Owner
9 min read
After a storm, make it safe first, then get temporary cover on so the damage does not spread into timbers, insulation, and electrics.
Photograph everything and speak to your insurer early, most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage and keep receipts.
Get a proper roof inspection, we check slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, sarking, underlay, and leadwork, then price the fix properly.
Storm damage in Central Scotland is rarely just one missing slate. The real trouble starts when wind loosens ridges and verges, then the next band of rain drives water under the slate gauge and into old sarking. We see it every October to March in Stirling, Alloa, and Falkirk, especially after back to back systems like Storms Isha and Jocelyn, then later Storm Éowyn crossing Scotland. What to do next is simple: check for immediate hazards, stop water getting in, document it properly for insurance, and get a roofer to inspect before you authorise major work. If you need an emergency make safe, call 01259 726404 now.
Start outside, from ground level. Look for slipped or missing slates, cracked concrete tiles, a ridge line that has shifted, or hip tiles that look lifted. In Stirling and Bridge of Allan we see a lot of natural slate roofs on older villas, one slate gone can let wind driven rain run along the breathable membrane and show up metres away inside. Check the gutters too, a storm can pull a bracket, twist a run, then water overflows straight down the wall.
Inside, check the loft with a torch. You are looking for wet insulation, water trails on sarking boards, dark staining at underlay laps, and daylight where there should be none. On older Scottish roofs, sarking boards can delaminate when they have been soaked more than once, you will see the grain lifting and soft spots around nail lines. If you have a chimney, check the chimney breast and the corners of upstairs rooms for damp, failing flashings and valleys show there first.
Not all storm damage is obvious on the day. With repeated wind loading, the fixings can loosen, then the next gust shifts a ridge or dislodges a verge. We re-roofed a 1900 villa off Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan after Storm Babet type rain exposed a long running leak at the valley, the homeowner only noticed when a ceiling started to bubble. That is why we treat a “small leak” as urgent and point people to roof repair early, before sarking and joists get a soaking.
– William Young, Owner
Treat loose slates and ridge tiles as falling object hazards. Keep kids and pets out from under the eaves and do not set ladders up in gusty wind. If a slate has come off in Dunblane or Alloa and you can see debris in the garden, assume more can shift. NFRC guidance on working in windy conditions is clear, competent roofers stop work when it is not safe, and you should not be on the roof trying to “just pop one back in”.
Inside the house, watch for ceiling bulges and dripping light fittings. If water is near electrics, isolate the circuit and stay out of the loft until it is safe. Chimneys are another risk after high winds, a cracked stack or loose pot can become a hazard quickly, especially on older sandstone properties around Stirling town centre. If you suspect chimney movement or mortar washout, get it checked as part of the inspection, we often combine storm repairs with chimney work and roofing maintenance so you are not chasing the same issue all winter.
Stay away from the gable ends, eaves, and anywhere slates or tiles could drop. Move cars off the drive if you can do it safely.
Put buckets down, protect electrics, and if a ceiling is bowing do not poke it, water can come through fast and bring plaster down.
Even if the ladder feels steady, gusts round chimneys and ridges are unpredictable in Falkirk and Stirling after a front passes.
A temporary cover and a proper inspection stops a one day problem turning into weeks of drying and joinery repairs.
Your first job is to stop further water ingress. Insurers and the ABI are clear on this point, you are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent damage worsening, even while a claim is being assessed. In practice that means temporary sheeting or tarping, weighted and fixed safely, plus a quick check of the ridge, valleys, and chimney flashings to see where the water is actually tracking.
A proper temporary cover is not a blue tarp flung over the ridge. We set a sheet so it sheds water away from the hole, lap it properly, and secure it to battens where possible so wind does not turn it into a sail. On slate roofs we also check the surrounding slates for hairline cracks and nail sickness, because the slate that goes missing is often the first of a few. If the issue is around a chimney or valley, the temporary fix may involve dressing a small patch of lead, which is where leadwork knowledge matters.
Phone your insurer early, ideally the same day, and ask what they want you to do next. Many have a 24 hour helpline in storm season. Be straight with them, tell them where you are (Stirling, Alloa, or Falkirk), what you can see, and what you have done to make safe. Some insurers use thresholds such as gusts around 55mph or heavy rainfall rates, and they often confirm local conditions using Met Office data, so naming the storm can help your notes if it was a named event like Babet, Isha, Jocelyn, or Éowyn.
The main friction point on claims is always the same, was it sudden storm damage, or was it a pre existing defect. That is why maintenance matters, and why we tell landlords to keep the roof wind and water tight, it is part of the Repairing Standard expectations in Scotland. If you need help understanding the likely repair scope before you speak to the insurer, our Article 3 (Repair Guide) explains what “make safe” versus “permanent repair” looks like in real terms.
Do not bin broken slates or tiles if you can safely keep them, and do not throw away receipts. If you pay for a temporary repair yourself, keep the paperwork, the ABI specifically advises keeping receipts where you arrange emergency repairs. If the insurer sends a loss adjuster, we can meet on site, show the defective areas, and explain what is needed to restore weather tightness to a good standard.
A professional inspection is more than a quick look from the driveway. We check the covering, the fixings, the battens, the breathable membrane, and the timber deck or sarking. On slate and tile roofs we work to best practice aligned with BS 5534, because storm damage often exposes poor fixing patterns, weak ridges, or underlay that has perished. If slate replacement is needed, we match like for like and to the right product spec, BS EN 12326-1 is the benchmark for slate used in discontinuous roofing.
On older roofs around Stirling and Dunblane, we regularly find sarking boards that have softened at the eaves where water has tracked behind the fascia. If the job is larger than a simple patch, repairs and re-roofing may need to meet current Scottish building standards guidance depending on scope, especially if you change build up, ventilation, or insulation. If the property is listed or in a conservation area, be careful about changing materials or roof appearance, Historic Environment Scotland is clear that altering a listed building without consent is a serious matter, so we stick to like for like unless you have approvals in place.
Most storm jobs we do in Central Scotland are slate and tile repairs, ridge refixing, and lead flashing work at chimneys and valleys. The repair needs to match the roof type. For slate we are usually dealing with Welsh slate, Spanish slate, or reclaimed Scotch slate, we set the correct slate gauge and fix properly to suit exposure. For concrete tiles in post war estates in Falkirk and Grangemouth, it is often a discontinued Marley or Redland profile, so sourcing the closest match matters if you want it to look right. If you are unsure what you have, our Article 2 (Warning Signs) shows common profiles and failure points.
Costs vary with height, access, and whether scaffold is needed, but here are realistic 2026 ranges we see locally for storm related repairs, excluding any internal plastering. A minor leak repair where access is straightforward is often £200 to £550. Replacing and re-fixing natural slate is commonly £90 to £260 per m² depending on slate type and how much surrounding work is needed. Concrete tile repairs are commonly £100 to £150 per m². If a section of ridge needs re-bedded and mechanically fixed to current practice, allow £650 to £1,600 for a typical run on a standard house, more if access is awkward.
If the storm has torn a section of flat roof, repairs to GRP or EPDM can run £120 to £180 per m², again access and detailing matter. If the damage is bigger, or the underlay and battens are compromised over a wide area, it is often more sensible to price a full strip and renewal. A full re-roof on a typical 3 bed house in Stirling or Alloa is commonly £8,000 to £14,000 depending on slate or tile choice, scaffolding, and any timber repairs. For work types, see slate roofing, tiling, and roof repair.
– William Young, Owner
You cannot stop the weather, but you can stop small defects becoming storm damage. The best time to check a roof is before October, when the storms start stacking up. We look at ridge and hip lines, valley linings, chimney flashings, and the condition of fascias, soffits, and gutters. A gutter that overflows every heavy shower is often telling you the eaves detail is being soaked, and that is how sarking starts to rot at the bottom edge.
On slated roofs, prevention is about security and detailing. Correct fixing, sound battens, and a good breathable membrane installed to best practice (BS 5534 aligned) means the roof has a better chance in repeated gusts. If you have older leadwork, a cracked step flashing or a split apron around the chimney is a common entry point for wind driven rain, so get it checked and repaired properly, not silicone. If you are budgeting, our Article 10 (Repair Costs) gives typical cost bands for maintenance versus reactive repairs, which is always the more expensive way to do it.
After a storm in Central Scotland, the right order is safety, make safe, then get a proper inspection and a written scope. If you are insured, speak to the insurer early, document the damage, and keep receipts for any temporary measures. If you are a landlord, remember your obligation is a home that is wind and water tight, a leaking roof is not something to leave until spring.
If you are in Stirling, Alloa, Falkirk, or nearby and you have slipped slates, a leaking valley, ridge damage, or water in the loft, call us and we will talk you through what to do next. We are NFRC members, fully insured, and we provide a written workmanship guarantee. For bigger works we can also advise if you are likely to be heading towards a full renewal under roofing rather than repeated patching.
Call a roofer the moment you have water getting into the loft, a missing ridge section, slates on the ground, or any sign the chimney stack has shifted. In Stirling and Falkirk we also get a lot of damage where wind lifts the first course at the eaves, you may only spot it when the bedroom ceiling stains.
Often yes for sudden storm related damage, but it depends on your policy wording and whether the roof was reasonably maintained. Insurers usually verify local weather conditions for your area, such as Stirling or Alloa, and they expect you to take steps to prevent further damage and keep receipts.
It is usually sudden damage caused by wind, heavy rain, hail, or snow, such as missing slates, lifted ridges, or failed lead flashings. Some insurers use thresholds like gusts around 55mph or very heavy rainfall rates as part of their assessment, but it varies by policy.
Make it safe immediately, then arrange a proper repair as soon as you can. In October to March in Central Scotland, a small opening can soak sarking and insulation in a day, so temporary cover and early inspection saves money.
Call a local roofing contractor who can make safe and provide a written report for your claim, and if you are insured also call your insurer’s helpline. For emergency help in Stirling and FK postcodes, you can call Prestige Roofers and Builders on 01259 726404.
William has spent over two decades on Scottish roofs, working from apprentice slater to running a Stirling-based team that re-roofs villas and repairs storm damage across the central belt. He writes about roofing the way he talks on a survey: straight, costed and honest.
40+ yrs combined experience · Stirling · NFRC member
Targeted fixes for slipped slates, broken tiles, valleys, and leak tracing across Stirling and the Central Belt.
Full strip and replacement with breathable membrane, new battens, correct fixings, and tidy leadwork details.
Eaves level repairs that stop overflow and rot, often the hidden cause of recurring damp at the roof edge.