Is Your Roof Ready for Santa? A Christmas Message from Prestige Group

The Tinsel is Up in Dersingham!

The heating is cranked up in our Dersingham office, the Quality Street tub is already dangerously low, and Bella has been spotted eyeing up the decorations with suspicion. It’s officially Christmas at Prestige Group!

Looking back, it’s been a landmark year for us. We’ve officially brought our roofing and groundwork teams under one roof (pun intended), solidifying Prestige Group as Norfolk’s go-to team for total exterior transformations. Our fleet of bright pink vans has grown, becoming an even more common sight on driveways from King's Lynn to Norwich. It’s been a busy, exciting twelve months, and our team of skilled tradespeople—from the apprentices learning the ropes to the seasoned pros—have earned a well-deserved break over the festive period.

But before we hang up our hard hats and tuck into our Christmas dinners, our owner, third-generation roofer Luke, has one final, crucial question for every homeowner in Norfolk: Is your roof genuinely ready for the big guy in the red suit?

The "Santa Stress Test": Is Your Roof Winter-Ready?

We all know the story: eight reindeer, a heavy sleigh laden with presents for the entire world, and a jolly man who’s enjoyed perhaps one too many mince pies. That’s a lot of weight landing on your roof in the middle of a freezing cold night.

While we can’t officially confirm the exact weight of Santa’s sleigh, we can confirm that winter is the ultimate stress test for your home’s exterior. The combination of freezing temperatures, driving rain, and high winds can turn minor niggles into major headaches overnight.

So, in the spirit of getting "Santa-ready," here is a checklist of key areas you should cast an eye over before the big night:

• The "Landing Pad" (Your Slates and Tiles): Have the recent autumn winds shifted anything? A single slipped tile or a cracked slate provides an easy entry point for water. When rain turns to ice, it expands, making small cracks much bigger. A quick visual check from the ground (binoculars help!) can spot potential problems before they turn into internal leaks.

• Reindeer Runway Clearance (Gutters and Downpipes): This is the most common winter issue we see. Gutters clogged with autumn leaves and moss will overflow when it rains. When the temperature drops, that standing water freezes into heavy blocks of ice, which can weigh down and snap your guttering brackets. Worse still, overflowing water can run down your walls, causing damp. Ensure they are clear so the water can flow freely away from your property.

• The Main Entrance (Your Chimney Stack): If Santa is coming down the chimney, it needs to be safe! Chimney stacks take the full brunt of the weather. Check the mortar between the bricks (pointing)—is it crumbling or missing in places? Also, look at the lead "flashing" where the chimney meets the roof tiles. If this is damaged or lifted, water will find a way in.

• The Flat Roof Landing Zone: Flat roofs on garages or extensions are tempting landing spots for a sleigh, but they are also prone to pooling water if not properly maintained. If you have an older felt roof, check for cracks, bubbles, or tears in the surface. Modern materials like EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass are much more resilient, but it’s still worth ensuring water is draining away correctly and not sitting in puddles that can freeze.

• The Internal Loft Inspection: The best way to check your roof's health is often from the inside. Pop your head up into the loft during the day. Can you see any daylight showing through the roof covering? Are there any damp patches on the timbers or insulation? Are there any signs of condensation? Finding a small damp patch now is much better than dealing with a collapsed ceiling in January.

If you spot any of these issues, it’s always best to get them sorted sooner rather than later. A small, inexpensive repair done now can save you thousands in water damage restoration later down the line.

A Year of Pink Vans and New Beginnings

As we mentioned, this year has been a special one. For years, you’ve known us as separate entities for your roofing needs and your driveway dreams. Bringing everything together under the Prestige Group banner just made sense. It means that whether you need a new slate roof on a heritage property, a stunning resin-bound driveway for your modern home, or specialist spray foam removal, you are dealing with the same trusted, family-run team.

Luke has been incredibly proud to continue the legacy started by his grandfather. Being a third-generation roofer isn't just about knowing how to lay a tile; it’s about inheriting a work ethic that values doing the job right the first time, every time. We believe that bringing a bit of colour to the trade with our pink vans reflects our modern approach, but our core values are as traditional as they come: honesty, reliability, and quality workmanship.

We’ve loved working on some fantastic projects across Norfolk this year. From transforming tired, moss-covered roofs into shining examples of kerb appeal to laying complex patios that will host family barbecues for years to come, every job is a point of pride for our team.

Bella's Christmas Corner

No update from Prestige Group would be complete without a mention of our official mascot and Head of Morale, Bella the white Pomeranian.

Bella has taken to the festive season with her usual enthusiasm. Her primary roles over the last few weeks have included:

• Conducting rigorous quality control tests on any tinsel placed within her reach.

• Ensuring no crumb of mince pie hits the office floor undetected.

• Looking adorably unimpressed while wearing her Christmas bandana for the company photo.

• Providing essential cuddles to the team when they come in from a cold day on site.

She’s the heart of our little office family in Dersingham and is definitely on Santa’s "Nice" list this year.

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

From Luke, Bella, and the entire team at Prestige Group, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

We hope your holidays are filled with warmth, joy, and—most importantly—a completely watertight roof over your head!

Thank you to all our customers for your support in 2024. We are excited to see what 2025 brings. If you are planning a home improvement project for the new year, whether it's a new roof, a driveway makeover, or a new patio for the spring, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat.

Enjoy the festivities, stay safe, and keep an eye out for the pink vans in the New Year!