Storm Damage to Your Roof: What to Do Next

Step 1: Assess Safely from Ground Level

Do not go on the roof. A roof that has been damaged by a storm may have weakened or unstable areas that aren't visible from below. The marginal benefit of a ground-level roof inspection does not justify the risk. What you can do safely:

• Walk around the property and photograph anything visible from ground level: missing tiles, displaced ridge pieces, damage to guttering or fascias
• Check the loft space from the hatch — a torch will show you whether daylight is visible through the roof structure
• Check ceilings on the top floor for new damp patches or active drips

Key fact: The Met Office records that the Sussex coast regularly experiences named-storm gusts exceeding 60mph, with Brighton's Channel-facing position among the most wind-exposed urban areas in southern England.

Step 2: Control Internal Damage

If water is entering the property through a damaged roof, the priority before the roofer arrives is to limit interior damage:

• Place towels, bowls or buckets under active drips or wet patches
• Move furniture and valuables away from wet areas
• If a ceiling appears to be sagging with collected water, carefully pierce it at the lowest point to drain the water in a controlled location rather than wait for a ceiling collapse — but only if you can do this safely with a bucket directly below
• Photograph everything for insurance purposes before making any changes

Step 3: Call a Roofer — Before Your Insurer

The instinct is to call your insurer first. We recommend calling a roofer first instead, for two reasons:

1. You need to describe what happened accurately. Insurers assess claims based on what you tell them initially. If you call before you know the extent of the damage, you may under or over-describe it. Having a roofer's assessment first means you can describe the damage accurately and in the right terms.
2. You may need emergency temporary weatherproofing before a loss adjuster can attend. Insurers' loss adjusters often take 48-72 hours to attend. If the roof has a significant breach, you cannot wait that long. A professional roofer can install proper temporary weatherproofing the same day.

Step 4: Temporary Weatherproofing

If the permanent repair cannot be completed the same day — which is common for significant storm damage where materials need sourcing, or where scaffold is required — professional temporary weatherproofing is essential. This is not the same as a tarpaulin weighted down with bricks. Proper temporary weatherproofing uses heavy-duty roofing felt or reinforced sheeting fixed properly to the roof structure, capable of withstanding further wind and rain until the permanent repair is carried out.

We install proper temporary weatherproofing as part of every emergency call-out. It's included in the call-out cost — not an extra.

Step 5: Insurance Claims

Most home insurance policies cover storm damage to roofs, subject to excess. The key distinction insurers make is between storm damage and maintenance failure:

• Storm damage — tiles or ridge pieces displaced by high winds on an otherwise sound roof — is typically covered
• Maintenance failure — nail sickness, failed mortar, deteriorated tiles that come off in normal weather or modest wind — is typically excluded

A loss adjuster will usually assess whether the damage is storm-caused or maintenance-related. A written report from a roofer describing what was found and how the damage was caused helps support your claim. We provide these reports as a standard part of emergency call-outs.

Brighton-Specific Storm Patterns

Brighton's coastal geography creates specific storm damage patterns worth understanding:

• South-facing slopes take the brunt — the prevailing south-westerly means south-facing roof slopes see both the highest wind uplift and the most rain-driving pressure. If you lose tiles, it's usually the south slope first.
• Ridge tiles on older properties are vulnerable — mortar bedding on Victorian and Edwardian ridge tiles has typically softened significantly. Strong gusts can displace ridge pieces that have been in place for decades.
• Valley blockage after storms causes secondary leaks — the debris stripped from trees by a storm often lands in valleys. Check your valleys after any significant storm, particularly on properties near Hanover's tree canopy or in the Ouse Valley around Lewes.

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24 hours a day across Brighton and East Sussex. Call 01273 973 996. No call-out fee. See our emergency roofing page for more.

Brighton-Specific Storm Risks

Brighton's geography creates specific storm damage patterns that affect some property types more than others. Understanding these helps you assess the urgency of getting your roof inspected after a significant weather event.

The Properties Most at Risk After a Brighton Storm

Cliff-top properties in Saltdean, Peacehaven and Seaford experience the highest wind uplift of anywhere in our coverage area. Properties with nail-sick concrete tile — which includes most of the inter-war bungalow stock across these areas — are at acute risk when south-westerly winds exceed 50mph. When nails have corroded, the wind uplift force required to displace a tile is significantly lower than on a properly fixed roof.

Victorian terraces in Hanover, Fiveways and Preston Park with ageing ridge mortar are the second highest-risk category. Ridge tiles held by softened mortar that have survived years of gentle weather can fail in the first serious gale. A displaced ridge tile leaves a gap through which subsequent rain enters freely.

Regency properties in Brunswick and Kemp Town have parapet gutters that are easily blocked by storm debris. An overflow from these gutters is invisible externally — the first sign is typically water staining on the top-floor ceiling. If your Regency property has experienced any storm event, a parapet gutter inspection within 48 hours is worthwhile.

What the Insurance Process Looks Like

For storm damage claims, your insurer will typically want: your policy number and a clear description of the damage; photographs taken immediately after the event; a professional assessment from a roofer documenting what was found and what caused it; and a written quote for the repair. We provide all of this documentation as standard for storm call-outs — including a written report distinguishing storm damage from pre-existing maintenance issues, which is the key determination insurers make.

Last reviewed: 21 July 2026 · Brighton Roofing Experts