Storm damage to your Bath roof — what to do in the first 24 hours

Storms in Bath and the surrounding Somerset hills can be brutal. We’ve seen roofs damaged in twenty minutes by winds that were forecast as “a bit blustery.” If you’ve just been through a bad storm and you think your roof has taken a hit, here’s what to do.

The first hour: stay safe

Do not go up into the loft if water is actively pouring in. The ceiling can hold a surprising amount of water before it gives way, but when it does, it goes all at once. If you suspect the ceiling is bulging, poke a small hole in the lowest point with a screwdriver and put a bucket underneath. A controlled drip is far better than a ceiling collapse.

Outside: do not go near the property if there are downed cables. Stay well clear and call the electricity distributor.

Inside: if water is near any electrical fitting, switch that circuit off at the consumer unit.

The first day: document everything

This is the bit that matters most for insurance, and the bit most people skip because they’re stressed:

• Photograph everything. The ceiling stain, the dripping, the slipped tiles you can see from the ground, the broken fence panel, the fallen tree branch, the dent in the car. Photos are gold for the insurance claim.
• Don’t throw anything away yet. The damaged carpet, the soaked plaster, the broken tile you found in the garden — keep it until the loss adjuster has seen it. We know it feels wrong to leave a soggy mess, but insurance companies are much happier with evidence.
• Write down the timeline. When did the storm hit? When did you first notice the leak? When did you call us? Times matter.

Don’t let the first person who knocks on the door do the work

After every big storm, the Bath area fills up with vans from elsewhere. Some are legitimate, some are not. A few rules of thumb:

• Cash-only, “we can start tomorrow” — usually a red flag. Proper roofers are usually booked out for weeks after a major storm, not sitting waiting for knocks.
• No written quote, just a verbal estimate — almost always a problem. Get something in writing before any work starts.
• “We’ll deal with the insurance for you” — sometimes genuine, sometimes a way to inflate the claim. If they offer this, ask them exactly what they mean and check with your insurer before agreeing.

We’re local — based in Peasedown St John — and we’ll always turn up in a liveried van, give you a written quote before any work starts, and tell you honestly whether something is insurance-grade damage or whether it’s pre-existing wear and tear.

What we’ll do when we arrive

For genuine storm damage, the first job is make safe — get the roof watertight again, even if that’s a temporary repair. Permanent repairs come second, once the weather’s settled and we can see the full extent of the damage.

We carry tarpaulins, temporary fixings, and a range of slate, tile, and lead offcuts for exactly this kind of call. The make-safe usually takes a few hours. The permanent repair is then quoted properly, in writing, with a realistic timeline.

Insurance work — what we provide

If you’re claiming on insurance, we provide:

• A written inspection report suitable for the loss adjuster — photos, location of damage, cause, recommended repair, expected lifespan of the rest of the roof.
• A fixed-price quote for the recommended repair work.
• A separate quote for matching materials if the original tiles or slates are no longer available (this is often a separate line item on the claim).

We work with most of the major insurers’ loss adjusters. If your insurer needs anything specific, tell us when you call and we’ll make sure the paperwork is in the right format.

How to actually reach us in a storm

Phone is best. We pick up out of hours for genuine emergencies and we keep a list of who’s called so we’re not playing voicemail tennis during the worst of it. If we can’t get to you the same day, we’ll be honest about when we can and what to do in the meantime.