Storm Damage to Your Horsham Roof — What To Do Next

Home insurance covers sudden storm damage but not gradual wear and tear, so a written report separating the two is essential to a claim. — Association of British Insurers guidance

After a Storm: The Right Order of Actions

Storm damage to a Horsham roof requires a clear sequence of actions to protect both the property and any subsequent insurance claim. Doing things in the wrong order — or doing too much before the insurer has assessed the damage — can compromise your position. Here's what to do and in what order.

Step 1: Make the Property Safe

Before anything else, assess whether the building is safe to occupy. A storm that has displaced ridge tiles or removed a significant section of tiles is a structural concern if the roof deck has been exposed for an extended period. If there is any doubt about structural integrity — sagging roof sections, cracked rafters visible from the loft, ceiling bulging under water weight — evacuate and call us on 0140 358 1272. We attend Horsham emergencies 24/7.

Step 2: Document the Damage Before Touching Anything

Photograph everything before any clearing up, temporary repair or removal of debris. Photos of dislodged tiles, damaged ridge sections, visible gaps in the roof covering, water ingress staining on ceilings and walls — all of this constitutes evidence for an insurance claim. Insurers check Met Office weather data for your postcode to verify that a storm event occurred, but the physical evidence of what the storm actually damaged to your specific property rests entirely with your photographs.

Step 3: Make a Temporary Repair to Prevent Further Damage

Insurance policies typically require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after an insured event. A temporary tarpaulin over an exposed roof section, properly weighted and secured, is both reasonable and expected. Don't attempt to permanently repair anything before the insurer has assessed the damage — but preventing further water ingress while you wait is not only permitted, it's usually required. We can attend and deploy tarpaulins as part of an emergency call-out.

Step 4: Report to Your Insurer

Notify your insurer promptly after the storm event. Most policies have a notification requirement — typically within a reasonable period, sometimes specified as a number of days. Provide the photographs, a description of what happened and confirm that you've taken steps to prevent further damage. Don't admit fault or agree to any repair costs before the insurer has assessed the claim.

Step 5: Get a Written Damage Report from a Roofer

A written damage report from a qualified roofing contractor specifying what was found, what the likely cause was and what repair is needed significantly strengthens an insurance claim. We provide these reports as a matter of course when attending storm damage call-outs in Horsham. The report should distinguish between storm-caused damage and pre-existing wear — insurers will look for this distinction, and a report that conflates the two will slow the claim.

What the Insurer Will Assess

Insurance assessors for storm damage claims in West Sussex will typically check: Met Office data confirming wind speeds at your postcode during the claimed event; the condition of the rest of the roof (a roof in very poor pre-storm condition may be partially or wholly excluded from the claim); and whether the damage is consistent with storm action or pre-existing deterioration. A roofer's report that clearly attributes specific damage to the storm event, separate from any pre-existing issues, gives the assessor what they need to settle the claim.

Documentation for Insurance Claims

A storm damage insurance claim requires clear documentation that distinguishes storm-caused damage from pre-existing wear. Insurers will not pay for the repair of a cracked ridge tile that was already cracked before the storm — even if the storm displaced it further. We provide written damage reports that identify each item of damage, attribute it to the storm event or to pre-existing wear, and include a repair cost estimate for the storm-caused items separately from the pre-existing items. This format is accepted by all major insurers and significantly accelerates claim settlement.

Photograph the damage before any temporary repairs are carried out — this is your primary evidence of the storm's effect. If possible, note the Met Office wind speed data for your area on the date of the storm (available free on the Met Office website). We can advise on how to obtain this data and how to present it as supporting evidence for your claim.

Last reviewed: July 2026 by Horsham Roofing Experts.