Roof damage after a storm: what should you check?

Storms bring a rush of calls to roofers, and the first hours matter. Here is a simple, safe checklist.

Is it safe to check the roof?

Stay off the roof and off ladders in wind or rain. Keep away from the walls under a damaged chimney or loose ridge tiles, as they can fall. If you see damaged wires, keep clear and contact your network operator. Check from the ground, from windows, and from inside the loft with a torch.

What should you look for from outside?

1. Missing, slipped or broken tiles or slates on the roof slopes
2. Tiles or fragments on the ground or in the garden
3. Ridge and hip tiles that look loose, gappy or have fallen
4. Verge tiles at the gable ends that have lifted
5. Chimney pots leaning, or bricks missing from the stack
6. Lead flashing lifted or flapping
7. Gutters bent, pulled away or full of debris
8. Flat roofs with lifted edges, blisters or torn membrane
9. Trees or branches on or against the roof

What should you look for inside?

• Water stains or damp on ceilings, especially upstairs
• Dripping or wet insulation in the loft
• Daylight through the roof
• Torn underlay flapping between the rafters
• Wet timbers around the chimney

What should you do while you wait for a roofer?

How do you make an insurance claim for storm damage?

Most buildings insurance policies cover sudden storm damage, but they often exclude gradual wear and tear. To help your claim:

• Photograph the damage from the ground and inside, with the date
• Note the date and time of the storm
• Keep receipts for any emergency repairs
• Ask your roofer for a written report and itemised quote
• Contact your insurer early, and check whether they want to send an assessor

We provide photographs, often from a drone, a written report and an itemised quote you can send to your insurer.

Why are local roofs vulnerable in storms?

Across Sussex and Surrey, the high ground of the High Weald around East Grinstead takes a lot of wind, and many towns have tall trees close to houses. Older mortar bedded ridges and verges are common on postwar homes in places like Crawley, and these are often the first to fail in high winds. Modern standards require ridges, hips and verges to be mechanically fixed, and we can upgrade them when we repair.

When to call a roofer

What kind of roof damage do storms cause?

Why does wind lift some tiles and not others?

Wind blowing over a roof creates suction, strongest at the edges: the eaves, verges, ridge and corners. Tiles in these areas are the most likely to lift. Older roofs often have tiles that were only nailed every few courses, and ridges and verges that relied on mortar alone. Modern standards, set out in BS 5534, require more mechanical fixing for exactly this reason. When we repair storm damage we fix to the current standard so the roof is better able to resist the next storm.

Step by step: what to do in the hours after a storm

1. Make sure everyone is safe. Keep clear of areas below loose tiles or a damaged chimney.
2. Check inside first. Look at ceilings and the loft for water.
3. Contain any leaks with buckets and towels, and move valuables.
4. Check the outside from the ground, using the checklist above.
5. Photograph everything with the date showing.
6. Call a roofer for a temporary repair if water is coming in.
7. Tell your insurer and keep all receipts.
8. Book a permanent repair once the roof is safe.

Should you wait until after the storm season to repair?

No. A missing tile or lifted ridge lets water reach the underlay and battens, and each storm after that can make it worse. A small repair done promptly is almost always cheaper than water damage inside, and insurers may expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.

How do you spot hidden storm damage?

Some damage is not visible from the ground. Tiles can be cracked without falling, lead can be lifted just enough to let water in, and a flat roof membrane can be lifted at the edge. A drone survey is a safe way to see the whole roof without anyone climbing up. See drone roof surveys.

Storms in East Grinstead and Crawley

East Grinstead sits on the high ground of the High Weald, and exposed homes on the edge of town and in nearby villages such as Forest Row and Ashurst Wood take the full force of westerly winds. Crawley is lower lying, but its open estates and long rows of terraced roofs mean wind can funnel between buildings. In both towns, tall trees close to houses are a common cause of storm damage to roofs and gutters.

How can you protect your roof before the next storm?

• Have loose ridge and verge tiles mechanically fixed
• Replace slipped or cracked tiles promptly
• Clear gutters and valleys so heavy rain can drain
• Cut back overhanging branches, with any tree consents checked first
• Have the roof checked after major storms even if nothing seems wrong

See ridge and verge repairs and roof maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

Get storm damage sorted

See storm damage roof repairs, emergency roofer in East Grinstead and emergency roofer in Crawley. Call 07939 862 818 for emergencies, 01342 445004 for the office, or request a survey.