---
title: "What to Do After Storm Roof Damage in Edinburgh"
description: "Storm damaged your Edinburgh roof? Act fast: make it safe, call your insurer, arrange emergency tarping, and get a full inspection."
url: "https://edinburgh-roofing.com/after-storm-roof-damage-edinburgh/"
---

# What to Do After Storm Roof Damage in Edinburgh

Edinburgh storms can strip slates, buckle flashings, and crack ridge tiles within hours. Acting quickly limits internal water damage, which spreads far faster than most homeowners expect. A saturated ceiling or soaked insulation can double your repair bill if left untouched for even a day or two.

## Make the Immediate Area Safe

Before anything else, check whether fallen slates or debris have landed on paths, driveways, or access points. Slate is heavy and sharp; keep children and visitors away from the affected side of the house. If you can see daylight through a loft hatch, or if water is dripping into a room, move valuables, lay down towels, and place a container beneath the drip.

Do not attempt to climb onto the roof yourself. Wet slate and tiles are among the most treacherous surfaces a homeowner can encounter. A qualified roofer has the harness equipment and footwear to work safely in post-storm conditions.

## Call Your Insurer Before Touching the Roof

Most home insurance policies require you to report storm damage promptly, and some require photographic evidence of the roof in its damaged state before any repair work begins. Call your insurer's claims line as soon as you have made the area safe. Ask specifically whether you need a loss adjuster to visit before a roofer starts work, as skipping that step can invalidate a claim.

Take photographs from ground level or an upstairs window. A clear time-stamped image showing missing slates, open joints, or sagging sections gives your insurer and your roofer a shared baseline. Note the date and time of the storm if you can, since insurers often cross-reference reports with Met Office weather data for the Edinburgh area.

## Arrange Emergency Tarping Immediately

**Temporary roof covering after a storm in Edinburgh is available around the clock from emergency roofing contractors, typically within one to two hours in the city area.** A heavy-duty tarpaulin secured over the damaged section prevents further rain ingress while you sort out permanent repairs and insurance. Emergency roof tarping costs between £200 and £500 for most Edinburgh properties, depending on roof size and access conditions.

A tarp is a short-term fix only. It will not survive repeated high winds, and it does not replace slates, flashings, or felt. Treat it as a bridge to the proper repair, not a solution in itself.

### What an Emergency Roofer Will Do on Arrival

A roofer responding to storm call-out will carry out a rapid visual inspection to identify all points of water entry, not just the obvious ones. They will apply a tarpaulin or temporary battening, secure loose elements that could fall or blow further, and give you a verbal summary of what permanent work is needed. Expect an out-of-hours callout fee of £150–£300 on top of the tarping cost; standard weekday callouts run £60–£120.

## Get a Proper Roof Damage Inspection After the Storm

**A thorough roof damage inspection after a storm in Edinburgh should cover flashings, ridge and hip tiles, lead valleys, the felt underlay, and all roof penetrations such as chimney stacks and skylights, not just the visible missing slates.** A visual inspection with a written report typically costs £150–£300. Some contractors use drone surveys for steeper pitches or complex rooflines, which sits toward the upper end of that range.

The written report matters. Your insurer will likely require it, and it becomes your specification document so that you can compare like-for-like quotes from different contractors. Without a report, one roofer's quote might cover only the obvious damage while another's includes the underlayer.

### Signs of Hidden Storm Damage

Missing slates are obvious. Lifted flashings around chimney stacks are harder to spot from the ground but account for a large proportion of post-storm leaks in Edinburgh's older sandstone terraces. Saturated insulation in the loft space is another indicator; press a gloved hand to it after heavy rain to check for moisture that has no visible internal source. Cracked ridge pointing often goes unnoticed until a second storm widens the gap.

## Understand Your Repair Options and Costs

For a typical Edinburgh semi-detached property with a natural slate roof, replacing individual damaged slates runs £150–£400 for a minor repair covering one slate up to a small patch. A full slate roof replacement is costed by the square metre, with Scottish or Welsh slate running £80–£150 per m². Imported Spanish slate can reduce material costs slightly, though it carries a shorter lifespan of roughly 50–80 years compared with 80–150 years for Scottish or Welsh material.

Flat roof sections are increasingly common on Edinburgh extensions and bay window returns. If a storm has peeled back felt on a flat area, replacement costs range from £50 per m² for felt systems up to £120 per m² for EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass, both of which offer significantly longer service lives. EPDM rubber typically lasts 25–50 years; GRP fibreglass 25–40 years; traditional felt 10–20 years.

Chimney damage is a separate line item. Repointing a stack costs £300–£800 depending on height and access. Full chimney stack removal, including making good the roof covering, runs £1,000–£3,000. If your property is listed, you may need consent before any alteration to the chimney.

## Choose a Qualified Contractor

Storm damage attracts unlicensed traders who appear quickly and quote cheaply. Insist on a contractor who is NFRC-registered or holds equivalent approved-contractor status. Ask to see evidence of current public liability insurance, and do not pay the full job cost upfront. A reputable Edinburgh roofer will provide a written quote tied to the inspection report, a realistic start date, and an invoice that your insurer can process.

Local knowledge matters too. Roofers who work regularly across Edinburgh postcodes EH1–EH17 understand the specific behaviours of the city's varied housing stock, from Victorian tenements in Marchmont to post-war semis in Corstorphine, and can source matching Scottish slates where the original roof covering needs to be preserved.

## What to Do Next

If your roof has been hit by a recent storm, the sequence is: secure the area, call your insurer, arrange emergency tarping if there is active water entry, and book a formal inspection. Delaying any one of these steps extends the damage and complicates the claim. Emergency lines for Edinburgh roofing contractors operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so there is no reason to wait until Monday morning if rain is coming through tonight.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Temporary Roof Covering After Storm Edinburgh - What Does It Cost and How Fast Can I Get It?

**Emergency roof tarping in Edinburgh typically costs £200–£500 depending on roof size and access.** Most Edinburgh emergency roofing contractors aim to arrive within one to two hours of your call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An out-of-hours callout fee of £150–£300 usually applies on top of the tarping cost. The tarpaulin is a short-term measure; permanent repairs should follow as soon as possible.

### What to Do After Roof Storm Damage in Edinburgh?

**First, make the area safe by keeping people away from fallen slates or debris.** Then call your insurer to report the damage and ask whether a loss adjuster needs to visit before repairs start. Arrange emergency tarping if water is entering the property, and book a formal roof inspection with a written report. Do not attempt to access the roof yourself; wet slate and tiles are extremely hazardous.

### Roof Damage Inspection After Storm Edinburgh - What Does It Cover?

**A thorough post-storm inspection should assess missing or cracked slates, lifted flashings around chimney stacks and skylights, ridge and hip tiles, lead valleys, and the felt underlay beneath the surface covering.** A written report typically costs £150–£300, with drone surveys for complex or steep roofs sitting toward the upper end. The report is important for insurance claims and for getting accurate, comparable quotes from different contractors.

### Will My Home Insurance Cover Storm Roof Damage in Edinburgh?

**Most standard home insurance policies cover storm damage to roofs, but the policy wording matters.** Insurers generally require prompt reporting and photographic evidence of the damage before repairs begin. Some policies require a loss adjuster to assess the damage first. Cross-check your policy's definition of storm damage and ask your insurer directly before authorising any work beyond emergency tarping.

### How Do I Find a Trustworthy Roofer After Storm Damage in Edinburgh?

**Look for a contractor who is NFRC-registered or holds equivalent approved-contractor status, and who can show current public liability insurance.** A reliable roofer will link their quote directly to a written inspection report and will not ask for full payment upfront. Contractors who work regularly across Edinburgh postcodes EH1–EH17 are likely to understand the city's housing stock and can source matching materials, including Scottish slate, where the original roof covering needs to be preserved.