High winds, driven rain and fallen branches can cause real damage to a roof in minutes — and small problems quickly turn into expensive ones once water gets in. Here's the checklist we give our customers after a storm.
1. Stay safe — don't go up on the roof
The single most important rule. Wet, damaged roofs are unstable, and most of the worst injuries from storm damage happen when homeowners try to inspect or fix things themselves. Stay on the ground, keep family and pets away from the area below any visible damage, and don't try to drag loose tiles back.
2. Look from the ground for the obvious signs
From a safe distance, walk around the property and look for:
- Tiles or slates on the ground, in the garden or in the gutters
- Visible gaps, bare felt or daylight showing through the roofline
- Damaged or detached lead flashing around the chimney, dormers or valleys
- Bent, blocked or hanging-off guttering and downpipes
- Sagging or bulging sections of the roof
- Fallen branches resting on the roof
Take photos from the ground — these will be useful for the insurance claim and for your roofer.
3. Check inside the loft (if it's safe)
If you can safely access your loft, look for damp patches on the underside of the roof, water trails on rafters or the felt, daylight where it shouldn't be, and any standing water. Place buckets or trays under active drips and move anything valuable away from the affected area.
4. Cover the inside, not the outside
Resist the urge to climb up and tarp the roof yourself. Instead, protect the inside of the property: move furniture, lift rugs, put down old towels or sheets to catch water, and unplug any electrics in the affected room. The temporary outdoor cover is a roofer's job.
5. Call a roofer — same day, ideally
Even small storm damage tends to get worse with the next rainfall. Call a professional as soon as you can. We offer 24/7 emergency call-outs across Ipswich, Colchester and the wider Suffolk/Essex area — we'll secure the roof first (tarping, temporary repairs) and quote for the permanent fix once the property is safe.
6. Contact your insurance
Most home insurance policies cover storm damage, but the claim process is much easier when you have:
- Photos of the damage (ground-level and inside the loft)
- The date and time of the storm
- A written quote or report from a qualified roofer
- Receipts for any emergency work to mitigate further damage
We can provide the written quote and a clear report describing the damage and the repair scope — most insurers accept these directly.
7. Don't let the work drag on
The biggest mistake we see is leaving a temporarily-secured roof for weeks or months while the claim goes through. Felt, exposed timber and lead all degrade fast when exposed to weather. As soon as the insurer authorises the repair, get the permanent work scheduled.
Need help right now?
We're a local Ipswich roofing team with over 30 years of experience handling storm damage and emergency repairs across Suffolk and Essex. Call us 24/7 on 01473 350 488 or message us on WhatsApp — we'll be on our way.
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