5 August 2026

Post-storm checklist: how to check your roof safely

The storm has passed — now what? What to check from the ground and the attic, what to report, and why now is exactly the wrong time to climb onto the roof.

Safety first: do not climb onto the roof during or right after a storm — not even 'just quickly' up a ladder. Gusts trail behind the storm, loosened tiles and branches can still fall, and a wet roof is treacherously slippery. Everything on this checklist is done with both feet on the ground or from the attic.

Check outside, from the ground. Walk around the house and look through binoculars: do all tiles sit straight, are the ridge tiles still in place, is any zinc or lead hanging loose? Look down too: pieces of roof tile, mortar crumbs or grit in the garden and on the pavement betray damage you cannot see directly from below. Then go to the attic: daylight through the roof or a wet patch on the roof boarding means something is lying open.

Report and document. Take photos of all damage before you clear anything up and note the date and time of the storm — storm damage often falls under buildings insurance, check your policy terms. If water is coming in, limit the consequential damage first: buckets underneath, belongings and electrical appliances out of the way. How a claim works in detail is covered in the insurance guide.

Only then repair. With an active leak, submit a request for an emergency repair (€ 150-450) right away: an emergency seal stops the consequential damage, the definitive repair follows in dry weather. Shifted or broken tiles without an active leak are a repair of € 125-350. And don't fall for rogue roofers ringing doorbells uninvited after the storm: calmly compare responses from vetted companies and set quotes against the price index.