Heavy rain and severe storms often occur in Greater Manchester. Heavy rain may cause street flooding, and high winds may bring flying debris or even uproot a few trees. Water may run down a roof and take several routes toward the ground and foundation, and some of these may pass through faulty roof-fitting areas. If enough water accumulates and cannot drain away quickly, the risk of flooding increases.
People can prepare for these weather conditions by checking their roofs and making vital adjustments. Safety is important. Inspection and maintenance should be done only when weather conditions are good, and nobody should attempt to climb onto the roof when strong winds or heavy rain are present. If any of the following actions pose a significant risk, a trained and qualified professional should be contacted instead.
Check Your Roof for Damage
Please be sure to look for signs of roof damage. Early detection can reduce repair costs and help prevent leaks.
Could you check for loose or cracked ridge tiles? Though positioned at the highest point, these can be among the first to loosen. When a ridge tile is loose, re-securing it is often straightforward; replace it immediately if necessary. Could you check the slats to see whether any are lifting, have gaps between them, or have broken edges? Having slats lifted by wind is often a joint failure rather than a slate failure; these should be firmly secured with adhesive or a traditional means, and any broken edges should be replaced. All should be appropriately aligned and overlap sufficiently to shed water.
Look for loose, missing, or damaged shingles. Storms rarely pull entire shingles from the roof. More often, the wind is strong enough to lift the edges but not so strong as to tear them off. Signs of this include lifting, curling, or cracking. Plan to repair these or, if they are near the end of their life, replace them all. Check the roof slope for shingle overlap and for any that are missing, misaligned, or badly damaged. Water flow should generally be away from the eaves or any downpipe through which it passes.
Clear Gutters and Downpipes
Clear gutters and downpipes before heavy rain. Clear blockages that stop water from flowing; leaves and debris that prevent the gutters from holding water. Could you clear out the gutters and downpipes, then check that water can flow freely through them? Timely clearance avoids the hassle of doing it in wet conditions.
You can start by looking for blockages, especially in the downpipes. Leaves and debris in the gutters are easy to remove. Use a sturdy ladder and protective gloves to remove most of the debris from the gutters. Other blockages may be hidden, but you can check for these once the heavy rain starts. After clearing out the gutters, pour a gentle can of water into them. If this sends water flowing freely to the ground and street drain, the downpipes are clear.
Now that the downpipes are clear, the water will flow down them without problem. Over time, all sorts of debris may collect in the downpipes, so it’s good to check that they are clear right through to the sewer or drainage system.
Inspect the Ridge Tiles and Slats
Ridge tiles and slats are vulnerable to high winds. Loose, cracked, or missing ridge tiles increase the chance of leaks from wind-driven rain and may leave the roof open to birds and vermin. Loose slates can also lift, creating gaps through which rain can penetrate. A roof professional can resecure or replace ridge tiles as needed. Slates that have lifted at one edge, have gaps between them, or are broken at the corners should be reinstated appropriately or replaced.
Damaged or missing shingles can cause leaks. The Shingles Institute recommends that homeowners inspect their roofs for loose, missing, or damaged shingles, and check whether the shingles are properly attached and exhibit typical signs of wear. Vulnerable areas include those with curling, lifting, cracking, and blistering; these conditions indicate that a shingle will likely need to be replaced. Roof shingles rely on overlap to shed water; therefore, it is essential to retain the correct overlap. A staggered pattern also helps to minimise the risk of water penetrating the seams of adjacent shingles.
Look for Loose, Missing, or Damaged Shingles
A roof is perfect when the shingles are nice and flat. Look for shingles that are lifting, curling, or cracked. If seams are splitting, or if the exposed part is brittle and crumbling, either repair or replace. Make sure no single shingle can serve as a channel for running water; the overlap must be sufficient to shed water. Make sure the rows of shingles are correctly aligned so that water runs straight down the roof, from one shingle to the next.
While looking over your roof, could you tug at the shingles to be sure they are not loose? It should take a fair amount of effort to lift one edge when you try to raise it. If they flick up easily, the nails or adhesive have failed. If they pull up, check carefully to see if more than just the top edge has come loose. If you can push them back into place without using much pressure, make sure a shingle below has not cracked. And it is better not to leave them like that. Either secure them to the roof or remove them and add new ones.
Inspect the Fascias and Soffits
Examine the fascias and soffits for potential gaps, cracks, and peeling paint, as these can allow moisture and water to enter the roof structure and the house's walls. Look for rotting wood. Fascias are typically made of wood, so if they are painted, flaking or peeling paint can indicate that the wood is constantly getting wet, which can lead to wet rot. Could you seal any open gaps around vents, downpipes, and where soffits meet the wall with suitable weatherproof sealant?
Could you check the sealing around the ventilators on the underside of the roof, and the sealing within joints in the soffits and fascias, to make sure the tops are sufficiently sealed against water? Open access paths for water will allow moisture into the roof void. Wet timber inside is more vulnerable to insect damage.
Seal Gaps and Cracks
Not all gaps and cracks are equally important; focus first on those that pose the most significant risk of water entry. When examining roofs, special care should be taken around chimneys, vents, and the flashing that seals them. A high-quality silicone sealant (or one designed for weatherproofing) should be used on visible cracks in soffits, fascias, and roof edges. If these materials are ancient and visibly weathered, look for small cracks, even where the surface still appears intact.
Other gaps are less critical, but sealing them can still reduce the risk of leaks, heat loss, and noise, and make the building less attractive to nesting birds. Look for peeling paint and signs of rotting in the timber. Gaps where the soffits or side edge of the roof meet the wall should be sealed, especially where the chimney butts against the wall. Could you check the joint sealing around vents and joints in the external panelling? Re-seal where needed.
Plan for Heavy Rain
To ensure the roof can withstand heavy rain and wind, check for potential sources of damage first, then take further precautions. If any of the following checks raise concerns, you can schedule a professional inspection. I think doing that well in advance of stormy weather will give you time for repairs and adjustments. An easy list of tasks needed to prepare for storms of any severity will help with planning, and preparing emergency supplies and contact numbers can make for a quicker response when conditions worsen.
Seek to avoid climbing on the roof during rain and wind. You can watch for signs of leaks and avoid areas where the walls or ceiling are damp. Outside, at best, stay sheltered away from the edge of the roof, or any areas showing signs of damage, including the ground around them. Heavy wind and rain can cause sudden, unpredictable risks, and shelter until the worst has passed is the safest option.
During a Storm: Safety Tips
Take extreme care during thunderstorms and other storms with high winds and heavy rain. Remember: if you are at home, do not venture outside until the storm has passed. Outside? Seek shelter, move away from any downed cables, and keep away from building walls and roofs.
Please don't try to climb onto the roof. Heavy rain, especially when combined with strong winds, very often masks more serious problems, such as leaks from loose slats or tiles, of which the homeowner may be unaware. During severe storms, a bank of moisture-laden air can usually be seen drifting across land or sea. Such a storm at sea can culminate in violent, quite sudden gales, probably changing direction from east to south-east to west. Such a storm crossing land can quickly develop into a severe area of low pressure. Strong southerly or south-easterly winds, especially when accompanied by squally showers, can cause extensive damage.
After the Storm: What to Do
After a storm, it is essential to check the roof for damage. Take notes and photos to help track damage. Remove debris carefully and check the areas beneath it for leaks or water ingress.
Since climbing on the roof can be dangerous, stay on the ground when looking for damage. Look at the area around the chimney, vents, and any places where the roof meets a wall or other roof. Do not just look for missing tiles or slats; check the condition of those that remain. If the chimney, vents, and valleys showed signs of wear before the storm, inspect them closely for new cracks and gaps. Check for fallen branches or debris trapped in roof valleys, as it may cause leaks later if not removed.
Maintenance Schedule
Could you check your roof twice a year? Clear gutters of debris before autumn and spring. Schedule an experienced tradesperson to inspect flashing, ridge tiles, and fascias at least once a year.
A formal inspection helps identify problems that are hard to detect from the ground, especially on roofs higher than a single story, roofs with steep pitches, or roofs with any area above a sloping wall, such as a dormer. Regular maintenance by a qualified roofer helps prevent premature roof failure and builds an accurate record, enabling accurate estimates for replacement when it does occur.
Requests and actions noted during storms should be followed up on, and a checklist can help keep track of likely trouble spots. Heavy rains or thawing snow increase the risk of leaks and offer the best opportunity to check that all flashings, especially those around chimneys, are tight and well-sealed. A weatherproof sealant is a good quick fix for minor cracks in soffits or fascias, and any gap greater than a couple of millimetres around the chimney or a vent should be filled before wet weather.
Conclusion
Heavy rain and storms can put a roof to the test. To avoid damage, check it for problems, clear the gutters and downpipes, and seal cracks and gaps. If inspections reveal serious issues, call a roofer. In Greater Manchester, experiencing heavy rain and storms is part of the deal, and no one expects a roof to last forever. What really matters is that it stays water-tight and protects the house. If heavy rain is on the horizon, it pays to take a few precautionary steps.
Preparation for heavy rain is all about common sense. The roof must withstand the expected weather, and it should be in good condition to do so. If the consequences of a deluge would be disastrous—if the house would suffer apocalyptic levels of rain damage even if the roof leaks only a drop or two—then hire a roofer to give it a professional once-over before a storm rolls in. These basic precautions can then be supplemented with any other measures that would make sense for that particular home. It pays to keep a list handy of what should be done after these kinds of storms and which equipment or materials might be helpful.
I hope you stay safe while waiting out a storm. Don't go climbing on a roof during heavy rain. If outside when the wind picks up, find shelter, and keep away from the edges and any parts of the roof that look dangerous. After the storm, stay vigilant for new problems. If heavy rain is forecast or follows hot on the heels of summer drought, a more detailed and serious checklist is in order. A fresh inspection should be conducted before a storm, and serious action is needed after terrible weather.
