What to Do Immediately After Major Storm Roof Damage

Brisbane Northside sits in one of the most storm-prone regions in Australia. Suburbs such as Chermside, Aspley, Strathpine, Kallangur, Sandgate, Nundah, Albany Creek and The Gap regularly experience severe thunderstorms during the October to March storm season, bringing damaging winds, large hail and intense rainfall. When a major storm damages your roof, the actions you take in the first hours and days can significantly affect your safety, your insurance claim and the total cost of repairs. This guide outlines the practical steps to follow.

Step One: Prioritise Safety Above Everything Else

Before thinking about your roof, make sure everyone in the household is safe. Storm damage creates hazards that are not always obvious, and the period immediately after a storm is when many injuries occur.

Check for Immediate Dangers

Look for fallen power lines, damaged electrical wiring, gas smells, and structural sagging in ceilings. If you see a downed power line, stay well away and call Energex on 13 62 62 or Triple Zero (000) if there is immediate danger. Assume every fallen line is live. If water is entering your home near light fittings, power points or the switchboard, turn off the power at the main switchboard only if it is safe to reach, and have a licensed electrician inspect the system before turning it back on.

Do Not Climb onto a Damaged Roof

Storm-damaged roofs are unstable. Wet tiles, bent sheeting, weakened battens and displaced fixings can all give way underfoot. Falls from roofs are a leading cause of serious injury in Australian homes after storms. Inspect the damage from the ground, using binoculars or the zoom function on a phone camera, and leave any roof access to trained professionals with appropriate fall protection.

Step Two: Call for Emergency Assistance If Needed

In Queensland, the State Emergency Service (SES) can be contacted on 132 500 for emergency help with storm damage, including temporary roof protection such as tarping. During widespread events, demand is very high and response times can be lengthy, so it is wise to contact a local roofing professional as well. Triple Zero (000) should be reserved for life-threatening situations.

Step Three: Document All Damage Before Touching Anything

Thorough documentation is one of the most important steps for an insurance claim. Before any cleanup or temporary repairs, record the condition of your property as it stands.

Take wide-angle and close-up photographs of all visible roof damage from the ground, including missing tiles, bent or lifted sheeting, damaged ridge capping, dented gutters and displaced flashing.
Photograph interior damage such as water stains, wet ceilings, bulging plasterboard, damp insulation and affected furniture or belongings.
Record video walk-throughs of both the exterior and interior, narrating what you see and noting the date and time.
Photograph any fallen trees, branches or debris that have struck the roof, and note whether the tree came from your property or a neighbour's.
Keep samples of broken tiles or damaged materials where safe to do so, and record hail size by photographing hailstones next to a coin or ruler if any remain.

Step Four: Contact Your Insurer Promptly

Notify your home insurer as soon as practical. Most insurers operate 24-hour claims lines, and many allow lodgement online or through an app. During major declared events, insurers often have dedicated catastrophe response teams. Under the General Insurance Code of Practice, insurers have obligations around how quickly they acknowledge and handle claims, particularly in declared catastrophe situations.

What to Ask Your Insurer

When lodging the claim, ask about your policy's coverage for storm damage, your excess, whether emergency repairs are covered, whether you need approval before engaging a roofer, and if the insurer has preferred repairers. Most policies cover reasonable emergency repairs to prevent further damage, but you should confirm the limit and keep all receipts. Ask for your claim number in writing and record the name of the person you spoke with.

Step Five: Arrange Temporary Protection to Prevent Further Damage

Policyholders have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent additional loss. Water entering through a damaged roof can quickly lead to saturated insulation, ceiling collapse, mould growth and electrical hazards. In Brisbane's warm, humid https://roofrestorationbrisbanenorthside.com.au/gutter-repair-replacement/ climate, mould can begin developing within 24 to 48 hours of moisture exposure.

Interior Measures You Can Safely Do

Move furniture, electronics and valuables away from leaks, and cover items that cannot be moved with plastic sheeting.
Place buckets or containers under active drips, and consider piercing a small hole in a bulging, water-filled ceiling to release water in a controlled way, only if you can stand safely clear of the area.
Open windows and use fans or dehumidifiers to improve airflow once the rain has stopped and it is safe to do so.
Remove wet rugs and soft furnishings to prevent mould and odours.
Keep children and pets out of rooms with damaged ceilings.

Exterior Temporary Repairs

Temporary tarping of a roof should be carried out by a qualified roofer or the SES. Tarps need to be secured correctly over the ridge and fastened to solid timber, not simply weighed down, or they can blow off in follow-up winds and cause further damage. Professional emergency tarping is usually an eligible expense under home insurance policies, so keep the invoice.

Step Six: Engage a Licensed Local Roofing Contractor

After a major storm event, unlicensed operators often door-knock affected suburbs offering quick repairs. In Queensland, roofing work above a certain value must be performed by a contractor holding the appropriate Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence. Always verify a contractor's licence number on the QBCC website before agreeing to any work.

Warning Signs of Storm Chasers

Pressure to sign a contract or pay a large deposit on the spot.
Requests for full payment upfront, which exceeds legal deposit limits for domestic building work in Queensland.
No written quote, no licence number, or no verifiable local address.
Offers to waive your insurance excess, which can amount to insurance fraud.
Vague descriptions of the work and materials to be used.

Obtain a written quote that lists the scope of work, materials, timeframes and warranty. If the insurer is covering the repair, they may require their own assessor to inspect the damage first, so confirm the process before work begins beyond emergency measures.

Step Seven: Understand Common Types of Storm Roof Damage

Knowing what to look for helps you describe the damage accurately to your insurer and roofer.

Tile Roofs

Concrete and terracotta tile roofs are common across Brisbane Northside. Storms can crack or dislodge tiles, loosen ridge capping bedded in mortar, and break tile clips. Hail can crack tiles that appear intact from the ground, and underlying sarking or battens may also be damaged.

Metal Roofs

Colorbond and other metal roofs can suffer from lifted sheets, loosened screws, dented panels from hail, and damaged flashings. High winds can peel back sheeting at the edges and corners where uplift forces are strongest.

Gutters, Fascias and Downpipes

These are often damaged by falling branches or hail, and blocked or broken gutters can cause water to back up under roofing and into the eaves.

Step Eight: Be Mindful of Asbestos in Older Homes

Many Brisbane homes built before the mid-1980s, and some into the early 1990s, contain asbestos cement sheeting in roofs, eaves or walls. If your roof or property was built in this era and the storm has broken or damaged sheeting, do not sweep, hose, drill or break up the material yourself. Keep people and pets away, and engage a licensed asbestos removalist or assessor. Disturbed asbestos fibres are a serious health risk, and Queensland has strict rules on handling and disposal.

Step Nine: Plan for Permanent Repairs and Long-Term Resilience

Once the immediate crisis is under control, use the repair process as an opportunity to improve your home's resilience. Modern building standards in cyclone and high-wind regions, including provisions in the National Construction Code and AS 4055 wind classifications, recognise the importance of tie-down systems and appropriate fixings. When replacing damaged roofing, ask your roofer about upgraded fixings, additional screws per tile or sheet, improved ridge capping bedding, and impact-resistant materials where appropriate.

Many Queenslanders are also reviewing their insurance cover as premiums and storm-related claims have continued to rise through the mid-2020s. Consider checking that your sum insured reflects current rebuilding costs, which have increased due to labour and material pressures. Programs such as the Queensland Government's Resilient Homes Fund have focused on flood-affected properties, so check current eligibility for any available grants or assistance related to resilience upgrades.

Step Ten: Maintain Records and Follow Up

Keep a dedicated folder, digital or physical, with all claim-related paperwork. This should include your claim number, photographs, quotes, invoices, receipts for emergency expenses, and all correspondence with your insurer and contractors. If your claim is delayed or denied and you disagree with the outcome, you can request an internal dispute resolution and, if still unresolved, lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), a free and independent service.

Preparing Before the Next Storm

The best time to prepare for storm damage is before it occurs. Brisbane Northside residents can reduce risk by:

Scheduling a roof inspection before storm season begins in spring, having loose or cracked tiles and rusted fixings repaired, trimming overhanging branches back from the roof, clearing gutters and downpipes, and keeping a list of emergency contacts, including your insurer, the SES, Energex and a trusted local roofer. Keeping a baseline set of photographs of your roof and property in good condition can also make future claims simpler.

Key Takeaways

After major storm roof damage, put safety first, stay off the roof, document everything, contact your insurer promptly, arrange professional temporary protection and only engage QBCC-licensed contractors. Acting quickly but carefully protects your home from further damage and helps ensure your insurance claim proceeds smoothly. For Brisbane Northside homeowners, understanding these steps in advance makes it easier to respond calmly and effectively when the next severe storm arrives.

Brisbane Northside Roof Restoration

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(07) 3130 0990