If your roof is leaking, protect belongings, contain the water in the loft, photograph everything for insurance, then call an emergency roofer. Do not access the roof yourself. We cover Salisbury 24/7 and aim to be on site within the hour for active leaks. Call 0172 223 9611.
Your roof is leaking. Water is coming in somewhere, possibly right now. Here is what to do in the right order — immediately, in the next few hours, and in the days following.
Immediate Steps — Do These Now
1. Protect Your Belongings
Move furniture, electronics and valuables away from the area below the leak. Place buckets or bowls to catch drips. If there is a significant volume of water pooling above a ceiling, create a small relief hole with a screwdriver in the lowest point of the ceiling bulge — this releases the water in a controlled stream rather than risking a ceiling collapse under the weight.
2. Contain the Water Path
Water rarely drops directly below its entry point — it tracks along felt, joists and insulation before finding a path through. In the loft, look for where the felt or timber is wet and try to redirect the water into a bucket rather than letting it soak insulation below. Waterlogged insulation takes weeks to dry and significantly worsens the damage.
3. Photograph Everything
Before you do anything else, photograph the damage — ceiling stains, visible water, loft condition. If you later need to make an insurance claim, this documentation is essential. Insurers require evidence of the damage as found, before any temporary repairs are made.
The Association of British Insurers advises homeowners to document damage with photographs and notify their insurer before commissioning permanent repairs, to preserve the validity of any storm-damage claim.
— ABI claims guidance
Call an Emergency Roofer
For active ingress during rain or immediately after a storm, call us on 0172 223 9611. We cover Salisbury and all surrounding Wiltshire areas 24 hours a day. For genuine emergencies — active water ingress, displaced ridge tiles, structural concerns — we aim to be on site within the hour.
Active leak or storm damage? Call us now — we cover Salisbury, Amesbury, Andover, Romsey and all of Wiltshire 24 hours a day.
📞 Call Now — 0172 223 9611What Causes Most Leaks in Salisbury Properties?
The cause varies significantly by property age and type. These are the most common origins we find:
| Roof type | Most common leak cause |
|---|---|
| Victorian / Edwardian (pre-1920) | Failed lead valley or flashing at chimney base |
| 1930s–50s semi-detached | Ridge mortar failure, lead flashing recession |
| 1960s–70s concrete tile estate | Nail sickness tile slippage, blocked valley |
| Flat roof extension (any era) | Seam or upstand failure, ponding water |
| Modern clay tile | Dry ridge clip loosening, Velux flashing failure |
Temporary Emergency Measures
If the roofer cannot attend immediately and water is actively entering, a heavy-duty tarpaulin secured over the affected area is the most effective temporary measure. The tarpaulin must be secured to the ridge and weighted or tied at the eaves — an unsecured tarpaulin in wind causes significantly more damage than no tarpaulin. We carry out temporary make-safes as part of our emergency service.
Do not attempt to access the roof yourself in wet conditions or wind. Tiled roofs are extremely slippery when wet and falls from roofs are one of the most common causes of serious DIY injury. A temporary tarpaulin from the outside is a job for professionals with safe access equipment.
After the Emergency — Permanent Repair
Once the immediate ingress is controlled, a proper diagnosis and permanent repair should follow within days. A temporary tarpaulin is not a long-term solution — it degrades in UV and will not be weathertight through winter storms. The permanent repair addresses the root cause rather than the symptom.
Making an Insurance Claim
If the leak was caused by storm damage, your home insurance may cover the repair cost. Immediate actions after storm damage:
- Photograph all damage before any repair or clearance
- Contact your insurer to notify a potential claim before permanent repairs
- Get a written assessment from your roofer confirming the cause and extent
- Keep all receipts for any emergency temporary work
We provide written damage assessments in a format suitable for insurance submissions. We do not inflate quotes for insurance work.
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026 by Salisbury Roofing Experts