Storm Damage Roof Checklist: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
The 60-second answer: After a UK winter storm, do a 4-step ground-level check first: (1) walk around the property, photograph any visible damage (slipped tiles, lifted membrane, damaged chimney, fallen debris); (2) walk through every room and check ceilings for water spots; (3) c
SIX THINGS, EVERY JOB
What you get with Eco Roofers
What we typically see on Nottinghamshire roofs
Nottinghamshire roof-stock splits roughly into Victorian + Edwardian terrace in central Nottingham (NG1, NG3, NG7), inter-war and post-war semis through Mapperley/Sherwood and the West Bridgford suburbs, ex-coalfield estates around Mansfield (NG18-NG20) and Worksop (S80-S81), plus pantile-and-stone period property in Newark and the Trent-valley villages.
Local weather notes. The county catches Trent-valley weather — fewer high-wind events than the Pennines but more sustained-saturation rainfall in extended wet spells. South-westerly storms strip tile fixings on the same nailing line.
Approved Document L 2022 sets the thermal performance baseline for new roofs (U ≤ 0.16 W/m²K pitched, ≤ 0.18 flat). On flat roofs, BS 6229:2018 sets the design and falls standard. Eco Roofers will guide you through any Building Control notification needed on your job.
Get a free estimate for roofing in Storm Damage Roof Checklist: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Enter your postcode and one line about your roof. Sean replies within 24 hours with a written quote.
Did the storm damage your roof?
5 quick yes/no questions. We score the severity and tell you whether to book an emergency visit, a standard survey, or wait.
Step 1 — Ground-level external check (5 minutes)
Walk around the property. Look up at the roof from each visible side. Photograph everything below.\n\nPitched roofs: missing tiles or slates, slipped tiles, broken ridge tiles, damaged or fallen chimney pots, lifted/flapping flashings, debris on the roof.\n\nFlat roofs: lifted or stripped sections of membrane, visible deck exposure, missing edge trims, debris embedded in the surface.\n\nBoth: damaged guttering or downpipes, fallen branches across the roof, anything visibly out of place.
Step 2 — Internal check (10 minutes)
Walk through every room beneath the roof. Look up at every ceiling under torch-light if conditions are dim. Document with photos:\n\n- Wet patches on the ceiling (active leak from storm damage above)\n- Bulging plasterboard (water has been pooling above for hours)\n- Active drips (don’t catch with hands; switch off lighting circuit at the consumer unit if water is anywhere near a fitting; place buckets)\n- Damp staining patterns following the line of joists (water tracking)\n- Smell of musty damp that wasn’t there before
Step 3 — Loft / roof space check (if safe to access)
Only if the loft is normally accessible and the ladder is safe. Look up at the underside of the deck:\n\n- Can you see daylight through the deck where you couldn’t before? (storm has stripped tiles or membrane above)\n- Are timbers wet? (water has entered, condition will worsen)\n- Is insulation soaked? (lift it carefully and check)\n- Are there debris (broken tiles, twigs, glass)?\n\nIf the storm is still active: don’t enter the loft. Wait until conditions are safe.
Step 4 — Same-day phone call to a roofer
Phone a roofer for same-day make-safe response on any visible damage. Typical UK 2026 prices for emergency make-safe:\n\n| Make-safe job | Typical price |\n|—|—|\n| Tarp + batten over storm-stripped section | £180–£350 |\n| Tarp + temporary cap on damaged chimney | £250–£500 |\n| Replace 1-3 slipped tiles | £180–£300 |\n| Re-form damaged upstand emergency seal | £250–£450 |\n| Stop active flat-roof leak temporarily | £180–£400 |\n| Out-of-hours callout supplement | +£100–£200 |\n\nPermanent repair quoted separately within 24-48 hours.
Step 5 — Insurance claim documentation
If you’re claiming on home insurance:\n\n- Photograph everything before any work is done (internal + external + loft)\n- Keep the storm-event date (your insurance will check the storm reached your area — historic weather data confirms)\n- Get the make-safe + permanent-repair quotes in writing from a reputable roofer\n- Don’t authorise work the insurer hasn’t agreed — call the loss adjuster first if the cost exceeds your excess by more than £500\n- Eco Roofers provides detailed written reports with photos for insurance submission, free, on every emergency callout
FAQ
What should I do first if a storm has damaged my roof?
Photograph everything from the ground first, then check internal ceilings for wet spots. Don’t go on the roof. Phone a roofer for same-day make-safe response.
Will my home insurance cover storm damage?
Most UK home policies cover storm damage and accidental damage (subject to excess). Make-safe is usually covered as part of damage-mitigation. Get the quote in writing before authorising work above the excess.
How urgent is storm damage to a roof?
Containment within 4 hours stops most secondary damage. Beyond 12 hours active water entry typically progresses into ceiling-replacement territory. Same-day make-safe is the right answer.
Can I patch the roof myself temporarily?
Tarpaulin and batten work is technically possible from inside a window or off a sound scaffold platform. Don’t use a ladder in active wind. For most homeowners, a roofer’s £180-350 make-safe is faster and safer than DIY.
Need a roofer?
Call Eco Roofers on 07929 379 746 or email sean@eco-roofers.co.uk. Free site visit, a written, fixed-price quote within 24 hours of the site visit, 10-year installation guarantee on every new roof.
Web form: eco-roofers.co.uk. Eco Roofers covers Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire — Nottingham, Mansfield, Sheffield, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Worksop, Newark.
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