Storm Damage to Your Kent Roof: First Steps for Homeowners

Channel storms regularly hit Kent's coast hard. If you have just woken up to tiles in the garden or a sheet of lead on the front lawn, this guide tells you exactly what to do in the first 24 hours, and what not to.

Step 1: Stay Off the Roof (and Off the Garden)

In the hours immediately after a storm, more debris is still being lifted by gusts. Loose tiles, lead sheeting, broken slates, and chimney pots can fall hours after peak winds. Stay clear of the area directly below any visible damage.

Step 2: Assess Damage From the Ground

With binoculars or a phone camera zoom, photograph missing tiles (count them where possible), slipped tiles still on the roof, lifted or torn lead flashings, damaged chimney pots or cracked stack, and any fallen debris on the ground. Time-stamp every photo. This is what insurance assessors will rely on.

Step 3: Look Inside the Loft

When safe to do so, go up into the loft with a torch and look for daylight visible through the roof, active drips, wet timbers, soaked insulation, and debris on top of the loft floor. Photograph everything you find.

Step 4: Contain Internal Damage

Inside the property, move furniture, electronics, and rugs from under any active leak. Place buckets under drips. Pierce any bulging ceilings to drain controllably. Switch off room electrics if a leak is over a fitting. Photograph all internal damage.

Step 5: Call a Roofer for Emergency Cover

A genuine emergency callout will get a temporary tarpaulin or plastic sheet over the worst damage within hours, stopping further weather ingress until proper repair can be done. This costs £150-£350 typically and is usually covered by home insurance.

Step 6: Notify Your Insurer Promptly

Most policies require you to report storm damage within 30 days, and many require reasonable steps to mitigate damage (the temporary cover in Step 5 satisfies this). The Met Office maintains wind speed records by postcode. If your area registered storm-force winds (Force 9, 47+ mph), this strengthens any claim significantly.

Step 7: Get a Permanent Repair Quote

Once temporary cover is in place, the permanent repair can be quoted properly. Most insurers will want their own assessor to inspect before authorising work above a certain value (typically £1,500). Co-ordinate with your insurer before signing anything.

What Insurance Usually Covers vs Does Not

Covered: Replacement of storm-damaged tiles, lead flashing damage, chimney pot replacement, internal damage from sudden water ingress, reasonable temporary cover costs, scaffolding for repair.

Not covered: Pre-existing damage that has now worsened, wear-and-tear failure exposed by the storm, damage caused by your own missing maintenance, cosmetic-only damage.

Get Emergency Storm Cover in Kent

We provide same-day storm callouts across Canterbury, Margate, Faversham, and Folkestone. Call 07562690714 anytime, including evenings and weekends after major weather events.