As a Galway based company, we’ve just come through a pretty hairy experience with Storm Éowyn, and have, in the last couple of days getting to grips with the extent of the damage. Common consensus is that this storm was like nothing anyone had ever experienced here before, and the storm itself, (let alone the aftermath for those still without water and power,) is something nobody who lay awake on Friday morning wants to experience again in a hurry. Normally homes feel like a safe refuge in our storms, but for anyone in a home exposed to the worst of the winds on Friday morning there were real concerns their roof could be ripped open.

For hundreds, if not thousands of home owners the relief at the storm passing has been tempered by the realisation that while catastrophic structrual damage to properties was rare, there are thousands of properties with varying degrees of damage, primarily to roofs, that have the potential to become much bigger problems unless addressed quickly.

Thousands of homeowners simultaneously needing a roofer at a time when trademen are in very short supply likely will result in delays and increased costs. Delays mean that another storm, could exponentially increase the damage, particularly where roofs are holed. So what can a home owner do to make temporary, and partial repairs to patch up their roofs until a professional is available? We’ll take you through the steps you can take and help the home owner understand what is what on their roof, and what sort of issues they might have as a result of damage.

How To Fix Roof Damage

Understanding Your Roof Structure

Most sloped roofs in Ireland have either slates (smooth flat surface) or tiles (usually bumpy and interlocking, above). This forms the outside of the roof and provides protection from the weather.

Slates can be either natural slate, which is quarried, or synthetic slate wich is manufactured.

The tiles or slates are fixed to timber battens. Under the timber battens a waterproof sheet – a felt membrane – is laid overlapping to keep the rain out.

This mebrane can be breathable (usually a light fabric in modern houses) or non-breathable (a heavy bitument coated semi-rigid sheet) in older homes.

The rafters, or the timber that support the roof lie under the membrane.

Around the edges of the roof, other coverings keep the timbers dry and remove rainwater away from the building. The fascia and soffit cover the ends of the rafters, and other pieces of trim usually protect the side edges of the slate or tiles in newer homes.

Fascia and soffit may be PVC in newer houses or painted timber in older properties

Gutters and downpipes might seem unimportant, but are vital for keeping a building dry and should not be neglected if damaged.

Common storm damage to roofing features

Ridge tiles blown off

Ridge tiles at the top of the roof are vulnerable in a storm no matter how well fixed they may have originally been. Check your roof-line carefully to ensure none are gone as this can go unnoticed and when missing, water will come in through the apex into the roofing timbers.

Slates and tiles broken

A cracked tile or slate is the lowest level of damage, requiring a fix, but not with immediate urgency.

Hole in roof cover

The loss of multiple tiles or slates crating a hole in the roof does need to be addressed as soon as possible. If not there is the potential for the next storm to pentrate the roof and do far more damage. In addition, other loose tiles and slates can be dislodged at any time and can pose a threat to people and property.

Torn felt membrane

When a roof is holed, the felt membrane that forms the waterproof barrier is easily torn by the wind or the edge of a broken slate. Water can enter throug h the hole into the attic space and percolate down through the insulation and internal ceiling boards.

Structural damage to timbers

If the storm manages to damage the rafters, pulling them apart, dislodging or breaking them, this is a very serious situation and a sturctural survey should be undertaken immediately as the roof could collapse. The property should be consiodered uninhabitable until surveyed.

Guttering dislodged

Gutters may be bent or break loose, either partially or entirely. It is a common misconception that this is not a big deal. This will result in rainwater run-off splashing on the external walls, windows and doors. This is likely to result in internal dampness much sooner than expected.

Downpipes dislodged

As with guttering, downpipes prevent rainwater from saturating and penetrating the outer wall, except with downpipes the water is all channeled onto a smaller area. Often the issue lies with broken brackets which attach the downpipe to the wall.

Repairing a Storm Damaged Roof

Fixing Damaged Tiles and Slates

If the life-threatening and life-changing anger associated with climbing on a pitched roof isn’t enough to put you off, here are two other reasons not to attempt to do a DIY repair on tiles and slates.

1. Further damage to other tiles and slates is likely as they are brittle.
2. It’s not that simple. Removing or moving undamaged tiles is almost certainly necessary, and requires considerable experience to avoid adding to the damage.

In short, do not attempt to fix or replace tiles and slates, even if it is just a patching up, temporary job.

Difficulty 5/5

Patching Felt

If the felt damage can be accessed from the attc space, it is worth attempting to fix this while waiting for a professional.

There are two types of felt,

1. The thicker bitumen (tar-like) covered heavy non-breathable felt – usually black in colour.
2. The lighter fabric felt, which may come in a variety of colours, including black. This can be breathable or non-breathable.

For a tear, in the bitument non-breathable membrane, it may be possible to use a heavy flashing tape to seal the hole. For a larger hole, a combination of some new felt and double sided flashing tape may work. The flashing tape should provite a strong waterproof bond. Ask for the appropriate product at your local builders providers. Difficulty 3/5

For fabric membranes, acrylic tapes can be used to seal tears, and in the case of larger holes double sided acyrlic tapes such as Tyvek can be used. Again, your local builders providers will likely stock a range of sealing tapes and can direct you to the right one. Difficulty 3/5

Fixing Gutters and Downpipes

Guttering may be difficult to fix, as it is likey to have been damaged and the fixings made unusuable. If i alumnium guttering has been bent, it should be straightened to ensure rapid water flow to the downpipes. Difficulty 4/5

With downpipes, the issue usually relates to the downpipe breaking out of the bracket that holds it to the wall. These brackets are readily available in white and black for both square and round PVC downpipes at any local builders provider or large hardware shop and are cheap. Use a plug and galvanised screw. This is an easy task and well worth doing to prevent dampness inside. Difficulty 2/5

Fixing Damaged Roofing Timbers

As with the slates and tiles, fixing timbers should only happen after a structural survey has taken place, and should only be carried out by an experienced roofer. Difficulty 5/5

Getting a Roofer

The Problem After a Storm

Storms can cause serious damage to roofs, leaving homeowners needing repairs quickly. But roofers are often overwhelmed with work after a storm, spending long hours on jobs and struggling to find time to visit more properties just to provide quotes. This can delay repairs and create added stress for homeowners.

Why Get a Survey ?

• Faster Repairs for You: A stitch in time saves nine. Send the Request for Quotation document to multiple contractors at once and get quotes back quickly so repairs can start sooner.
• Trusted Expertise: The Request for Quotation document carries the weight of an experienced Civil Engineer or Building Surveyor. It’s issued on Homecheck headed paper, trusted by building contractors, financial institutions, and insurance companies.
• Save Time for Contractors: Roofers can provide quotes without needing to visit your property, making their job easier and faster.
• Fair and Transparent Pricing: With a professional report in hand, you’ll have the confidence to compare quotes and choose the best option.
• Confidence: It’s hard to see what exactly is wrong, if anything, with your roof because it is inaccessible. Legitimate tradesmen are unlikely to exaggerate the work involved, but some more unscrupulous individuals may want to do so. With our Request for Quotation document, you dictate what needs to be done,
• Drone Technology Included: Our surveys include drone photos and detailed notes, which you can share directly with contractors or keep for your records.

Won’t a survey just add to my costs?

Given that it is like to be many months before the backlog of roofing problems have been fixed, time saved is money saved. Sending a Request for Quotation directly to a roofer will help them get back to you with a price quicker than to other potential clients who need a site visit.

At a time of height demand, prices can vary by large amounts between different tradesmen and contractors. With an itemised Request for Quote that details exactly what work is required, prepared by an experienced Engineer or Surveyor, you can expect keener pricing.

In addition, a follow up survey after the works are complete can be provided to ensure that the problems identfied were fixed and the work was carried out to a standard you should expect.

What is in a Request for Quotation document?

This document is on our headed paper – carrying the weight of one of the biggest residential property surveying companies in Ireland, which tells the roofer they can trust the information contained is accurate.

It shows your address and contact details, along with an itemised list of the works that are required. Each item describes the defect, gives the contractor an indication of scale of the problem and an approximate amount of materials (slates, downpipes etc..) that need to be replaced.