Cumbria is no stranger to bad weather. Carlisle and the surrounding region regularly experiences storms rolling in off the Irish Sea, prolonged downpours, and in winter, freeze-thaw conditions that can be brutal on older properties. After every significant storm, we receive a surge of calls from homeowners who've noticed something isn't quite right.
The good news is that most storm damage to roofs is repairable — often quickly and cost-effectively — if it's caught early. The problem comes when damage goes unnoticed for weeks or months, allowing water to penetrate the structure and cause far more serious and expensive problems.
Here's a practical guide to checking your roof safely after bad weather, and knowing when to call in a professional.
Important: Never attempt to access your roof after a storm. Even if the weather has passed, wet tiles are dangerously slippery and structural damage may not be visible. All of the checks below can be performed safely from ground level or from inside your loft space.
Step 1: Start Outside — A Ground-Level Visual Check
The first thing to do after a major storm is walk around the perimeter of your property and look up at the roofline from ground level. You're looking for anything obviously out of place.
Check the ground around your property
Look for tiles, slates, ridge caps, or mortar debris on the ground, in your garden, or in your gutters. Even a single displaced tile is worth investigating — it leaves a gap that allows water in immediately.
Look at the roofline from the street
Step back as far as possible and look at the ridge line and the main roof slopes. An obvious sag, dip, or uneven section — particularly one that wasn't there before — is a red flag. Zoom in with your phone camera if it helps.
Check the gutters and downpipes
High winds often blow debris into gutters and can pull fascia boards away from the roofline. Look for gutters that are visibly sagging, detached, or blocked with debris.
Inspect the chimney stack from below
Use binoculars or your phone camera to check the chimney stack as best you can. Look for mortar debris at the base, visible cracks in the brickwork, or a pot that appears to have moved or tipped.
Look for visible gaps in the roof covering
On a sunny day, stand where you have the best view of your roof slopes and look for any obvious dark gaps where tiles or slates are missing. Even one or two missing tiles can let in significant water during the next heavy rain.
Step 2: Check the Loft Space
While you can see some damage from outside, the loft is where storm damage often becomes apparent first — particularly for leaks that haven't yet reached your ceilings. If you have safe loft access, check it within 24–48 hours of a significant storm.
Look for daylight
On a bright day, go into your loft and turn off any lights. Look for pinpricks or shafts of daylight coming through the roof boards. Any visible light is also a potential entry point for water.
Check roof timbers for damp
Run your hand along the main roof timbers and rafters. Wet or damp timber after a storm indicates that water has already entered your roof structure — even if you haven't yet seen a ceiling stain below.
Inspect the felt or membrane
If your roof has a felt underlay or breathable membrane, check for any tears, sagging sections, or water pooled in a low section. Torn or collapsed felt is often a sign of tile damage above it.
Check around chimneys and soil pipes
Penetrations through the roof — chimney bases, soil pipes, and roof windows — are the most common entry points for water. Inspect the area around each one carefully for signs of water staining or dampness on the surrounding timbers.
Step 3: Check Ceilings and Internal Walls
Water stains on ceilings or damp patches appearing on internal walls after a storm are an obvious sign that something has failed above. A few things to keep in mind:
- The stain you can see is rarely directly below the point where the water is entering. Water travels along timbers and joists before dripping, sometimes several metres from the source.
- A stain that appears after only one storm event may look minor, but the structural damage above it can be significantly worse than it appears.
- Don't wait to see if it dries out and goes away. It almost certainly won't — and the next rainfall will make it worse.
What Types of Storm Damage Are Most Common in Cumbria?
Based on the calls we receive after Cumbrian storms, here are the most common issues we encounter:
- Slipped or missing slates — particularly on older properties with original natural slate roofs
- Lifted ridge and hip tiles — the mortar bed that holds ridge tiles can weaken over time and is particularly vulnerable in high winds
- Damaged or blocked guttering — debris, wind-borne branches, and heavy rainfall can all cause gutter failure
- Displaced lead flashings — lead around chimney stacks and valley flashings can lift or crack during extreme temperature swings
- Felt or membrane tears — usually a secondary issue once tile damage has occurred
When Should You Call a Roofer?
If you spot any of the following after bad weather, call a roofer as soon as possible — don't leave it until you see a ceiling stain:
- Any tiles, slates, or ridge caps on the ground
- Visible gaps in your roof covering
- Damp timber in the loft
- Water staining on ceilings
- Sagging or detached guttering
- Any change to the appearance of the roofline from the street
EA Roofing Services are based in Carlisle and respond quickly to storm damage calls across Cumbria and South West Scotland. We offer a £90 call-out within 10 miles of Carlisle that includes a full inspection and written quote — so there are no surprises when it comes to cost.
For genuine emergencies, call us any time on 07341569754. We'd rather you call early than wait and find a much bigger problem.