Storm damage doesn't always announce itself with a leak. A few missing tiles can let water in for weeks before you notice the stain. A five-minute check from the ground catches most of it.
Never climb onto a roof after a storm - wet, damaged surfaces are how serious falls happen. Use binoculars or your phone's zoom instead.
From the Ground - What to Look For
- Slipped, cracked, or missing tiles and slates
- Debris in the garden - broken tiles are an obvious clue
- Sagging, detached, or overflowing gutters
- Displaced ridge tiles along the top of the roof
- Damaged or peeled-back lead flashing around chimneys
Check Indoors Too
- Fresh damp patches or stains on upstairs ceilings
- Daylight visible through the roof from inside the loft
- A musty smell or wet insulation in the loft space
- Drips during or just after rain
Photograph It for Insurance
Photograph all damage - roof, debris, and any interior stains - before moving or clearing anything.
Include a few wide shots showing the house and surroundings, not just close-ups.
Save any costs for emergency make-safe work; most policies cover reasonable steps to limit damage.
Making a Roof Insurance Claim
- Storm damage
- Sudden, weather-driven damage is usually covered. Note the date and any weather warnings.
- Wear and tear
- Gradual ageing and poor maintenance generally are not - insurers look closely at this.
- Your duty
- Most policies expect you to limit further damage. A make-safe visit shows you acted responsibly.
Call a Roofer Now If…
- Water is actively coming into the house
- Tiles or flashing are visibly displaced and more bad weather is forecast
- A chimney, aerial, or large branch looks unstable
- You can see daylight through the roof from the loft
Before the Next Storm
- Book a roof check before winter - loose tiles are cheap to fix early
- Clear gutters of leaves so heavy rain can drain away - see our gutter cleaning cost guide
- Trim back branches that overhang the roof
- Keep your roofer's number saved so you're not searching in a gale
What Counts as Storm Damage?
The distinction matters because it decides whether your insurer pays. Insurers treat sudden, weather-driven damage very differently from gradual wear, and they look closely at which one they're being asked to cover.
- Covered: storm damage
- Tiles stripped by gale-force wind, a tree brought down on the roof, flashing torn off in a named storm. Note the date and any weather warnings.
- Not covered: wear and tear
- Tiles that slipped because the roof is old and tired, or damp from years of blocked gutters. Maintenance is the homeowner's job.
- The grey area
- An old roof finished off by a storm. Good photos and a roofer's report help show the storm was the cause.
Temporary Fixes That Buy You Time
If water is getting in and a roofer can't get there immediately, a few safe steps from inside limit the damage. The key word is safe - none of this involves going up on the roof.
- Catch drips in buckets and lift carpets and furniture clear
- If a ceiling is bulging with water, pierce the lowest point to drain it into a bucket
- In the loft, slide a board and a tarp under the leak to channel water to a container
- Leave the roof itself to a professional with the right access and harness
Why You Might Wait for Daylight
A responsible roofer won't climb onto a wet, wind-battered roof in the dark - it's exactly how serious falls happen. The first visit is usually a make-safe from inside or ground level to stop water getting in, with the full repair carried out in daylight once it's genuinely safe to get up there. It's caution, not delay.
For what the repair will cost, see our roof repair cost guide, and if it's actively leaking, our what to do when your roof is leaking guide covers the first 30 minutes. Water coming in now? Get an emergency roofer on the way to make it safe.