Winter storms coming in off the Irish Sea regularly strip slates, ridge tiles and verges from roofs across Morecambe Bay, the Fylde coast and Furness. If it has happened to you, here is what to do.
1. Stay safe
Do not go onto the roof or up a ladder in wind or rain. Keep people away from areas where slates or tiles could fall. If a chimney stack looks unstable, keep clear of it and call a roofer straight away.
2. Limit the damage inside
Put buckets under drips, move valuables and electrics away from wet areas, and if water is coming through a ceiling near light fittings, switch off the power to that circuit.
3. Take photos
Photograph the damage from the ground and inside the house, including any slates or tiles that have fallen. Note the date and time. This helps both your roofer and your insurer.
4. Get a temporary make-safe
A roofer can usually make the roof watertight quickly with temporary covers or repairs, then come back for a permanent repair once the weather settles.
5. Speak to your insurer
Many buildings policies cover sudden storm damage, but not wear and tear. Your insurer may ask for a report and photos from your roofer showing what was damaged by the storm, and a written quote for the repair.
Preventing it next time
Most storm damage happens where fixings are already tired: ridges bedded in old mortar, verges that have lost their pointing, and slates held by corroded nails. Upgrading to mechanically fixed dry ridge and verge systems, and re-fixing slates with stainless or copper nails, makes a roof far more resistant to the next gale.