Last reviewed: 2026
After storm damage, keep people away from anything that could fall, contain water inside the property, photograph everything from ground level, then arrange make-safe work. Permanent repair follows once the weather allows and the roof has been properly inspected.
In the first hour
Safety comes before the building. Do not go onto the roof, do not use ladders in wind, and keep everyone clear of any area beneath loose tiles, lead or brickwork.
- Cordon off paths, driveways and gardens below the damage
- Move belongings out of the affected rooms and catch water in containers
- Turn off electrics in any area where water is entering near fittings
- Photograph the damage from ground level and note the date and conditions
Make-safe versus permanent repair
Emergency work is about stabilisation: securing or removing loose material, sheeting exposed areas and stopping further water entry. It is deliberately temporary, and it should be described to you as such.
The permanent repair is scoped after an inspection, once the roof can be examined properly and safely. That two-stage approach is normal and protects you from paying for work specified in the dark and the wet.
Insurance and evidence
Most insurers expect you to mitigate further damage, so make-safe work is usually supported. Keep the photographs, the make-safe report and the inspection findings together — dated imagery referenced to the roof is far more persuasive than a written description alone.