How to spot storm damage and know when your roof needs repair

Roof damage rarely announces itself with a dramatic failure — far more often it starts as something small and easy to miss from ground level, and by the time water is visibly coming through the ceiling, the underlying problem has usually been building for a while. Knowing the common warning signs, and checking for them after severe weather specifically, makes it much easier to catch a problem early, when repair is generally simpler and cheaper than after it has been left to spread.

From the ground, a few things are worth scanning for periodically and especially after a storm. On a tile roof, look for tiles that appear cracked, chipped, slipped out of position, or missing entirely — even one or two dislodged tiles can let water in during heavy rain. On a Colorbond roof, watch for rust spots, flaking or bubbling paint, sheets that look lifted or loose at the edges, or dents from hail impact. A sagging section of roofline, where part of the roof appears to dip or bow compared with the rest, is a more serious sign that can point to structural movement underneath rather than just surface damage, and generally warrants a prompt inspection rather than waiting.

Inside the house, ceiling stains, damp patches, peeling paint on a ceiling, or a musty smell in a room under the roof are often the first sign homeowners actually notice, since roof damage itself frequently goes unseen until water finds its way through. These signs do not always appear directly under the source of the leak either — water can travel along battens or sarking before dripping down, so a stain in one spot does not necessarily mean the roof problem is directly above it, which is part of why a proper inspection from someone who can safely access the roof cavity is more reliable than guessing from below.

Gutters and downpipes are worth checking too, since problems there are often connected to roof damage rather than separate from it. Gutters pulling away from the fascia, overflowing during moderate rain rather than only in a downpour, or visibly full of granules, moss or debris can point to a roof shedding material it shouldn't be, on top of being a maintenance issue in their own right — our separate article on gutter cleaning covers this in more detail. After a hailstorm specifically, dents or unusual amounts of debris in the gutters are often a useful sign that the roof itself was also affected, even if the tiles or sheets look mostly intact from a quick glance.

After a significant storm, a few sensible steps make the situation easier to manage. Avoid climbing onto the roof yourself to inspect it, particularly if it is wet, steep, or you suspect damage — this is genuinely dangerous and is exactly the kind of access a roofing contractor has the training and equipment to do safely. Photograph any visible damage from the ground, or from a safe vantage point, since this is useful both for a contractor's assessment and for an insurance claim. If the damage looks significant, contact your insurer promptly to start the claims process, and arrange for a licensed roofing contractor to provide a written assessment and quote before any repair work begins.

This article is general information to help you recognise common warning signs, not a diagnosis of your specific roof, and only a physical inspection can confirm what repair, if any, is actually needed. A licensed roofing contractor can assess storm or general wear-and-tear damage safely and advise whether the issue is a straightforward repair or something more significant — our directory lists Australian roofing contractors by area if you need an assessment.

Frequently asked questions