By the Sleak Property Services team ·
Living on the Fylde coast means taking the full force of winter storms off the Irish Sea. Most homes come through fine, but a strong westerly will find any weakness: a rotten fence post, a loose gutter bracket, a shed roof that's been on its last legs for a while.
Here's what we'd check once a storm has passed, and the order we'd fix things in.
Safety first
Stay away from anything that looks unstable, like a leaning fence, a damaged wall or a tree that's moved. Keep well clear of fallen power cables and report them by calling 105. Don't go up a ladder or onto the roof in wet, windy weather to have a look. It isn't worth the risk.
Check from the ground
- Fence panels and posts down or leaning
- Gates off their hinges or not closing
- Gutters and downpipes loose, sagging or detached
- Slipped or missing roof and ridge tiles (use binoculars rather than a ladder)
- Shed and garage roofs with torn felt or lifted sheets
- Damaged sheds, greenhouses and garden structures
- Broken glass or damaged sealant around windows
Then check inside
Look at the ceilings, especially upstairs and under any flat roofs, for new stains or damp patches. Check around windows and doors for water getting in, and look in the loft with a torch if it's safe to get into. Catching water early is the difference between a small repair and a ceiling that needs replacing.
Insurance: photograph before you fix
If you think you'll claim, photograph and video the damage before anything is moved, and speak to your insurer before arranging permanent repairs. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to stop damage getting worse, so emergency work like making a fence safe or boarding a broken window is normally fine. Keep the receipts and photos.
Fences and gates are often treated differently from the house itself, and plenty of policies don't cover them for storm damage at all, so check the wording on yours.
What to fix first
- Anything letting water in: gutters, downpipes, roof leaks and broken windows
- Anything unsafe: leaning fences, loose gates and damaged walls
- Security: gates and doors that no longer lock
- Then the rest: sheds, garden structures and the clear-up
Roof work needs a roofer, and we'll tell you if that's what's needed. Fences, gates, gutters, shed roofs and the damage inside the house after a leak are all work we do ourselves.
Make the next storm less of a problem
Storm damage tends to follow the same weak points. Fence panels on rotten timber posts are the classic one; concrete posts and gravel boards last much longer on the coast. Clearing gutters before winter, checking shed felt in autumn and cutting back trees near the house all reduce the risk, and we can check them in one autumn visit.
Common questions
Can you make my fence safe straight after a storm?
Yes. We'll make it safe first, then quote for a proper repair or replacement. After a big storm we prioritise jobs that are unsafe or letting water in.
Do you repair storm damage on rental properties?
Yes. We can get access through your letting agent or a key safe, photograph the damage for the insurer and carry out the repair.