Storm damage: how to make a roof insurance claim that gets paid

First hour

• Get water away from anything electrical and put containers under drips.
• Photograph everything from the ground and from inside, with the date visible if you can.
• Don't go on the roof. Don't let anyone who knocks on the door go on the roof either.
• Ring your insurer's claims line, or ring us and we'll make the roof safe — insurers expect you to limit further damage and will cover reasonable emergency costs.

What the adjuster wants

1. Evidence of a storm on the date — most insurers use a wind-speed threshold; we can supply Met Office data for your postcode.
2. Evidence the damage was caused by the storm, not by the roof being worn out. Fresh breaks, tiles found on the ground, lifted lead.
3. An itemised quote for like-for-like reinstatement, separating storm damage from any pre-existing problems.

Why honesty pays

Adjusters see claims for whole re-roofs on the back of one lost tile every week, and they reject them. A report that says "twelve tiles lost to the storm on this slope; the rest of the roof is 60 years old and will need attention in the next few years but that is not part of this claim" gets approved. We write reports like that.

Excess and betterment

You'll pay the policy excess. If the repair leaves you with a better roof than before (new for old), some policies deduct 'betterment'. Ask before agreeing the scope.

Insurance work explains how we handle claims end to end.