Spot changes before a leak starts, or find a safe next step when something goes wrong. These guides help homeowners across North East England observe safely, prepare for an assessment and ask the right questions before agreeing work.
General guidance, not a diagnosis of your property. Contact us about assessment availability.
Guide 01 / Safety first
What to do when your roof is leaking
Keep people safe before trying to protect possessions. Water can travel along roof materials and timbers: a visible stain is not necessarily beneath the source of the leak. Symptoms alone cannot identify the fault.
1. Avoid water near electrics
Stay away from water near lights, sockets or wiring. Do not touch wet switches, electrical equipment or exposed wires, and do not attempt electrical repairs. Only switch off the electrical supply if you can safely reach it from a dry area. Otherwise, stay away and seek electrical help.
Have a registered electrician check affected electrics before they are used again, and do not use water-affected appliances until tested. These precautions draw on Electrical Safety First's water/flood-damaged electrics guidance; they do not establish whether your home's electrical installation is safe.
2. Limit indoor damage only if it is safe
If there is no electrical or ceiling hazard and you can remain safely clear of damaged areas, place a container beneath drips and move belongings out of the way. Do not enter an unsafe area to collect possessions or catch water. If in doubt, keep people away and wait for professional advice.
3. Make a simple record from a safe place
Photograph visible damage only from safe indoor or ground-level positions. Note the date, weather and when the leak appears: during rain, after prolonged rain or in wind from a particular direction. Record which rooms are affected and whether the problem has happened before. Do not take risks to get a clearer view.
4. Arrange an assessment and notify the right people
Contact a roofer to assess the cause and the work needed. Describe any ceiling or electrical concerns before a visit. If you rent, notify your landlord or managing agent. Contact your insurer to ask what records, notifications or approvals they require before work is agreed; cover depends on your policy and circumstances.
A leak does not automatically mean a new roof. The right choice depends on the cause, the condition of the whole roof and what a proposed repair can realistically achieve. Age alone is not proof that a roof needs replacing.
When a repair may be suitable
An isolated defect, such as a damaged tile or a local flashing problem, may suit a targeted repair if the surrounding roof covering is otherwise sound. Ask the roofer to explain how they identified the cause and whether the repair addresses it, rather than just the visible symptom.
When to assess replacement
Widespread deterioration or repeated leaks may warrant a replacement assessment. Repeated problems can also have an unresolved local cause, so ask for evidence rather than accepting a diagnosis from stains, roof age or symptoms alone.
Questions to ask before agreeing work
What is causing the problem? Ask for photographs or other evidence gathered safely by the professional, and an explanation of any uncertainty.
What condition is the roof in? Ask about the covering, supporting structure and underlay, what has been assessed and what cannot yet be confirmed.
What would a repair include? Request a clear scope, its limitations and any remaining defects or risks. Ask what would trigger a change in the proposed work.
Can I compare written options like for like? Ask for repair and replacement options where appropriate, with materials, access, waste removal, insulation and ventilation clearly included or excluded. Check how unexpected findings would be handled before agreeing work.
You do not need to get onto a roof to notice a change. Use these indoor and ground-level checklists to record concerns and plan professional maintenance before a leak develops. They are observations, not a diagnosis or proof that a roof is safe or watertight.
Routine observation checklist
Make a regular reminder, for example in spring and autumn. SPAB recommends twice-yearly checks for slate and tiled roofs. Choose daylight and settled weather; these are visual checks, not a roof inspection.
Roof covering: from the ground, note visible gaps, slipped or broken tiles or slates, and changes along the ridge or roof edges. Do not move closer beneath anything loose.
Gutters and downpipes: look for visible debris, sagging sections, disconnected joints or staining on walls below. From a safe indoor window during ordinary rain, note overflowing gutters or water escaping joints; do not lean out.
Drainage at ground level: note leaves or debris covering visible gullies and water collecting nearby. Do not lift covers or reach into drains; ask for maintenance if drainage appears obstructed.
Inside living spaces: look for new or spreading marks, peeling finishes or damp patches on ceilings and upper walls. Note a persistent musty smell, but do not open up finishes or touch a damp ceiling.
Keep a record: date your notes and safe-position photos, identify the room or side of the house, and compare with earlier observations. Arrange professional gutter clearing or roof maintenance where concerns are visible.
After-storm observation checklist
Wait until the storm has passed and conditions are safe. Do not go outside to investigate or repair damage during a storm. Check the weather warnings before considering an outdoor look; skip it if you are unsure.
Check your surroundings first: keep away from damaged buildings, walls and trees, hanging material and fallen or dangling cables. Do not touch cables or approach damage for a photograph.
Look indoors first: from safe rooms, note any new ceiling or wall marks, drips or changes since the storm. Keep out of areas with sagging ceilings or electrical concerns.
Compare the visible roof: only from a safe ground-level position, look for newly displaced tiles, changed roof edges or gutter sections hanging away. Leave hidden areas unchecked rather than seeking a higher viewpoint.
Notice fallen fragments: record tiles or other material visible on the ground from a safe distance. Do not stand below the suspected source, handle debris or assume which roof it came from.
Record what changed: note the storm date, location and visible differences, including what you could not see. Send existing safe-position photos to a roofer; do not delay seeking help to collect them.
What your observations mean — and when to call
A stain, overflowing gutter or apparent gap does not establish the cause or the repair needed. Damp can have causes other than a roof leak, and a clear view from below cannot rule out hidden damage. Describe what you saw rather than diagnosing it.
Arrange a roofer's assessment for new or worsening marks, recurring overflow, visibly displaced roof materials or changes after a storm — even if there is no indoor leak. Ask what needs checking and which maintenance is appropriate.
Stop checking and seek urgent help if material is falling or hanging loose, a ceiling is sagging or water is near electrics. Keep people away, tell the professional about the hazard before any visit, and call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger. A roofing enquiry is not an emergency-services response.
INFINITE Roofing & Building serves homeowners across North East England. Tell us what you have noticed, where the problem is and any immediate safety concerns. We can discuss an assessment and current availability.
These sources support the safety, maintenance and regulatory points above. They are not a substitute for a property-specific assessment by the relevant professional.
