Storm damage to a Devon roof requires quick thinking and calm action. The wrong response — climbing onto a wet roof in high winds, ignoring a displaced ridge tile hoping it will be fine, or agreeing rushed work on the doorstep with an unknown contractor — is worse than the damage itself. This guide explains what to check, what to ignore, when to call, and what to expect from an emergency roofer.
After storm damage to your roof, stay off the roof, place buckets to catch drips, photograph everything for insurance, and call a roofer for an emergency make-safe. Displaced ridge tiles and lifted flashings are the most common Devon storm damage and need prompt temporary weatherproofing.
Before you call anyone, a quick ground-level assessment gives you useful information and costs nothing.
From outside: Using binoculars if available, look at the ridge for displaced or missing ridge tiles. Look at the main roof slopes for tiles that have moved from their original position — a step in the tile pattern or a gap where a tile should be. Check whether any chimney pots or stacks appear to have moved. Look at the gutters — are any running at an angle that suggests a bracket has been blown off the fascia?
From inside the loft: If you can safely access the loft space, look for daylight visible through the roof plane (indicating tile displacement) and for wet patches on the felt or insulation that indicate active ingress. Do this only if you can do so safely from the hatch without stepping onto the loft insulation — you are looking, not investigating.
Do not: Go onto the roof. Do not go on the roof in wet or windy conditions, on a slippery surface, or on any roof without appropriate safety equipment and training. The assessment you can do from the ground or from a safe loft hatch position is enough to inform the call you make next.
Not all storm-related roof events require immediate action. Understanding the urgency helps you avoid both over-reacting and under-reacting.
BS 5534 wind-uplift requirements were strengthened in 2014 to mandate mechanical fixing of ridge and hip tiles, replacing the mortar-only bedding that fails in storms.
Source: BS 5534
Requires same-day emergency response: Active water entering the property through the ceiling or walls. Ridge tiles that have been displaced leaving the felt exposed (the felt is a secondary weatherproofing layer, not the primary, and it will not hold water indefinitely). A chimney stack that appears to have moved or that has partial collapse. Any situation where structural elements are exposed and more weather is forecast within 24 hours.
Can wait for a next-day scheduled appointment: A single displaced tile where the adjacent tiles are still in position and no active leak is present. Minor ridge mortar damage without displacement. Gutter damage that is not causing overflow against the building.
Can wait for a routine appointment: Loose lead flashing that is still roughly in position. Blocked valley or gutter that became apparent after the storm event. Moss or debris displacement that has not created an opening in the covering.
When an emergency roofer arrives at a Devon property, the first priority is making the roof safe and watertight as quickly as possible. This is different from permanent repair.
Emergency weatherproofing typically involves: heavy-duty tarpaulin secured across the affected roof area with appropriate weighted or mechanically fixed anchors (we do not nail through original tile or heritage surfaces); storm boards where a structural opening needs rigid temporary closure; and temporary lead sealant at any accessible failed flashing point.
The emergency visit does not restore the roof to its pre-storm condition. It prevents further damage while the permanent repair is assessed and scheduled. A reputable emergency roofer will tell you clearly what has been done, what is temporary, and what the permanent repair scope looks like. You should receive a written condition report before you sign anything for the permanent work.
Storm damage to your Devon roof? We provide 24/7 emergency response across Exeter and the surrounding area. No call-out fee. Call 01392 759 295 and we will give you an honest arrival estimate immediately.
📞 Call 01392 759 295Most standard buildings insurance policies cover sudden and unexpected storm damage to the roof covering, structure and internal damage directly caused by roof failure. The key word is ‘sudden and unexpected’ — damage that has developed gradually over time due to maintenance neglect is typically excluded.
For a successful claim you need: a written condition report from the roofer describing the damage and its cause; photographic evidence taken at the time of the emergency visit; and an itemised invoice for the emergency work and the permanent repair. We provide all three as a matter of course on storm damage calls.
For historic properties in Exeter’s conservation areas, some insurers require the use of matching heritage materials. This is correct practice regardless of the insurance requirement. Confirm with your insurer whether an approved contractor requirement applies.
Even if no active leak is visible after a storm, a post-event roof inspection is worthwhile on any Devon property that experienced significant wind or rainfall. The most common damage we identify in post-storm surveys is:
Opened lead flashings: Wind loading can partially lift step flashings from their mortar tuck without displacing them fully. The flashing may look undisturbed from below but is now open to water infiltration from the side. This becomes a leak in the next sustained rain event.
Nail-sick tiles advanced by the event: Tiles already loosened by nail sickness may have moved slightly during the storm, not far enough to be noticed from the ground but enough to create a gap at the headlap. These show up in the next heavy rainfall as a new leak that was not present before the storm.
Ridge mortar cracking: The vibration of sustained high winds can crack lime mortar at the ridge bedding on period properties even without visible displacement. Cracked bedding allows water entry and progressive mortar loss.
“Called at midnight. Roof made safe by 2am. Written condition report issued in the morning. Insurance claim handled straightforwardly with their documentation.”
“Post-storm inspection found an opened lead flashing we hadn’t noticed. Repaired before the next rainfall. Saved a lot of ceiling damage.”
“Storm chaser knocked the same morning. Called these instead for an honest second opinion. Much less work required than the door-knock quote suggested.”
Check from the ground using binoculars. Look from the loft hatch safely. Do not go on the roof. Call an emergency roofer if there is active ingress, exposed roof deck, or displaced ridge tiles with rain forecast.
Only if active water is entering or the tile displacement has exposed the roof felt with more rain forecast. A single displaced tile with no active ingress can wait for a scheduled appointment.
Yes, for sudden and unexpected storm damage. Gradual deterioration is typically excluded. We provide written condition reports and itemised invoices for insurance claims.
We aim to reach Exeter properties within 1–2 hours of your call. For surrounding Devon towns, typically 1–3 hours. Call 01392 759 295 for an accurate estimate.
Temporary tarpaulin, storm board or sealant applied to make the roof watertight after storm damage. It prevents further damage while the permanent repair is assessed and scheduled. It is not permanent repair.
A written condition report from the roofer describing the cause and extent of damage, photographic evidence, and an itemised invoice. We provide all three on storm damage calls.
Yes — opened lead flashings and advanced nail-sick tiles are common post-storm findings that are not visible from the ground. A post-event survey prevents the next rainfall becoming a new leak event.
Local Devon roofers. Free survey, written quote, 10-year guarantee. We turn up when we say we will.
01392 759 295Last reviewed: 21 July 2026
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