If a storm has just torn through Dublin or Wicklow and you’re standing in the garden looking up at the roof wondering how bad it really is, here’s the short answer: if you can see slipped slates, a sagging gutter, a cracked chimney, or water already coming in, get it looked at within a day or two, not weeks. Storm damage that looks minor from the ground is often worse up close, and leaving it exposed to the next spell of wind and rain almost always turns a small repair into a much bigger one.

We’ve worked on homes right across this county for years, from the exposed coastal stretch around Greystones and Kilcoole to the older terraces in Bray and Dun Laoghaire and the more sheltered but older housing stock inland around Rathdrum and Blessington. Every one of those areas gets hit differently by a winter storm, and that’s the first thing people researching this online tend to miss.

Why Dublin and Wicklow get hit differently in a storm

The coastal towns, Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Kilcoole, take the direct force of south-easterly and south-westerly gales coming off the Irish Sea. We see a lot of lifted or cracked ridge tiles, chimney pots knocked loose, and flashing pulled away around chimney stacks in these areas. Further inland, around Rathdrum, Enniskerry and Blessington, the wind is often a bit less brutal but the older housing stock and more sheltered sites mean falling branches, blocked gutters from surrounding trees, and water pooling against foundations are more common. Dublin city and the suburbs like Dundrum, Stillorgan, Sandyford, Tallaght and Rathfarnham sit somewhere in between, but denser housing means one neighbour’s damaged fence panel or loose shed roof can easily become your problem too.

The point is, a storm damage survey isn’t a one-size-fits-all checklist. What we look for on an exposed bungalow in Delgany is different to what we look for on a mid-terrace house in Dun Laoghaire with a party wall.

What an emergency property condition survey actually involves

This isn’t a full structural survey with weeks of lead time. It’s a focused, practical inspection done quickly after a storm event, aimed at answering two questions: is the property safe to live in right now, and what needs doing first.

In our experience, a proper post-storm survey covers:

• Roof covering, ridge, hips and flashing, checked for slipped, cracked or missing material
• Chimney stacks and pots, which take the brunt of high wind and are often the first thing to move
• Guttering, downpipes and fascias, especially where they’ve pulled away from the wall
• Signs of water ingress internally, including damp patches on ceilings, staining around chimney breasts, and window reveals
• Boundary structures, sheds, fences and garden walls, which can shift or fail without you noticing straight away
• General structural movement, cracking, or anything that’s moved relative to before the storm

Photographing everything as we find it matters just as much as the inspection itself. If you’re making an insurance claim, dated photographs and a written note of exactly what’s damaged and how it likely happened will save you a lot of back and forth later.

The mistake we see homeowners make most often

Honestly, the biggest one is waiting. People see a few slates down and think it can hold until the weather settles, or they put off calling anyone until a second storm comes through a week later and finishes the job the first one started. A small area of exposed roof felt or a gap where a slate used to be can let in a surprising amount of water in a short space of time, particularly with the kind of driving, horizontal rain we get off the Irish Sea.

The second mistake is going up a ladder themselves to “just have a quick look.” We understand the instinct, but a roof after a storm is not a safe place to be assessing damage on your own, especially if it’s still wet or there’s loose material around. Let someone experienced check it from the ground first and decide whether access is even safe.

Insurance, and what to get right from day one

Most home insurance policies cover storm damage, but insurers generally want to see that the damage happened suddenly, during a named storm or clearly severe weather event, rather than being the result of gradual wear that was already there beforehand. This is where a written, dated condition survey earns its keep. It gives your insurer a clear, professional account of what’s damaged and roughly when it happened, which tends to make claims move faster and with fewer questions.

We’d always recommend confirming your specific policy’s requirements directly with your insurer before you do any permanent repair work, since excess levels, what’s covered, and what proof they need can vary a good deal between providers. Don’t take our word, or anyone else’s, as a substitute for checking your own policy document.

What pushes the cost of storm damage repair up or down

We can’t quote a price without seeing the job, but a few things consistently decide whether a repair is straightforward or a bigger undertaking:

• How quickly it’s addressed: a slipped slate caught early is a small job; left through a few more storms, it often means replacing rotten battens or felt underneath too
• Access: a terraced house in Dublin city with limited rear access or shared scaffolding needs can cost more to reach than a detached house with clear access all round
• Age and type of roof covering: natural slate roofs, common on older Dun Laoghaire and Bray properties, generally cost more to source matching material for than a standard tiled roof
• Extent of hidden damage: what’s visible from the ground is often only part of the story once we get a proper look at timber and flashing underneath
• Whether it’s one isolated repair or several: storms rarely damage just one thing, and doing related repairs together is usually more cost-effective than coming back multiple times

If you’re trying to budget before you’ve even had anyone look, the honest advice is: don’t guess. Get an actual assessment, then ask for a written quote based on what’s actually wrong, not an estimate off a phone description.

What to do right now if you’ve got storm damage

Take photos from a safe distance, note roughly when you first noticed the damage, and avoid going up on the roof yourself. If water is actively coming into the house, get a bucket under it and move anything valuable out of the way, but don’t attempt to go up and patch a roof in wet, windy conditions. Then get someone out to assess it properly and confirm what’s genuinely urgent versus what can wait a short while for scheduling.

We’ve been covering storm damage call-outs across Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Rathdrum, Blessington, Enniskerry, Kilcoole, Delgany, Dublin city, Dun Laoghaire, Dundrum, Stillorgan, Sandyford, Tallaght and Rathfarnham for years, and if you’ve had damage from recent weather, the quickest way to get an honest read on what’s actually wrong is to request a quote and describe what you’re seeing. You can also browse what we cover on our services page, or get in touch through our contact page if you’d rather talk it through first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly should I get a storm damage survey done?

Within a day or two of the storm if at all possible, especially if you can see visible damage like slipped slates, loose flashing or a damaged chimney. The longer exposed areas are left, the more likely the next spell of wind and rain gets in and causes secondary damage like rot or internal water staining.

Will my home insurance cover storm damage in Dublin or Wicklow?

Most standard home insurance policies cover sudden storm damage, but the exact terms, excess and evidence required vary by provider. Confirm the specific requirements of your own policy directly with your insurer before any repair work goes ahead, and keep dated photographs and a written condition report to support your claim.

Can I claim for storm damage if the roof was already old?

This depends on your insurer’s view of whether the storm caused sudden damage or whether it was pre-existing wear that finally gave way. It’s genuinely worth having a proper assessment done and asking your insurer directly how they’ll treat it, rather than assuming either way.

Is it safe to check roof damage myself after a storm?

We wouldn’t recommend it. Roofs can be unstable after a storm, especially with loose slates, wet surfaces or damaged guttering nearby. It’s safer and more accurate to have someone experienced assess it from the ground and decide whether access is needed.

What areas do you cover for emergency storm damage assessments?

We cover Dublin and Wicklow, including Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Rathdrum, Blessington, Enniskerry, Kilcoole, Delgany, Dublin city, Dun Laoghaire, Dundrum, Stillorgan, Sandyford, Tallaght and Rathfarnham.

What should I do while I’m waiting for someone to come out and assess the damage?

Photograph the damage from a safe distance, note when you first noticed it, and if water is coming into the house, protect your belongings and contain the leak as best you can without going up on the roof yourself. Avoid any temporary repairs that might disturb evidence needed for an insurance claim until you’ve spoken to your insurer.