Each autumn and winter brings a run of named storms, with strong winds and driving rain. Most homes come through without obvious damage, but small problems such as a slipped tile or a lifted flashing can cause damp quietly for weeks before a patch appears inside.
From the ground: the roof
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates
- Ridge tiles that look loose or out of line
- Lead flashings around chimneys and against walls that have lifted
- Damaged or missing chimney pots and cowls
Binoculars are useful for this. Don’t climb on the roof yourself.
Walls and windows
- Cracked or hollow-sounding render, particularly on exposed walls
- Pointing that has washed out of the joints
- Window and door sealant that has split or come away
- Fallen branches that may have damaged gutters or fascias
Inside the house
Check the loft with a torch the day after heavy wind-driven rain. Look for wet patches on the underside of the roof, damp insulation and drips around chimneys. Upstairs, look for new stains on ceilings and around window reveals.
Why storm damage leads to damp
Wind-driven rain finds defects that normal rain wouldn’t reach. Damp can spread some distance through a wall or roof before it shows, so the damp patch you see may not be directly below the cause. That is why penetrating damp needs proper investigation rather than a quick fix inside.
Insurance
Storm damage is often covered by buildings insurance, but gradual wear usually isn’t. Take dated photos of any damage straight after the storm, and report it promptly.
Getting help
If you find damage, or a damp patch appears after a storm, our surveyors can trace the cause of the damp, and our property maintenance team can carry out repairs to render, pointing and rainwater goods. If walls or ceilings have been soaked, see our water damage restoration service.
