Storm Season Roof Check: A Sunshine Coast Homeowner’s Guide

Storm season on the Sunshine Coast brings heavy rain, hail and damaging winds, and the official tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. Most storm damage to roofs starts with a small problem that was already there: a cracked tile, loose ridge capping, a rusted screw or a blocked gutter. This guide covers what to check before the season, what to fix first, and what to do if a storm does damage your roof.

Check your roof before storm season

You can do most of this from the ground with a pair of binoculars. Please don’t climb onto the roof: wet or steep roofs are dangerous, and a professional inspection costs far less than a fall.

Tile roofs

• Cracked, chipped or slipped tiles. Even one gap lets wind-driven rain straight into the roof space.
• Ridge capping. Look along the ridges for gaps, crumbling mortar or caps that sit unevenly. Loose ridge capping is one of the most common causes of leaks after a storm.
• Moss, lichen and dirt. Growth holds water against the tiles and can block water from draining off the roof properly.

Metal and Colorbond roofs

• Rust, especially around screws, laps and the edges of sheets.
• Loose or missing screws, and sheets that lift at the edges. High winds work on any sheet that is already loose.
• Flashings around chimneys, skylights and walls that have lifted or lost their seal.

Gutters, valleys and downpipes

• Clear leaves from gutters, valleys and downpipes. In a heavy downpour, a blocked gutter overflows into the eaves and walls.
• Check that gutters are firmly attached and slope towards the downpipes.

Around the roof

• Trim branches that overhang the roof or could fall on it.
• Check that solar panel frames look secure. Have a solar installer check the panels themselves.
• Inside, look for water stains on ceilings and in the roof space after rain. A stain is often the first sign of a problem you cannot see from outside.

What to fix first

If you find several problems, deal with the ones that let water in first: broken or slipped tiles, failing ridge capping, rusted-through sheets and lifted flashings. Then clear the gutters and valleys. Cosmetic work such as faded colour can wait until after the season.

If the roof is generally tired, with worn coating, crumbling ridge capping and moss across the tiles, it may be time for a full roof restoration on the Sunshine Coast rather than spot repairs. A restoration cleans the roof, repairs it and recoats it, so the roof goes into the season sealed. If the roof is sound and simply dirty, professional roof cleaning may be all it needs. To understand typical prices, see what roof painting costs on the Sunshine Coast.

During a storm

• Stay inside and away from windows. Do not go onto the roof or into the roof space during a storm.
• If water is coming through the ceiling, move valuables, put down buckets and turn off power to the affected area if it is safe to do so.
• In a life-threatening emergency, call 000. For emergency help with storm or flood damage, such as a damaged roof that needs a temporary cover, call the Queensland SES on 132 500.

After a storm

1. Stay safe. Keep away from fallen power lines and do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof.
2. Photograph the damage from the ground and inside the house before anything is moved or repaired. Your insurer will ask for it.
3. Contact your insurer and lodge a claim as soon as you find damage.
4. Get a professional roof inspection. Insurers usually need a written report and an itemised quote from a tradesperson. See how we help with storm damage assessment and insurance claims.
5. Watch for slow leaks. Some damage only shows days later as a ceiling stain or a musty smell. Read the most common causes of roof leaks.

After a flood: walls, timber and paint

If floodwater or heavy rain has soaked your home’s walls, let them dry out completely before any repainting. Painting over damp surfaces traps moisture and leads to blistering, peeling and mould.

• Have the electrics checked by a licensed electrician before you turn the power back on.
• Clean mould from walls and ceilings with a suitable mould treatment, and keep the area ventilated while it dries.
• Check timber, such as decks, fascias and window frames, for swelling and soft spots.
• Once surfaces are dry and sound, repainting with a quality exterior system helps protect them before the next wet season. Our house painters can assess what needs doing.

Book a pre-season roof inspection

The best time to fix a roof is before the first big storm, not after it. We inspect roofs across the Sunshine Coast, photograph every issue and give you a written, itemised quote. Get in touch to book an inspection, or read the signs your roof needs restoring.