North Lincolnshire gets its share of severe weather. Winter storms bring sustained high winds and driving rain across Brigg, Scunthorpe, and the surrounding villages, and roofs take the brunt of it. Every year we attend properties where a single storm has lifted tiles, torn off ridge caps, damaged flashing, or exposed sections of roof structure.
This guide explains what to check after a storm, how to handle an insurance claim, and how to make sure any repair is carried out properly rather than patched over.
What Storm Damage Looks Like
Storm damage is not always dramatic. Sometimes a roof looks intact from the ground while water is already getting into the structure. The most common types of storm damage we see across North Lincolnshire include:
- Slipped, cracked, or completely missing tiles and slates
- Ridge and hip tiles displaced where the mortar bedding has failed
- Lead flashing lifted or torn away from chimneys, abutments, and parapets
- Flat roof coverings on extensions and garages split, lifted, or peeled back
- Gutters, fascias, and soffits pulled loose or broken by wind or debris
- Damage caused by falling branches or wind-blown debris
- Chimney stacks and pots destabilised in high winds
What to Check After a Storm
Once conditions are safe, carry out a careful check from the ground and from inside the property. Do not climb on the roof.
From the Ground
Walk around the property and look up at each roof slope. Look for gaps in the tile lines, tiles sitting out of alignment, displaced ridge tiles along the top of the roof, and lead flashing that appears lifted or curled. Check the ground and garden for fallen tiles or fragments, which is often the first sign of damage. Look at gutters and fascias for anything hanging loose or sagging.
From Inside the Loft
On a bright day, go into the loft with a torch and look for daylight coming through the roof covering, damp or water staining on the roof timbers, wet insulation, and any signs of active dripping. Water staining that appears in a new location after a storm is a clear indicator of fresh damage.
Inside the Property
Check ceilings and the tops of internal walls, particularly in upstairs rooms, for damp patches, discolouration, or bubbling paint. These may not appear immediately and can develop over the days following a storm.
What to Do If You Find Damage
Photograph everything before anything is moved or repaired. Insurers will want visual evidence of the damage and the date it occurred. Note the date and rough time of the storm, and if possible keep a record of local weather reports for that period.
If water is actively coming in, contain it with buckets, move belongings clear, and isolate electrics in the affected area. Then call a roofer to arrange a proper inspection and, if necessary, a temporary weatherproof covering to keep the property dry until a permanent repair can be carried out.
Making a Storm Damage Insurance Claim
Most home insurance policies in the UK cover storm damage to the roof and the resulting internal water damage. What they typically do not cover is general wear and tear, or damage that occurred because the roof was already in poor condition before the storm.
To give your claim the best chance of a smooth outcome:
- Notify your insurer as soon as practical after the damage occurs
- Provide clear dated photographs of both the damage and any affected interior
- Keep receipts for any emergency work carried out to prevent further damage
- Obtain a written report from a roofing professional describing the damage and its cause
- Do not authorise a full permanent repair before your insurer has confirmed how they want to proceed, unless it is genuinely urgent to prevent further damage
JM Roofing regularly provides written reports and photographic evidence for storm damage claims across Brigg and North Lincolnshire. If your insurer needs documentation, we can supply it.
Be Careful Who You Let on Your Roof After a Storm
Storms bring out doorstep traders. In the days following severe weather, homeowners across North Lincolnshire often get unsolicited callers claiming to have spotted damage while working nearby, offering to fix it immediately for cash.
This is one of the most common roofing scams. The work is frequently unnecessary, poorly done, or not done at all, and the trader is impossible to contact afterwards. If someone knocks on your door after a storm, take their details but do not agree to anything on the spot. Find your own roofer through reviews or a local recommendation.
You can read more about choosing a reputable roofer in our guide on how to choose a roofer in Brigg and Scunthorpe.
Repairing Storm Damage Properly
Storm damage repairs need to address the cause, not just the symptom. Replacing a few missing tiles without checking the underlay, battens, and flashing around them often leads to the same problem recurring in the next spell of bad weather.
When we attend a storm damage job, we inspect the whole roof rather than just the visibly damaged area. Wind that has lifted one section of tiles has often loosened the fixings on adjacent ones. Ridge mortar that has failed in one place is usually reaching the end of its life across the whole ridge line. Identifying that at the point of repair saves the homeowner from repeated call-outs.
Reducing the Risk of Future Storm Damage
You cannot prevent bad weather, but you can make sure your roof is in a condition to withstand it. A pre-winter inspection identifies loose tiles, tired ridge mortar, and failing flashing before the storms arrive. Replacing bedded ridge tiles with a dry ridge system removes one of the most common storm failure points entirely. Keeping gutters clear and trees trimmed back from the roofline also reduces risk considerably.
Storm Damage Roof Repair Across Brigg and North Lincolnshire
If a storm has damaged your roof, JM Roofing can inspect it, make it safe, and carry out a proper repair. We cover Brigg, Scunthorpe, and the surrounding North Lincolnshire area, always inspect before quoting, and provide the documentation your insurer needs.
Call 07979 811001 or request a free inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my roof has storm damage?
Check from the ground for missing or misaligned tiles, displaced ridge tiles, and lifted flashing. Check the loft for daylight, damp timbers, or wet insulation, and check upstairs ceilings for new damp patches. Do not climb on the roof.
Does home insurance cover storm damage to a roof in North Lincolnshire?
Most policies cover storm damage and the resulting internal water damage, but exclude general wear and tear or pre-existing poor condition. Notify your insurer promptly and provide dated photographs and a roofer's report.
What should I do immediately after storm damage to my roof in Brigg?
Photograph the damage, contain any water coming in, isolate electrics in affected areas, notify your insurer, and call a local roofer to inspect and make the roof safe.
Can JM Roofing provide a report for my insurance claim?
Yes. We regularly provide written reports and photographic evidence of storm damage for insurance claims across Brigg, Scunthorpe, and North Lincolnshire.
How long does a storm damage roof repair take?
Many storm damage repairs are completed in a single visit once the roof has been inspected. Larger jobs involving structural damage or extensive tile loss may take longer, and we will confirm timings with the written quote.
Should I let a doorstep roofer fix storm damage?
No. Unsolicited doorstep callers after a storm are a common scam. Take their details if you wish but do not agree to work on the spot. Find your own roofer through genuine local reviews.
How can I prevent storm damage to my roof?
A pre-winter inspection, replacing failing ridge mortar with a dry ridge system, keeping gutters clear, and trimming trees back from the roofline all significantly reduce the risk of storm damage.
Does JM Roofing carry out emergency storm damage repairs in Scunthorpe?
Yes. We attend emergency storm damage across Brigg, Scunthorpe, and the surrounding area. Call 07979 811001 and we will advise straight away.