Storm Damage to Your Roof in East Yorkshire: What to Do (and What Not To)

High winds along the Humber and the East Yorkshire coast can lift tiles, tear flashing and drive rain into a property fast. If a storm has just damaged your roof, the priority is simple: stay safe, limit water getting in, document everything for insurance, and get a roofer to make the roof watertight — in that order. Here's the step-by-step.

Right now: stay safe first

• Don't climb onto the roof or use a ladder in wind or rain. More roofing injuries happen during DIY storm checks than almost anything else.
• Keep clear of fallen tiles and debris on the ground, and keep children and pets away.
• If you see damaged power lines touching the roof or guttering, stay back and call the emergency line for your network operator (dial 105 in the UK).

Limit the damage from inside

• If water is coming through a ceiling, place buckets and move furniture and valuables clear.
• If a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, it can collapse. From a safe position, a small pierce with a screwdriver into the lowest point lets water drain in a controlled way into a bucket — only do this if it's safe to reach.
• Turn off electrics to any affected area if water is near light fittings or sockets.

Document everything for insurance

• Photograph the damage from ground level — displaced tiles, debris, interior water stains — before anything is cleared or repaired.
• Note the date and time of the storm.
• Check your buildings insurance: storm damage is usually covered, but most insurers require you to take "reasonable steps" to prevent further damage, which is exactly what an emergency make-safe does.

Call an emergency roofer to make it watertight

A professional emergency call-out will make the roof safe and watertight — securing or temporarily covering the damaged area (for example with weighted sheeting) so no more water gets in — then quote for the permanent roof repair once it's safe to assess properly.

At Armour Shield we run a 24/7 emergency roof repair service across East Yorkshire for exactly this. Coastal and exposed spots like Hedon, Hessle and the wider Holderness coast tend to see the worst wind damage, and getting a roof covered quickly is what stops a cracked-tile problem turning into a ruined ceiling.

What not to do

• Don't ignore "minor" damage — a couple of missing tiles let wind and water under the rest of the covering.
• Don't pay cash to untraceable "storm chasers" who knock on doors after bad weather. Use an insured, contactable local roofer who'll quote in writing.
• Don't attempt roof-level repairs yourself in poor conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Does home insurance cover storm damage to a roof?

Usually yes, under buildings insurance, provided the roof was in reasonable condition beforehand and you take steps to prevent further damage. Always check your specific policy and excess.

How quickly can a roofer come out after a storm?

For active leaks and storm damage we aim to respond as fast as possible through our 24/7 emergency line, making the roof safe before arranging the full repair.

What counts as "storm damage"?

Typically wind, heavy rain, hail or lightning of sufficient severity. Many insurers reference wind speeds; your roofer can describe the damage clearly to support your claim.

Should I get the roof fixed before claiming?

Make it safe to prevent further damage, document everything first, and check your insurer's process — some want to inspect or appoint their own assessor before the permanent repair.

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Roof damaged in a storm? Call our 24/7 emergency line and we'll make it watertight, then quote for the lasting repair. Serving Hull, Hessle, Beverley, the coast and the wider East Riding.