn winds and check the following:
Underlay (sarking)
Old bitumen felt can crack and let in water. Upgrading to a modern breathable membrane will help your roof resist wind flutter and reduce condensation.
Gable restraint straps
Metal straps can be used to tie the gable to floor joists/rafters. Loose or absent straps can see your gable wobble in gusts.
Rafter bracing
Missing diagonal bracing lets the frame rack and squeak when the wind yanks at it.
These aren’t DIY jobs. But asking a roofer to include them in an inspection is smart, especially in exposed spots around Golcar, Pole Moor and Netherton.
6. Valleys, parapets and internal gutters
Open valley roofs shed leaves better than tight mitred ones. This is a bonus when autumn arrives, and scatters leaves like a confetti cannon. If you’re in a property with internal gutters behind parapets (we often see these on converted mills or farm buildings in areas like Milnsbridge and Linthwaite) you’ll need to stay on top of clearance as they’re prone to clogging.
Pro tip: after a big blow, run a hose into the valley from a safe window access (if you have it) and check the water races away. If it burps or backs up, book a professional gutter clean.
7. Aerials, PV and rooflights
Wind goes shopping for anything it can grab. And it’s not heading to Kingsgate. It’s going after your TV aerials, satellite dishes and anything else that wobbles. Before autumn arrives it’s worth tightening brackets and re-sealing fixings just to make sure nothing’s spirited away when the winds pick up.
Got solar panels? Ask the installer (or a professional roofer) to check the mounting rails and inspect flashing collars.
Rooflights (we see plenty in loft conversions around Kirkheaton and Waterloo) are another problem area. Worn-out perimeter gaskets and poorly dressed flashings can let wind-driven rain track under the frame.
Myth-busting (Huddersfield edition)
“It’s fine, the mortar looks solid.”
Mortar alone isn’t wind security. It’s the mechanical fixings that stop uplift, so it’s worth getting them checked out.
“Underlay is the waterproof layer.”
Nope. It’s a secondary defence. Wind-driven rain will beat tired tiles and poor laps.
“Pressure-washing tiles makes them good as new.”
Unfortunately, no. It strips surface and invites wind/water into the laps.
Fix the flutter before it becomes a failure
Huddersfield winds turn little imperfections into big problems. And things can happen fast! A wind-aware check, a couple of strategic upgrades and (where needed) modern mechanical fixings will help your home shrug off the squalls that come barrelling in from the moor. And of course, an all-bases-covered roof check is the gold standard here.
Need a proper wind-readiness check?
DPR Roofing Huddersfield works across terraces in Birkby, stone builds in Holmfirth and family semis in Fixby. Our promise? Attention to detail, straight advice and work that stands up to a Pennine autumn. Not just this year, but the next windy one too.
We’ve been doing it for more than 35 years (longer than the average lifespan of a typical British roof) so we know our stuff when it comes to repairs, replacements and best-practice maintenance.
Reach out today to chat to a friendly representative or book a consultation.