After strong winds, check your home only once conditions have settled and it is safe to go outside. Look from ground level rather than using a ladder or walking on the roof. Coastal and exposed properties across the North East can face wind-driven rain, but a storm check is useful wherever you live.
1. Keep clear of falling debris
If you see hanging guttering, loose masonry or roofing materials on the ground, keep people away from the area beneath the roof. Do not stand under a damaged chimney or attempt to move unstable materials overhead. Where there is an immediate risk to life, contact emergency services.
2. Check the roofline from a safe position
Look for gaps, displaced tiles or slates, uneven ridge sections and changes around the verge. Binoculars can help where the view is clear. Do not trespass or move into traffic to obtain a photograph, and do not assume an apparently intact covering rules out damage to its fixings or weatherproofing.
3. Look at gutters, chimneys and flashings
Check for hanging gutters, loose downpipes and obvious changes around chimney stacks or roof-to-wall junctions. Lead flashing can lift or separate at a joint, allowing rain to enter without a large hole in the covering. These details need a roofer’s assessment rather than a ground-level diagnosis.
4. Check indoors for new symptoms
Look for fresh stains or drips on upstairs ceilings and around rooflights. Only inspect a loft if access, lighting and footing are safe. A stain that appears after wind-driven rain is useful information for the roofer, even if the leak stops when the weather changes.
5. Document damage and ask for a written assessment
Take photographs from safe positions and record when the storm occurred and when you noticed the problem. Share the location, visible defects and any indoor symptoms when calling. Ask what temporary measures and permanent repairs are appropriate, and confirm access and the scope of work in writing.
We inspect and repair tiled and slated roofs, ridges, leadwork and roofline across our North East service area. Call with your postcode and a description of the damage to discuss availability. Do not attempt temporary roof repairs in poor weather.
Related services: Roof Repairs, Chimney Repairs, Dry Ridge & Dry Verge. Or get in touch for a quote.
