Homeowners in Britain have been warned to keep their property safe (Image: Getty)
Millions of homeowners could be sitting on hidden storm damage that risks turning into repair bills of up to £4,000 if left untreated, experts have warned.
After back-to-back winter storms battered large parts of the UK minor issues such as slipped roof tiles or blocked gutters can rapidly escalate into damp, leaks and structural damage.
Research shows 22% of UK homes have suffered storm damage in the past five years, while insurer Aviva found 40% have been affected by extreme weather. December records the highest number of storm-related insurance claims.
Building and repair experts at Travis Perkins has now highlighted the five repairs homeowners should never delay, warning that a £100–£200 fix can quickly snowball into thousands once water gets in.
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Cracked or missing roof tiles
Storms can crack or dislodge tiles, leaving roofs exposed to wind and rain. Figures from Checkatrade show replacing up to five tiles costs an average of £225 if scaffolding is not needed. But if water damages the roof felt underneath, the bill rises to around £4,000 including labour and materials.
Nicola Clayton, Social Housing Account Director at Travis Perkins Managed Services, said: “Working at height can be very dangerous. So, if tiles have cracked or slipped during a storm, a qualified roofer is the best person to fix the problem.
“Having a professional on hand also means that they can inspect how extensive the damage is and then fix it correctly to avoid more problems once the next storm sweeps in.”
Damaged gutters
High winds can crack, dislodge or block guttering with debris, forcing rainwater down exterior walls instead of into drains.
Ms Clayton said: “Any issue with a gutter that can cause rainwater to overflow from it needs sorting fast. Any of this water that gets into bricks and stonework can cause damp… as well as possibly causing huge amounts of damage to masonry should the water freeze when temperatures drop in the winter.”
Cleaning gutters on a semi-detached home costs £100 to £150 on average. Replacing 20 metres of guttering and three downpipes costs around £1,000.
Exterior wall defects
Driving rain can expose cracks in cladding and exterior walls, triggering a freeze–thaw cycle that widens damage.
Ms Clayton warned: “Water will seep into cracked cladding and then either freeze or melt… Cracks that are still not repaired… will continue to become larger until they stretch onto a property’s roof, guttering or within its internal walls.”
Broken windows
Storm-damaged windows weaken home security. Data from CrimeRate shows police in England and Wales received more than 215,000 burglary reports during 2025 up to the start of November. Ms Clayton said homeowners replacing windows should consider triple glazing.
“Triple glazing delivers up to 50% better insulation… The A++ energy ratings… have the positive knock-on effect of increasing its resale value,” she said.
Loose fencing
Fence panels and posts can loosen or collapse in high winds, with further storms often causing wider failure.
Ms Clayton said: “Storm damage on fencing rarely stays minor. A loose panel today can become a collapsed fence after the next round of high winds.”
