Storm Damage to Your Roof: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
A practical, step-by-step guide for Dorset homeowners — from immediate safety measures to making a successful insurance claim.
In this article
Dorset Storms Are No Joke
Living on or near the Dorset coast comes with undeniable benefits — but the weather is one of the trade-offs. Atlantic depressions funnel up the English Channel with regularity, and Poole, Bournemouth and the Purbeck coast regularly see gusts of 60–80mph in severe events. Named storms have a habit of arriving between November and March, just when roofs are already under stress from months of rain and frost.
When a storm damages your roof, the next 24 hours matter enormously — both for limiting further damage to your home and for protecting your insurance claim. This guide takes you through exactly what to do, in order.
Important: Never attempt to get onto your roof yourself — especially during or immediately after a storm. A wet roof surface is extremely dangerous. Even experienced roofers work with fall protection and safety equipment. Your safety is more important than any repair.
What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Work through these steps in order. They're designed to keep you safe, limit further damage and maximise your chances of a successful insurance claim.
Stay Inside and Stay Away from the Roof
If the storm is still ongoing, stay away from the affected area of the house. Loose tiles or chimney masonry can fall. Do not go into the loft during strong winds — in severe cases, roof structures can be compromised. Keep children and pets clear of any rooms below the damage.
Contain Any Active Water Ingress
Put buckets under any active drips. Protect furniture, electrics and flooring with towels or plastic sheeting. If water is near any electrical fittings, turn off the electricity at the consumer unit and call an electrician before turning it back on. Water and electrics are a lethal combination.
Document Everything — Photos and Video
Before anything is touched or covered up, photograph and video everything you can see from ground level and from inside the loft (safely, only once the storm has passed). Capture missing tiles, visible sky through the roof, damaged chimney stacks, fallen ridge tiles in the garden — anything that shows the extent of the storm damage. Timestamp everything. This evidence is critical for your insurance claim.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your home insurer as soon as possible — ideally within 24 hours of the damage occurring. Most policies require prompt notification. Explain clearly that the damage was caused by storm/wind and give a description. Ask about their process for emergency temporary repairs and whether they have a preferred contractor panel, or whether you can appoint your own.
Arrange Temporary Weatherproofing
Contact a reputable local roofer to carry out emergency temporary weatherproofing — typically applying a heavy-duty tarpaulin or temporary patching to stop further water ingress while the full repair is arranged. Keep all receipts. Most insurers will cover the cost of reasonable emergency temporary repairs if you've reported the claim promptly.
Get a Professional Damage Assessment Report
Ask your roofer to provide a written damage assessment report, clearly attributing the damage to the storm event and listing all affected elements with estimated repair costs. This report is your key evidence when the insurer sends a loss adjuster — and it prevents any dispute about the cause or extent of damage.
What Your Home Insurance Does (and Doesn't) Cover
This is where many homeowners get caught out. Storm damage insurance claims aren't always straightforward — and insurers will look carefully at whether damage was truly caused by the storm or was already developing beforehand.
Typically Covered
- ✓ Tiles blown off by high winds
- ✓ Ridge tiles displaced in a storm
- ✓ Chimney stack damage from wind
- ✓ Interior water damage directly caused by storm entry
- ✓ Emergency temporary repairs to prevent further damage
- ✓ Damage caused by fallen trees or debris (usually)
Typically NOT Covered
- ✗ General wear and tear
- ✗ Pre-existing damage worsened by storm
- ✗ Damage from lack of maintenance
- ✗ Gradual deterioration over time
- ✗ Cosmetic damage only (no structural impact)
- ✗ Your policy excess (typically £100–£500)
The maintenance argument: Insurers increasingly deny claims on the basis that the roof was already in poor condition and the storm simply accelerated existing failure. Regular professional roof inspections (every 5 years is a reasonable guide) and documented maintenance records significantly strengthen your position if a claim is ever disputed.
Watch Out for Storm-Chasing Roofers
Every time a named storm hits Dorset, unscrupulous traders appear — knocking on doors, claiming to have spotted serious damage, and pressuring homeowners into signing contracts on the doorstep. It's a well-known scam pattern, and it preys specifically on people who are anxious and vulnerable after a stressful event.
Warning signs of a storm-chasing roofer include:
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Turning up unsolicited the morning after a storm claiming they've "noticed damage" on your property.
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Demanding cash upfront or a large deposit before starting any work.
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No verifiable address, website or local reputation — they arrived in an unmarked van.
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Pressure to sign immediately — "we can only fit you in today, offer expires tonight."
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Exaggerated damage claims — insisting your whole roof needs replacing when a few tiles have slipped.
Always use a roofer you've found through recommendation, a trade body, or a trusted review platform. Chimney Geeks has served the Poole and Dorset area for over 35 years — we don't knock on doors and we don't pressure anyone. Call us directly and we'll give you an honest assessment.
Storm Damage? We Can Help Today.
Emergency temporary repairs, professional damage reports for insurance, and honest full repair quotes. Based in Poole, serving all of Dorset.