Winter is coming, and with it comes heavy rain, wind-driven downpours, freezing temperatures, and the perfect recipe for water ingress. A single missed crack or blocked gutter can lead to thousands of pounds in repairs once the cold sets in. At Access All Areas, we’ve spent years keeping London’s high-rises, commercial units, and industrial facilities watertight using rope access — fast, cost-effective, and with zero scaffolding delays.
Here’s your essential pre-winter checklist to make sure your building stays dry all season.
Clear and Inspect All Gutters & Downpipes
Blocked gutters overflow in minutes during heavy rain, sending water cascading down walls and soaking brickwork or cladding joints.
What we look for:
- Leaves, moss, and debris
- Split or sagging gutters
- Leaking joints and failed hopper seals
- Downpipes disconnected or crushed
Pro tip: We clear everything by hand or industrial wet-vac from the rope — no mess on the ground and done in a fraction of the time.
Re-Seal Movement Joints & Expansion Gaps
Temperature swings cause buildings to expand and contract. Over years, mastic seals shrink, crack, and pull away — creating direct paths for water.
Common problem areas:
- Curtain walling perimeter joints
- Roof-to-wall junctions
- Panel-to-panel movement joints
- Window and door reveals
We over-band or fully replace with high-performance polyurethane or hybrid polymer sealants that stay flexible down to -40 °C.
Repair or Replace Damaged Cladding & Flashings
High winds rip lead flashings, pop rivets, and loosen cladding panels. Even a 5 mm gap is enough for driving rain to get behind the façade.
Typical winter culprits:
- Lifted or torn roof edge trims
- Missing or cracked coping stones
- Corroded tek screws allowing panels to rattle
- Failed lap seals on composite cladding
Our rope teams can re-secure, re-seal, or replace sections in a single visit — often while the building stays fully operational.
Inspect and Seal Roof-Level Penetrations
Roofs take the worst beating. Every pipe, vent, cable tray, or skylight is a potential leak waiting to happen.
We check:
- Degraded lead slates and apron flashings
- Cracked rooflight domes
- Failed sealant around soil stacks and flues
- Ponding water near outlets
A quick silicone re-point or liquid waterproofing application now prevents major internal damage later.
Check & Clean All Drainage Systems
Flat roofs, balconies, and car park decks rely on outlets that clog fast. We clear every gulley and rainwater pipe so water flows exactly where it should — away from your building.
Why Use Rope Access for Winter Prep?
- No scaffolding delays or street licences (work starts next day)
- Up to 60 % cheaper than traditional access
- Minimal disruption — tenants and customers barely notice we’re there
- Fully IRATA-certified technicians with confined-space and MEWP backup if needed
Don’t Wait for the First Frost
One storm is all it takes. Last winter, we were called to over 40 emergency leak repairs that could have been prevented with a pre-winter survey and seal package.
Get ahead this year.
Contact our team today for a free no-obligation winter readiness survey: 📞 01708 550 054 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 www.aaaropeaccess.co.uk
Access All Areas — keeping East London and the South East dry, one rope at a time.
