What to Do After a Storm

When a storm really kicks off, you’re not thinking about the roof or anything else — you just want it to pass. The wind shakes the place, the rain won’t let up, and you find yourself hoping nothing gives out. Then it suddenly goes quiet, and most people just breathe out and get on with things, assuming everything’s okay. But that calm afterwards doesn’t always mean your roof came out fine. Sometimes it cops a few knocks you won’t notice from the driveway or the backyard.

What’s tricky is that storm damage isn’t always loud or dramatic. You won’t always spot a leak or find tiles scattered in the yard. The tricky part is that you don’t always see the damage straight away. A bit of flashing might have lifted, a small crack might have formed — things you’d never spot from the yard. Little things like that don’t stay little forever — they tend to get worse if no one notices them. Having a few simple steps in mind for after a storm really helps, because it keeps small roof problems from coming back later as something more expensive.

Before Anything Else, Make Sure You’re Safe

Have a quick look out the window first and see if things have actually settled down. If the wind’s still messing about, or you can see anything dodgy like a line down or branches still coming off trees, don’t head out yet. The roof isn’t going anywhere, and you’re better off waiting till it’s properly calm. No roof problem is worth stepping out into something risky. Wait until everything has properly settled and the authorities say it’s fine to move around.

Once you do head out, take your time. You’ll probably spot a few things scattered around the yard — branches, little bits of junk, maybe something sharp that blew in from who knows where. You might also run into a few slippery patches or places where the ground feels off. Good shoes help, and just take your time moving around. It’s amazing how many little hazards turn up after a wild night of weather.

Start With a Ground-Level Look Around

You don’t have to climb up on the roof to get a sense of what’s gone on. Honestly, it’s better if you don’t, especially if you’re not used to roof work. Take a slow walk around the yard and have a look up from a few different spots. If you’ve got some old binoculars in a drawer somewhere, grab them — they make it easier to see the little things you’d miss otherwise.

While you’re looking, see if anything on the roof seems out of place. Maybe a tile’s shifted, cracked, or looks a bit crooked. Sometimes corners lift a touch or a section looks uneven. Have a glance at the gutters too. If they’re hanging a bit low or packed with leaves and branches, that can push water where it shouldn’t go.

And don’t forget to check the ground — sometimes pieces of the roof end up scattered around the lawn after a good blow. A tile in the garden or a bit of flashing on the lawn is a pretty clear sign that something up top needs attention. Grab a few photos of anything that looks off — it helps later, whether you’re calling someone out or dealing with insurance.

Check Inside Your Home Too

You might actually notice signs of trouble inside the house first. Have a walk around and take a look at the ceilings. Any faint stains, funny patches of colour, or spots that feel a bit damp can mean water’s sneaking in somewhere — even if it looks tiny, it’s worth noting.

If you can get into the attic, have a quick look up there too. A lot of the hidden problems tend to show up in that space. Look around for little streaks of daylight coming through the roof boards or any dark marks on the timber. Damp spots are another giveaway. And if you catch a musty smell or see mould starting up, that’s a sign moisture has been hanging around longer than you’d think — maybe even from before the storm.

Document Everything Thoroughly

If you’re thinking you might need to deal with insurance, this part really matters. Use your phone to snap a bunch of photos of anything that looks off, both inside and outside. Take a few wider shots to show the area and then some closer ones of the problem spots. Jot down the date and a few notes about what you noticed — it makes life a lot easier later on.

If you’ve got any older photos of your roof tucked away somewhere, pull those out as well. Having a “before and after” comparison can help show what the storm actually changed.

Know When to Call the Professionals

Here’s the thing about storm damage: unless you’re actually trained to work on roofs, climbing up there isn’t a great idea. It’s risky, and you can make things worse without meaning to, especially if the roof’s been knocked around. Roofers deal with this stuff every day — they know how to move around safely and spot issues most of us would walk straight past.

If you’ve spotted something that doesn’t look right — or you just can’t tell how much the storm did — it’s a good time to get someone out for a proper look. When you’re trying to find help with roofing Brisbane South Side, pick someone licensed and insured who actually deals with storm work regularly. They’ll be able to look everything over properly and let you know what actually needs fixing.

Temporary Fixes and Emergency Measures

If you notice a leak or something clearly not right and you can’t get a roofer out straight away, you might have to do a couple of quick things just to stop it getting worse. A bucket under a drip is the easy one. And if you’ve got a tarp and the spot is actually safe to reach, you can throw it over the area that’s been hit to slow the water down a bit.

But be careful — seriously. A roof that’s been knocked around can behave in odd ways — slippery in spots, soft in others, and just not something you want to trust. Honestly, a bit of water inside is still safer than climbing onto something that might not hold you. If the damage looks bigger than a quick patch-up, a lot of roofing companies can come out fast for emergency work and at least secure things until proper repairs happen.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage

Once you’ve gathered your photos and notes, get in touch with your insurance company sooner rather than later. Most policies have deadlines for reporting storm damage, and you don’t want to find out you’ve waited too long. They’ll usually organise someone to come out and have a proper look so they can work out what your policy actually covers.

If you can be there when they do the inspection, even better. Show them the photos, point out anything you noticed, and ask whatever you need to ask. There’s no harm in getting things clarified — knowing what’s covered and what isn’t makes it a lot easier to figure out your next steps.

A Quick Note Before You Move On

Storms come and go, and you can’t really stop them — but what you do afterwards matters. Get onto things sooner rather than later, and make sure you’re safe while you sort it out. It also helps to have a general sense of the roof restoration cost so you’re not guessing when repairs come up. For expert support, Brisbane Roof and Paint can steer you in the right direction.