The short answer
From the ground, windows or another safe position, look for slipped slates or tiles, displaced ridge or hip units, torn or lifted details, damaged leadwork, loose gutters, damaged rooflights, debris and new internal water marks. Keep clear of loose materials and do not enter an area where a ceiling appears unsafe.
Do not climb onto the roof after a storm. If water is affecting electrics, ceilings are bulging or materials appear unstable, keep people away from the affected area and obtain the appropriate emergency help. Once immediate safety is controlled, gather factual evidence before the roof condition is altered unnecessarily.
- Stay off the roof.
- Photograph visible damage from safe locations.
- Record the date and weather context.
- Contact the insurer where a claim may be considered.
Observable signs and uncertainty
Visible damage may not reveal the whole cause. A slipped tile can expose an older fixing problem, a damaged flashing can reveal a weak junction, and water can travel through the construction before appearing on a ceiling some distance away.
For an insurance claim, keep the storm event, visible damage and pre-existing condition distinct. The Financial Ombudsman says storm disputes commonly turn on whether a storm occurred, whether the damage is consistent with it and whether the property’s prior condition materially contributed; a contractor should document condition without deciding policy liability.
- Do not assume every mark is storm-caused.
- Check repeated defects against maintenance history.
- Record internal and external symptoms.
- Expect access limits until the roof is safely inspected.
Temporary measures and permanent repair
Temporary work may reduce further water entry or secure a dangerous loose element, but it is not the permanent diagnosis or repair. If insurance may be involved, contact the insurer’s emergency line first where practical, photograph the condition and keep receipts for necessary temporary measures.
Before permanent work, ask the insurer whether they need to inspect the original damage or require particular photographs or reports. The repair scope should then address both the storm-damaged detail and any surrounding deterioration found during inspection, with those items clearly separated where possible.
- Keep temporary-work records.
- Separate risk reduction from renewal.
- Check adjoining details.
- Confirm how variations are handled.
When wider renewal may be discussed
If storm damage exposes widespread weakness, repeated fixing failure, aged coverings or poor previous repairs, wider refurbishment may be more suitable than repeated local repair.
That decision should be condition-led and explained through survey findings, not assumed from the storm event alone.
- Review surrounding roof condition.
- Check fixings and junctions.
- Consider repair history.
- Use survey findings to choose the scope.
Checklist
Storm damage evidence checklist
Prepare factual observations for contractor and insurer conversations.
- Date and approximate time of storm
- Safe photographs of external damage
- Internal water marks or affected rooms
- Loose material or debris locations
- Previous repair history
- Insurer claim reference if available
- Temporary measures taken
- Access constraints and neighbour impacts
FAQs
Storm damage roof questions
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No. Use safe viewpoints and arrange suitable assessment where needed.
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Sometimes, if the defect is local and surrounding condition is sound. Wider weakness may need a broader scope.
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If a claim may be made, contact the insurer promptly, keep dated photographs and temporary-repair receipts, and follow its evidence requirements. Whether storm damage is covered depends on the policy, the event, the damage pattern and the insurer’s assessment of pre-existing condition.
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Necessary temporary work can change the original evidence, so photograph the condition first where safely possible, record what was done and why, keep receipts and follow the insurer’s instructions. Do not delay urgent measures needed to prevent further damage merely to preserve a photograph.
Next Steps
Discuss storm-related roof damage safely
Share safe photographs, date and weather context, affected rooms and any insurer requirements before deciding the inspection or repair route.