10 June 2026

Making your roof storm-ready: an autumn prevention guide

Autumn storms and freeze-thaw cycles turn every small defect into a leak. The annual roof check in five points.

Peak season for roof leaks starts in autumn: storms lift everything that sits loose, and the freeze-thaw cycles that follow push water into every crack and gap — freezing water expands and makes small defects bigger every season. The best moment for a roof check is therefore late summer, before the first autumn storm and while the weather still cooperates.

The check in five points. One: do all tiles sit straight and are the ridge tiles fixed? Shifted or broken tiles are the most common storm damage. Two: are the sealant joints and the lead around chimney, dormer and roof windows still intact? Three: is the zinc work of gutters and valley gutters still sound? Four: are the gutters and outlets clean, so storm rain can drain? Five, on a flat roof: are there blisters in the covering, or does water keep standing on the roof?

From the ground and from the attic you can run through most of these points yourself — binoculars show a lot, and in the attic, daylight through the roof immediately betrays a problem. For anything on the roof itself: leave it to a professional. A roof check with small repairs at a planned moment costs a fraction of an emergency job in the storm, with surcharge and consequential damage on top.

Does the storm beat you to the check? Then limit the damage indoors first, take photos for your insurer (storm damage often falls under buildings insurance — check your terms) and submit a request for an emergency repair. All guide prices, from small repair to major work, are in the price index.