Should I inspect my roof after severe weather?

Walk the perimeter and look at every elevation. Look for coverings out of line or resting on a gutter, fresh debris on the ground or in gutters, mortar grit that was not there before, and new staining on walls below joints and gutters.

Inside, look in the roof space after driven rain for new staining, wet timber or daylight. Do this from the loft hatch, not by moving around a dark roof space unnecessarily.

Uplift flexes coverings and cracks bedding without removing anything. Flashings lift at the top edge and settle back. Nail holes enlarge. None of this is visible from the ground, and all of it lets water in when the wind next drives rain against that elevation.

That is why a serious storm justifies a proper look rather than only a ground check.

Stay on the ground. Do not use a ladder in wind or wet conditions, do not climb onto a roof, and keep clear of anything hanging or resting on a gutter — assume it can fall. Use a phone camera zoomed in rather than getting closer.

Where the roof cannot be seen properly from below, a drone survey covers every elevation without anyone working at height.

Photograph anything you notice, with the date, before clearing debris or arranging temporary work. That record supports the diagnosis and gives you factual evidence if you decide to claim; whether a policy covers it is for your insurer to determine.

Note the date of the storm and which direction the wind came from — it is often the most useful clue in locating an entry point.

If the roof is open, anything is hanging above an area in use, water is entering, or a chimney looks unstable, that is an emergency: keep clear and call for attendance. Otherwise arrange an inspection covering fixings, bedding and flashings rather than only what is missing.