Once an autumn storm has blown through, most people do one of two things: ignore the roof completely, or get the ladder out straight away. Neither is ideal. Most of the damage that matters can be spotted from the ground, and the rest is a job for someone with the right equipment.

What you can safely check from the ground

Wait for a dry, calm day and walk all the way around the house. Binoculars help, and so does a phone camera zoomed in. You are looking for:

  • Slates or tiles out of line. A gap, a slate sitting lower than its neighbours, or pieces of slate in the garden or on the path.
  • Gutters that have moved. A section sagging, pulled away from the fascia, or with a visible join that has opened up.
  • Downpipes. Loose brackets, a section that has come apart, or a pipe that no longer reaches the drain.
  • Flashing. The strips sealing the roof against the chimney, walls and dormers. Anything lifted, bent or hanging loose is worth noting.
  • The chimney. A leaning or damaged cowl, missing pointing, or a pot that looks out of place.

Check the next time it rains

This is the most useful test there is, and you can do it from under an umbrella. Watch where the water goes. Gutters overflowing in one spot usually means a blockage or a dip. Water running down the face of the wall, or splashing from a joint, tells you exactly where to look. A downpipe that stays dry in heavy rain is blocked somewhere above it.

Check inside, too

Have a look in the attic with a torch, if you can get into it safely. Daylight where there should not be any, damp patches on the timber or insulation, or drips after rain are all signs water is getting in. Upstairs, watch for new stains on ceilings, especially near the chimney breast and outside walls.

What to leave alone

Honestly: anything that needs you on the roof, or at the top of a ladder leaning on a wet gutter. Roofs are slippery, slates break underfoot, and gutters are not built to take a ladder's weight. A loose slate is a small repair. A fall is not.

If something is hanging loose over a path or a door, keep people away from underneath it until it has been dealt with.

Why it is worth acting now

Storm damage rarely gets better on its own. A slipped slate or a gutter pouring onto a wall all winter is how a small exterior job turns into damp inside, damaged plaster and redecorating in spring. Take photos as you go: they help whoever does the repair, and they are useful if you end up talking to your insurer.

If you have spotted something, send us a description or a photo and we will tell you honestly what it needs and whether it is a job for us.