Northamptonshire experiences some of the sharpest storm conditions in the East Midlands — the open upland plateaus around Daventry and the exposed northern parts of the county channel south-westerly gales with significant energy. After any significant wind event, a systematic check of your roof is worthwhile even if you haven't noticed anything obviously wrong. Many roof failures that present as sudden emergency leaks in winter started as storm damage that was never assessed.
After a storm in Northampton, check from ground level for slipped or missing tiles, displaced ridge tiles, and chimney pot movement, then inspect the loft for leaks. Call immediately if water is entering near electrics or a large area is exposed. Storm damage is covered by most home insurance.
Step 1: Ground Level Visual Check (Safe, Do This First)
Before anything else, walk around the perimeter of your property and look at the roof from ground level. You're looking for:
Missing tiles or slates — gaps in the tile course visible as darker patches or exposed felt beneath. On concrete interlocking tile roofs (common on Northampton's post-war estates) missing tiles often appear as square gaps. On clay plain tile roofs (1930s Kingsthorpe and Abington properties) the pattern is less regular.
Displaced ridge tiles — the tiles running along the apex of the roof. These are bedded in mortar and are among the first to move in a storm. Displaced ridge tiles often sit at a slight angle rather than having completely fallen.
Chimney damage — chimney pots that have shifted or fallen, or visible gaps in chimney mortar joints. Look also for chimney stacks that lean or appear off-vertical, which indicates structural movement.
Gutters and downpipes — gutters that have pulled away from the fascia, are hanging at the wrong angle, or have debris blockages at the outlet. Fascia boards that have cracked or split under gutter weight.
Step 2: Loft Inspection (Do This After Rain)
After the next rainfall following a storm, inspect your loft space with a torch. You're looking for:
Active water ingress — drips or wet patches on the rafters, on the top surface of the ceiling joists, or on stored items. Trace any drip back to its entry point if possible — water often travels along a rafter before dripping, so the entry point may be higher than where it appears.
Daylight through the felt — switch off your torch during daylight and let your eyes adjust. Small points of light through the felt indicate holes or splits. Larger lit areas indicate missing tiles.
Wet insulation — mineral wool or loose-fill insulation that feels damp or has changed colour. Saturated insulation loses its thermal performance and, once wet, takes weeks to dry out naturally.
Smell — a musty or earthy smell in the loft that wasn't present before the storm can indicate water has entered and is sitting in the structure.
Step 3: Prioritise What's Urgent
Not all storm damage requires emergency attendance. Here's how to grade what you've found:
Immediate — same day: Active water ingress over electrical fittings. Structural damage to the chimney stack. Missing tiles in a location where rain is entering the house. A ridge tile that has fallen and damaged tiles below it.
Urgent — within 48 hours: Missing tiles where the felt beneath is exposed but not yet leaking internally. Displaced but not fallen ridge tiles. Gutters fully detached and at risk of causing fascia damage. Chimney pots that have moved but not fallen.
Can wait for an assessment — within a week: Ground-level debris from the roof (small pieces of mortar or tile fragments) with no obvious gap visible from ground level. Gutters that are sagging but still functional. Ridge mortar that is visibly cracked but tiles are still in position.
What Not to Do
Do not go onto the roof yourself. This applies even if you are comfortable working at height and own a ladder. Roof tiles are slippery when wet and the structural integrity of the roof after storm damage may be compromised in ways that aren't visible from outside. Professional roofers use proper access equipment and assess structural safety before putting weight on a damaged section.
Do not use sealant or expanding foam as a first response. These products can trap moisture in the structure and make a subsequent proper repair more difficult. If you need temporary weatherproofing while waiting for a roofer, heavy-duty polythene sheeting weighted at the edges is better than a sealant applied to an area you can only partially see.
Do not leave it. A single missing tile after a storm is a minor issue that costs £150 to £250 to fix. The same opening left through a Northampton winter will allow sustained water ingress that saturates the felt, wets the insulation, and eventually damages the ceiling below. The repair cost increases significantly with time.
Calling for Emergency Help
If you have active water ingress into the living space, a fallen chimney pot, or significant structural damage, call us on 0160 428 1189. Emergency calls received before 2pm are attended the same day in virtually all cases. We carry temporary weatherproofing materials on every van — if a full repair can't be completed on the emergency visit, we will make the roof safe before leaving.
For damage that is urgent but not immediately critical, call us to describe what you've found and we'll advise whether it needs same-day attention or can be assessed by appointment within the next day or two. We cover all of Northampton and all NN postcodes.
Free surveys across all NN postcodes. Call 0160 428 1189 or request a quote online.
Last reviewed: July 2026
The First Hour After Storm Damage
When a storm lifts tiles or flashing on your Northampton home, the priority is safety and stopping further water ingress — not climbing on a wet, wind-battered roof. From the ground, check for dislodged tiles, a leaning chimney or loose pots, and lifted lead or felt. Inside, put buckets under active drips and move valuables clear. Photograph everything for your insurer before anything is touched. Then call a roofer to make safe: we attend storm call-outs across Northampton to secure loose elements and fit temporary weatherproofing, with the permanent, guaranteed repair to follow once it is safe and dry to work at height.
Storm Damage and Your Insurance
Sudden storm damage is typically covered by buildings insurance, unlike the gradual deterioration that causes most leaks. The key to a smooth claim is evidence: dated photographs of the damage, a professional assessment of the cause, and itemised quotes for the repair. We document storm damage precisely and distinguish it from any pre-existing wear, which helps your claim stand up. Beware anyone who knocks on your door offering immediate storm repairs — reputable roofers are busy making safe, not touting for work street to street after bad weather.
Preventing Storm Damage Before It Happens
Much storm damage is opportunistic — high winds find the tile that was already slipping, the flashing that was already lifting, the pot that was already loose. That means the best storm protection is routine maintenance before the season. Ahead of autumn and winter, it's worth having slipped or cracked tiles re-fixed, loose ridge tiles re-bedded, chimney lead and pots checked, and gutters cleared so they don't overflow and freeze. On exposed Northampton roofs — the higher ground around Daventry, Brixworth and Brackley catches the worst of the wind — a pre-winter check is especially worthwhile. It's far cheaper than an emergency call-out in the middle of a storm, and it removes the weak points that turn a gusty night into a leaking ceiling. A sound, well-maintained roof rides out the same storm that peels tiles off a neglected one.
The two things worth remembering about storm damage are: don't climb on a wet, wind-battered roof yourself, and don't hire the roofer who knocks on your door the morning after. Stay safe, contain any water inside, photograph everything for your insurer, and call a roofer to make safe. We attend genuine storm emergencies across Northampton to secure loose elements and stop water getting in, then quote honestly for the permanent repair once it's safe to work at height — and we're happy to document the cause precisely to support your insurance claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first after storm damage? Stay off the roof. Check from the ground, contain drips inside, photograph everything for insurance, then call a roofer to make safe and fit temporary weatherproofing.
Is storm damage covered by insurance? Sudden storm damage is usually covered by buildings insurance. Gradual wear is not — which is why documenting the cause matters.
How fast can you make my roof safe? We attend genuine storm emergencies across Northampton the same day to secure loose elements and stop water getting in.
Should I use a door-knocking roofer after a storm? Be cautious. Reputable local roofers are making safe for existing customers after storms, not cold-calling street to street.