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If a storm has damaged your roof in Edinburgh, act quickly but safely: contain any water inside, stay off the roof, and get a professional to make it watertight before more rain arrives. Storm damage is generally covered by buildings insurance, so photograph everything and keep evidence for a claim.
At Edinburgh Borders Roofing, we handle storm and emergency roof repairs across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders, so this guide explains what to do first, how the repair works, and how to evidence a claim.
What to do when a storm damages your roof
The priority after storm damage is safety first, then limiting further water damage, then getting the roof assessed. Do not try to inspect or fix the roof yourself in bad weather.
Work through these steps:
- Stay safe: Keep off the roof and away from ladders in wind or rain, and watch for loose slates or debris on the ground below.
- Contain water inside: Move furniture, electricals and valuables clear, and put a container under any drip.
- Release trapped water carefully: If a ceiling is bulging with water, it is sometimes safer to pierce it in a controlled way than to let it spread, but only if it is safe to do so.
- Check for immediate danger: If there is a structural or electrical risk, contact the relevant emergency service first.
- Photograph everything: Record the damage inside and out before anything is moved or repaired.
- Call a roofer: Arrange a professional to make the roof safe and watertight.
Acting fast matters, because water left coming in over a wet Edinburgh weekend turns a small fix into a much larger repair.
What counts as storm damage to a roof?
Storm damage is damage caused by sudden, severe weather: high winds, driving rain, hail or snow. On Edinburgh roofs, it usually shows as slates or tiles torn off, dislodged ridge tiles, lifted lead flashing, or debris impact.
This matters because insurers and roofers distinguish genuine storm damage from gradual wear and tear. A sound roof that loses slates in a gale is storm damage. A tired, ageing roof that was already failing is usually treated as wear and tear, even if a storm was the final push. Knowing the difference helps you understand both the repair and any insurance claim.
Common types of storm damage on Edinburgh roofs
Edinburgh roofs take a battering from coastal winds off the Firth of Forth, and certain types of storm damage come up again and again. Traditional slate roofs and exposed stacks are especially vulnerable.
| Storm damage | What happens |
| Slipped or missing slates | High winds lift and tear slates, exposing the underlay |
| Dislodged ridge tiles | Wind gets under ridge tiles and loosens the mortar bedding |
| Lifted or torn lead flashing | Flashing around chimneys and valleys is peeled back |
| Loose or fallen chimney pots | Exposed stacks lose pots and flaunching in high winds |
| Blocked or overflowing gutters | Debris and heavy rain overwhelm gutters and valleys |
| Debris impact | Branches or flying debris crack or hole the covering |
Why fast action matters after a storm
A storm-damaged roof should be made safe quickly, because every hour of exposure lets more water into the structure, where it does far more expensive damage than the original fault. A single missing slate can let in a surprising amount of water.
Water rarely stays where it enters. It tracks along timbers and underlay, soaks insulation, and by the time a damp patch appears on a ceiling the damage has usually been spreading for a while. On the traditional roofs common across Edinburgh, prompt action is the difference between a quick repair and weeks of drying out and rebuilding. This is where emergency roof repairs and a temporary covering earn their place.
How storm damage roof repair works
Storm damage repair happens in two stages: an emergency response to make the roof safe, then a permanent repair once the weather and access allow. The first stage protects your home; the second puts it right.
First, we make the roof safe and watertight, often with a temporary covering to stop water getting in while conditions are still poor. Then, once it is safe to work properly, we carry out the permanent repair: refixing or replacing slates, re-bedding ridge tiles, renewing lead flashing, or sorting a chimney stack. We also trace the true source of any leak rather than guessing, because stormwater often enters well away from where it appears inside. Doing both stages properly is what stops the same fault returning in the next storm.
Does insurance cover storm damage roof repair?
Storm damage to a roof is generally covered by buildings insurance, provided the roof was in sound condition beforehand and the damage was caused by genuine storm conditions. Wear and tear and pre-existing damage generally are not covered.
Insurers typically look for evidence of the storm and proof that the roof was sound before it. This is why documentation matters so much: dated photographs, a professional roofer’s report, and a record of the weather all strengthen a claim. We provide the survey and repair, and the photographic evidence that supports your claim, but we are roofers, not loss assessors, so the claim itself is between you and your insurer. For the full picture, see our guide on whether a leaking roof is covered by insurance.
How to evidence a storm damage claim
Strong evidence is what makes a storm damage claim succeed, so document everything and act promptly. Insurers want to see both the damage and proof it was sudden.
Photograph the damage inside and out, with dates, before any repair. Get a dated professional roof report identifying the cause, which our free photographic roof survey provides. Note the date and conditions of the storm, since official weather records can support the timing. Keep any records of past roof maintenance, which help show the roof was sound beforehand. Then notify your insurer promptly and follow their process, carrying out only emergency work to limit damage before they approve wider repairs.
Storm damage on Edinburgh tenement roofs
On a shared tenement roof, storm damage is usually a shared repair, because the roof is common property owned jointly by all the flat owners. A storm-damaged roof over a top-floor flat is normally a building-wide responsibility.
This means the cost is generally split between owners, and any insurance may sit with a common block policy or each owner’s individual cover. Coordinating a shared repair quickly after a storm is where a roofer used to tenements helps. For the full detail on responsibility and cost, see our guide on tenement roof repair in Edinburgh.
Can you prevent storm damage?
You cannot stop a storm, but a well-maintained roof is far less likely to suffer serious storm damage. Most storm losses happen where a fault already existed, and the wind simply found it.
Keep the roof in good order: have loose or slipped slates refixed promptly, keep ridge mortar and flashings sound, clear gutters and valleys before the winter storm season, and have the roof checked after any major storm. A sound roof rides out weather that strips a neglected one, so regular maintenance is the best storm protection there is, especially through an Edinburgh autumn and winter.
Getting storm damage repaired
We respond to storm damage the way it needs handling: make the roof safe first, then put it right properly, with clear evidence throughout. Our free photographic roof survey shows you exactly what the storm has done, and we carry out emergency coverings and permanent repairs across slate, tile, lead and flat roofs. As an established Edinburgh roofing company, we cover Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders, with rope access for exposed roofs and stacks, and we give you the photographs and report you need for an insurance claim.
If a storm has damaged your roof, book a free photographic roof survey with Edinburgh Borders Roofing, and we will make it safe and tell you honestly what it needs.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. What should I do first when a storm damages my roof?
Answer: Stay safe and off the roof, contain any water inside by moving valuables and catching drips, and photograph the damage. Then call a roofer to make the roof watertight. If there is a structural or electrical danger, contact the relevant emergency service first. Acting quickly limits further water damage.
Q2. Is storm damage to a roof covered by insurance?
Answer: Storm damage is generally covered by buildings insurance, provided the roof was sound beforehand and the damage was caused by genuine storm conditions. Wear and tear and pre-existing damage usually are not. Dated photographs, a roofer’s report and weather records all help support a claim.
Q3. What counts as storm damage?
Answer: Storm damage is damage from sudden, severe weather: high winds, driving rain, hail or snow. On Edinburgh roofs it typically shows as torn-off slates, dislodged ridge tiles, lifted flashing, lost chimney pots or debris impact. Insurers distinguish this from gradual wear and tear on an ageing roof.
Q4. How quickly should storm damage be repaired?
Answer: As quickly as it can be made safe. Every hour of exposure lets more water into the roof structure, where it causes far more costly damage than the original fault. A roofer will usually make the roof watertight first with a temporary covering, then carry out the permanent repair once conditions allow.
Q5. Who pays for storm damage on a tenement roof?
Answer: On a shared tenement roof, storm damage is usually a shared repair, because the roof is common property owned by all the flat owners. The cost is generally split between owners, and insurance may sit with a common block policy or individual cover. Check your deeds and how the building is insured.
Q6. Can I inspect storm damage myself?
Answer: Not on the roof. Never go up a ladder or onto a roof in or after a storm, as it is dangerous. You can look for signs from the ground, such as missing slates or debris, and check inside for leaks, but leave any roof inspection to a professional with safe access.