The priority in that weather is to make the roof as safe and protected as conditions allow. The permanent repair follows once it is safe to work at height.
Is this a roofing emergency?
Water coming through a ceiling, an open slope with felt or boarding showing, slipped slate hanging over the Esplanade pavement, or a stack that has moved — all of those are urgent. If you are not sure how bad it is, describe it over the phone and we can give you a straight view on whether it needs someone tonight or can safely wait for daylight.
Water through the ceiling
An active drip, a spreading stain, or a damp patch that's getting bigger while you watch it.
Tiles or ridge blown off
Slipped or missing tiles after wind, or broken pieces turning up in the garden.
A large area of roof exposed
Felt or boarding showing through where the covering has lifted off the slope.
Tree or branch impact
Usually a localised puncture, with broken battens and cracked tiles around it.
Loose chimney or masonry
A leaning stack, cracked haunching, or bits of pot and render coming down.
Sudden severe flat-roof leak
A split or ponded membrane letting water in faster than you can keep up with it.
What to do before we arrive
- Move people, pets and valuables clear of the affected room
- Keep away from a bulging or sagging ceiling rather than trying to deal with it yourself
- Isolate the electrics to that part of the property if water is near fittings or sockets
- Stay off the roof — a wet Weymouth slate slope in a southerly is genuinely dangerous
What happens when you call
We establish what has failed and what is unsafe, remove or secure hanging slate, unstable ridge sections and dislodged flashing, then get the roof closed. Internal protection goes in where water is already coming through a ceiling.
You then get dated photographs of the damage and the make-safe, plus a written scope for the permanent repair once conditions allow.
- 01
Tell us what has happened
One call, plain questions: what you can see, where the water's coming in, and how long it's been going on.
- 02
We assess the immediate risk
We work out whether anything's unsafe below the roof, and whether it can wait until daylight or needs us now.
- 03
Make-safe or emergency repair
Mechanically fixed sheeting, securing anything loose, or a targeted repair if conditions allow it.
- 04
Permanent repair where required
We'll explain in writing what lasting work is needed, quote it properly, and there's no obligation to use us.
Make safe now. Repair properly afterwards.
A temporary covering on an exposed Weymouth or Portland roof needs fixing to suit the roof and the weather. A weighted sheet may not be enough in strong wind, so we use suitable mechanical fixing where appropriate. It is a holding measure while the permanent repair is specified, priced and, where relevant, discussed with your insurer.
Emergency make-safe
- Stop further ingress where it is possible to do so
- Secure dangerous elements — loose tiles, ridge, masonry
- Temporary weatherproofing, mechanically fixed
- Document the damage with dated photographs
Permanent repair
- Assess the underlying damage in daylight
- Replace failed materials and broken battens
- Repair roof structure and underlay where needed
- Complete a properly detailed weatherproof repair
Exposure at Portland, Chesil and the seafront
Roofs on Portland, along the Esplanade and at the Chesil end can take much stronger exposure than sheltered inland sites. That governs what can be done safely and when: in a live gale we secure and protect, and we go up when it is safe to work rather than putting anyone on an exposed slope at the peak of a storm.
The Georgian and Victorian seafront terraces bring their own failure points — shared parapets, hidden gutters behind them, and tall chimney stacks that take the full southerly. Damage there can show up away from where the water actually gets in.
Documentation if you intend to make a claim
We provide dated photographs, a written description of the damage and its likely cause, and an itemised quotation for the permanent repair. Your insurer or loss adjuster will confirm what evidence it needs for the claim.
Whether the work is covered depends on your own policy, its terms and your excess — check with your insurer rather than assuming storm damage is included. We can supply the evidence we have either way.
Holiday lets, guest houses and where we attend
A lot of Weymouth's seafront property is let or trading, and a roof failure has an immediate commercial cost. We attend, make safe and give you something in writing you can put in front of an insurer or managing agent, subject to the timing and conditions on the day.
- The Esplanade, Brunswick Terrace and the town centre (DT4)
- Melcombe Regis and Westham (DT4)
- Rodwell, Wyke Regis and Chesil (DT4)
- Portland — Fortuneswell, Easton and Southwell (DT5)
- Preston, Overcombe and Littlemoor (DT3)
- Chickerell, Broadwey and Upwey (DT3)
Common questions
What homeowners in Weymouth usually want to know about emergency roof repairs.
Ask us anything