Common Roof Problems After a Storm

What a Storm Actually Does to Your Roof

A heavy storm puts every part of your roof under real stress. Wind lifts and loosens tiles, rain forces water into gaps you never knew existed, and frost that follows a wet spell can crack mortar and split flashing within days. In and around Wymondham, older properties with clay or concrete plain tiles are particularly exposed, because mortar-bedded ridge and hip tiles can loosen over time and a strong gust is often all it takes to shift them.

The problem is that the damage is not always obvious from the ground. A missing tile or two might be easy to spot, but lifted flashing, cracked pointing or a split felt underlay beneath intact tiles can let water in for weeks before you notice a stain on your ceiling. Getting up there - or having a roofer do so - straight after a storm is the only reliable way to know what you are dealing with.

The Most Common Storm Damage We See on Roofs

Displaced or broken tiles are the single most visible sign of storm damage. When a tile slips, rain hits the felt underlay directly. The underlay is a secondary barrier, not a permanent one, so water will eventually find its way through, especially if the felt is already aged and brittle.

Ridge tiles are a common weak point. They sit at the very top of the roof and are bedded in mortar that weathers and shrinks over the years. A storm can rock them loose, crack the mortar bed or lift them entirely. Once the mortar fails, rainwater tracks down inside the roof space and can saturate insulation and ceiling joists before it appears as a damp patch inside the house.

• Lifted or cracked flashing - the lead or code-metal strips that seal joints around chimneys, skylights and where a roof meets a wall. Wind can peel flashing back and open a direct route for water. Our lead work service covers repairs and full replacements of storm-damaged flashing.
• Blocked or damaged guttering - storms drive leaves, twigs and debris into gutters, which then overflow and soak fascia boards and the wall below. Broken gutter brackets are also common after strong winds. See our fascias, soffits and guttering service for more detail.
• Chimney damage - chimney stacks take the full force of the wind. Cracked haunching (the mortar slope at the base of the pot), loose pointing and dislodged pots are all common after a storm. In serious cases the stack itself can be structurally compromised and will need a chimney rebuild.
• Flat roof damage - felt flat roofs can blister, split or have their edges lifted by wind. Water then pools and works its way under the surface membrane. EPDM rubber flat roofs generally fare better in high winds, but any flat roof should be checked after a storm.

What Damage Is Likely to Need Planning Permission?

Most storm repairs - replacing like-for-like tiles, re-pointing, reseating ridge tiles, repairing flashing - fall under permitted development and do not need planning permission. However, if the damage is severe enough that you need to consider a full roof replacement and you want to change the roofing material, it is worth checking whether your property is in a conservation area or is listed. In those cases, permitted development rights may be restricted.

You can check the rules for your property on the GOV.UK planning permission guide. If you are in any doubt, speak to a roofer before you commit to a particular material, as changing from one type to another without the right approval can cause problems when you come to sell.

How to Check Your Roof Safely After a Storm

Do not go onto the roof yourself. Wet tiles, damaged battens and weakened felt are all slip and fall hazards, and a further storm could arrive quickly. Instead, use binoculars from the ground to look along the ridge for missing or cracked tiles, and check the gutters and downpipes from close up for debris and broken fixings.

Inside, check your loft space with a torch. Look for daylight coming through, damp patches on the felt, or wet insulation. If you find any of these, the damage has already reached further than the outer surface. A damp ceiling inside the house means water has passed through the felt and soaked the ceiling board - at that point the repair is more involved than a simple tile replacement.

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors advises homeowners to use a competent roofer for any post-storm inspection rather than attempting roof access themselves.

Temporary and Permanent Repairs

If a roofer cannot get to you immediately after a severe storm, a temporary weatherproof covering secured over the damaged area can limit water ingress until a full repair is done properly. Do not accept a repair that relies entirely on roofing sealant painted over cracked tiles or flashing. That is a short-term measure, not a fix. A thorough repair means removing damaged materials, checking what lies beneath, and reinstating everything correctly with fresh fixings and mortar where needed.

Wymondham and the surrounding villages have a good mix of Victorian terraces, 1930s semi-detached houses and newer builds, and the right repair approach depends on the roof type, the age of the materials and how the rest of the roof is holding up. If tiles are regularly shifting after storms, it may be worth discussing whether a new roof is more cost-effective in the long run than repeated patch repairs.

If you have had storm damage and want to know what needs doing, get in touch with Wymondham Roofers for a free local quote. We work across Wymondham and nearby towns including Norwich and Attleborough.

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