A roof leak is stressful — water coming into your home feels urgent, and it is. But how you respond in the first hour matters. The right steps protect your property from further damage and put you in the strongest position for a lasting repair or an insurance claim.

Here's exactly what to do, in order, when you discover your roof is leaking.

Step 1: Contain the Water

Before anything else, limit the damage inside your home:

  • Place buckets or containers under any active drips to protect flooring and furniture.
  • Move valuables, electronics, and soft furnishings away from the affected area.
  • If the ceiling is bulging, carefully puncture the lowest point of the bulge with a screwdriver over a bucket. This sounds counterintuitive, but a controlled release prevents the entire ceiling from collapsing under the weight of pooled water.
  • Turn off electricity to any rooms where water is near light fittings or sockets. Water and electrics are a dangerous combination — if in doubt, switch off at the consumer unit.

Step 2: Photograph Everything

Before you clean up or move anything else, take photos and video of:

  • The water entry point (ceiling stains, drips, bulging plaster)
  • Any damaged belongings, flooring, or decorations
  • The exterior of the roof if you can safely see the damage from ground level

This documentation is essential for insurance claims. Insurers need evidence of the damage as it occurred, not after it's been cleaned up.

Step 3: Try to Identify the Source

If you can safely access your loft, look for where the water is coming in. Common entry points include:

  • Around the chimney stack: Failed lead flashing is one of the most common causes of roof leaks in Devon and Cornwall. Look for water tracking down the masonry where the chimney meets the roof.
  • In the valleys: Where two roof slopes meet, the lead valley gutter can crack, split, or become blocked with debris.
  • Missing or slipped slates/tiles: You may be able to see daylight through the roof boarding where a slate or tile has moved.
  • Around roof lights or skylights: The flashing and sealant around roof windows deteriorates over time.
  • On flat roof sections: Flat roofs on extensions, porches, and bay windows are a frequent source of leaks, especially older felt systems.

Important: water doesn't always drip directly below the entry point. It can travel along rafters and battens before finding a gap in the ceiling, so the stain on your ceiling may be metres away from the actual source.

Step 4: Do Not Go on the Roof

This is worth stating clearly: do not climb onto your roof. Wet roofs are extremely slippery, and working at height without proper equipment and training is how serious accidents happen. Even if you can see a missing slate from ground level, attempting a DIY repair on a wet, pitched roof is not worth the risk.

Similarly, avoid covering the roof with a tarpaulin yourself unless you have safe access (some single-storey flat roofs can be accessed from a secure ladder). For anything above ground-floor level, wait for a professional with proper access equipment.

Step 5: Call a Roofer — Not a Handyman

A roof leak needs a roofer, not a general handyman or builder. A qualified roofer will:

  • Identify the actual source of the leak (not just the symptom)
  • Carry out a temporary repair to stop the water if a permanent fix isn't immediately possible
  • Assess whether the damage is localised or part of a wider problem
  • Provide a proper quote for the permanent repair

For emergencies across Devon and Cornwall, we aim to be on-site the same day. There's no call-out fee, and the inspection is free.

The Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks

Understanding what's likely gone wrong helps you make informed decisions about the repair. Here are the causes we see most frequently:

Failed Lead Flashing

Lead flashing creates the watertight seal where your roof meets a wall, chimney, or dormer. Over time, lead can crack, lift, or pull away from the mortar joints. Previous "repairs" using silicone sealant or flashing tape are a very common cause of recurring leaks — they're temporary bodges, not solutions. Proper lead flashing repair or replacement is the permanent fix.

Slipped, Cracked, or Missing Slates and Tiles

High winds, frost damage, or simple age can dislodge roofing materials. A single missing slate exposes the felt and battens to rain, which quickly leads to a leak. On older Devon and Cornwall properties, nail sickness (corroding iron nails) causes slates to slip gradually over the entire roof.

Blocked or Damaged Gutters

This is easily overlooked. A blocked gutter or downpipe causes water to overflow and run down the wall or back up under the eaves. The resulting damp often looks like a roof leak when it's actually a drainage problem. Regular gutter maintenance prevents this entirely.

Chimney Problems

A deteriorating chimney stack — crumbling mortar, failed flashing, or cracked pots — lets water into the roof space. Leaks near a fireplace or chimney breast almost always originate from the chimney rather than the roof covering itself.

Flat Roof Failure

Old felt flat roofs have a lifespan of just 10–15 years. If your extension, garage, or porch has an old felt flat roof, it's a prime candidate for leaking. Modern GRP or EPDM flat roof systems last 25–30 years and are far more reliable.

Should You Claim on Insurance?

Home insurance typically covers sudden, unexpected damage — storm damage, a fallen tree, or a burst pipe that causes a ceiling to collapse. It usually doesn't cover gradual deterioration or wear and tear.

Key points for Devon and Cornwall homeowners:

  • Storm damage is covered if you can show the damage resulted from a specific weather event. Check Met Office records for your area on the date of damage.
  • Wear and tear is not covered. A roof that's been leaking for months due to age won't qualify.
  • Document everything before temporary repairs. Photos, timestamps, and a written description from your roofer all strengthen a claim.
  • Get a professional report. We can provide a written assessment of the damage and its likely cause, which supports your claim.

Temporary vs Permanent Repair

In an emergency, a temporary repair (securing a tarpaulin, replacing a few slates, or applying a temporary seal) stops the immediate water ingress. But temporary means temporary — it buys you time, not a solution.

Always follow up with a permanent repair. The cost of a proper fix is almost always less than the cost of repeated emergency call-outs and the water damage that occurs between them.