How to Spot Storm Damage on Your Roof
What to check after high winds or heavy rain — the warning signs Essex homeowners miss until the next leak appears.
Essex sits in the path of every major Atlantic storm that tracks across southern England. After a windy night, most homeowners glance up at the roof from the pavement, see nothing obviously wrong, and assume they got lucky. Often they didn't — they just can't see the damage from the ground.
Check the ground first
Before climbing anything, walk the perimeter of the house. Look for fallen tiles, slate fragments, broken pieces of mortar, lead flashing or sections of guttering on the lawn, driveway or in flower beds. Even one tile on the ground means a slot is now open on the roof.
Look at the roof from a distance
Step into the road or across the garden and scan the roof slope. You're looking for dark patches where a tile is missing, slipped tiles that have shifted out of line, lifted ridge tiles along the apex, and any flashing around chimneys or valleys that looks bent or peeled back.
Inspect the loft
The loft tells you everything. Go up with a torch on a dry day and look at the underside of the felt and the rafters. Daylight coming through, damp patches, watermarks on timbers or insulation, and any dripping after rain are clear signs water is getting in.
Don't forget gutters, fascias and chimneys
- •Gutters pulled away from the fascia or sagging mid-run
- •Downpipes detached at joints
- •Cracked or missing mortar (pointing) on chimney stacks
- •Lead flashing lifted around chimneys, vents or skylights
- •Soffits or fascia boards with new cracks or staining
What to do if you spot damage
Don't climb the roof yourself. Roof slopes are slippery after rain and a single missing tile means the surrounding tiles aren't locked in place either. Contact a local roofer to inspect the damage and provide a repair quotation. Catching problems early can help limit further damage and the scope of repairs.
We offer free, no-obligation repair quotation visits across Southend, Rayleigh, Benfleet, Basildon and surrounding Essex areas. Call 07928 888913 after any storm and we'll be out the same week.
Need a roofer in Essex?
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