Storm Darragh roof damage and repairs in Ireland
Storm Darragh hit on 7 December 2024. Here is the damage it caused to roofs, how to repair it, what your insurance covers, and how to find a rated local roofer fast.
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What do you need a roofer for?
Storm damage falls into a few common jobs. Pick what brought you here and we will point you to rated local roofers, free to contact.
Storm roofers in the worst-hit counties
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Storm Darragh: what it meant for roofs
Storm Darragh hit on 7 December 2024 with damaging winds across the south and west of Ireland. Named by the UK Met Office, it brought down trees and power lines and cut electricity to thousands of homes as it tracked across the country.
For roofs, Darragh did the usual work of a winter gale: slipped and stripped slates, lifted flat roofs, and chimney and flashing damage on exposed and coastal homes. The south and west coastal counties, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Clare and Galway, saw the worst of the wind, and older or neglected roofs fared worst.
If your roof took damage in Storm Darragh, the same priorities apply: make it safe to stop further water getting in, record the damage for your insurer, and get a rated local roofer to carry out the permanent repair.
Whether you are repairing damage now or getting ready for the next spell of bad weather, the steps are the same: make the roof safe and watertight first, then assess and repair properly. Below is the damage roofers deal with after a storm, what repairs cost, what your insurance covers, and the fastest way to get a rated local roofer to your door. For the wider picture see our emergency roof repairs service, and check your own roof with our roof storm-risk check.
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Make-safe, repair or replace
Storm damage is dealt with in stages. A make-safe stops the water today, a permanent repair fixes the damage, and only the worst cases need a re-roof.
| Emergency make-safe | Permanent repair | Re-roof | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Stops water getting in | Fixes the damage properly | Replaces a failed roof |
| How fast | Same day where possible | Days | Days to weeks |
| Rough cost | EUR 150 to 600 | From EUR 400 | EUR 5,000+ |
| When needed | Active leak or exposure | Slipped slates, flashing | Widespread failure |
After a storm the priority is always the make-safe, to stop further damage while the permanent repair is arranged.
The damage roofers deal with after a storm
Wind does the most damage and it finds the weak points first. The most common storm roof damage in Ireland is slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles, lifted or broken ridge tiles, torn lead and flashing at chimneys and walls, and lifted or punctured flat roofs. A storm-damaged roof often shows up first as a leak or a damp patch on a ceiling, some distance from where the water is actually getting in.
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Lifted or broken ridge tiles
- Torn lead and flashing at chimneys and walls
- Lifted or punctured flat roofs
- Fascia, soffit and guttering pulled off the eaves
Emergency make-safe and tarpaulin cover
When water is getting in, the first job is to make the roof safe and watertight, not to carry out the full repair. A roofer will fit a temporary tarpaulin or cover over the damaged section to keep the rain out, secured properly so it does not lift in the next gust. This buys time, limits the internal damage to ceilings and contents, and is what most insurers expect you to arrange. The permanent repair follows once it is safe to work and materials are to hand.
- Same-day make-safe where access allows
- Tarpaulin and cover to stop water ingress
- Limits damage to ceilings and contents
- Permanent repair scheduled to follow
Where storm damage tends to happen
Slate and tile roofs
Wind lifts and slips slates and breaks ridge tiles, leaving the felt exposed. Older slate roofs and exposed coastal homes are the most vulnerable.
Flat roofs
A storm can lift a poorly fixed flat roof at the edges or puncture the membrane with debris, letting water straight into the room below.
Sheds and farm buildings
Agricultural sheeting takes the brunt in open countryside. See our barn and farm roof page.
What storm roof repairs cost
Indicative 2026 ranges. Storm damage is often covered by home insurance, so keep your photographs and receipts.
- Stops active water ingress
- Same day where possible
- Re-fix or replace damaged areas
- Restores the roof properly
- Where damage is extensive
- Often an insurance claim
VAT at 13.5 per cent applies to construction services. Access, height and the extent of the damage move the final figure, so get a written quote.
Choose your county
Select your county to get matched with rated local roofers for storm repairs.
Signs of storm damage to your roof
Some storm damage is obvious, some only shows up later as a leak. Check for these after a spell of bad weather.
Damp on the ceiling
Brown staining or a fresh damp patch means water is already getting in through the roof.
Slates on the ground
Slates or tiles in the garden or driveway after a storm mean gaps the rain will follow.
Lifted ridge or flashing
A crooked ridge line or lifted lead at the chimney is a common storm weak point.
Daylight in the attic
Light through the roof from inside the attic is a clear gap that needs sealing fast.
Storm damage and your insurance
Most Irish home insurance policies cover storm damage to the roof, but the detail matters. Photograph the damage as soon as it is safe, keep receipts for any emergency make-safe, and report the claim to your insurer promptly. A reputable roofer will provide a written report and quote you can submit with the claim, and will carry out the temporary make-safe that most policies expect you to arrange to prevent further damage. Wear and tear and pre-existing disrepair are usually excluded, which is why a roof kept in good order and documented before the season claims more easily.
- Photograph the damage before any work
- Keep receipts for emergency make-safe
- Get a written report and quote for the claim
- Report the claim to your insurer promptly
For burst pipes, flooding or water ingress, you will also want a plumber, see plumbersinireland.ie. If water has reached your wiring, have a registered electrician check it before switching anything back on.
What to do after a storm
If a storm has damaged your roof, a calm, ordered response limits the damage and makes any insurance claim far easier. Here is what to do, in order.
Stay safe
Stay off the roof and away from loose slates and power lines.
Contain the water
Buckets under leaks, move valuables, turn off affected electrics.
Photograph it
Document all the damage for your insurance claim.
Get a make-safe
Call a roofer to stop the water with a tarpaulin or cover.
Repair properly
Arrange the permanent repair with a written quote.
Storm roof damage questions, answered
What should I do first after Storm Darragh damages my roof?
Stay safe and stay off the roof while it is wet or windy. From the ground, look for missing or slipped slates, displaced ridge tiles and debris. Inside, put buckets under any leak and move valuables clear. Photograph everything for your insurer, then call a local roofer for an emergency make-safe to stop further water getting in.
How much does emergency storm roof repair cost in Ireland?
An emergency call-out and make-safe typically costs EUR 150 to EUR 400, a temporary tarpaulin or cover EUR 200 to EUR 600, and the permanent repair afterwards from EUR 400 upwards depending on the damage. Major damage that needs a partial or full re-roof costs more. Storm damage is often covered by home insurance, so keep all receipts and photographs.
Will my home insurance cover storm roof damage?
Most Irish home insurance policies cover storm damage to the roof, but wear and tear and pre-existing disrepair are usually excluded. Report the claim promptly, photograph the damage before any work, keep receipts for emergency make-safe, and get a written report and quote from a roofer to submit with your claim.
How fast can a roofer come out after a storm?
Demand spikes in the days after a big storm, so the fastest results come from contacting several local roofers at once rather than waiting on one. Many will prioritise a make-safe to stop active water ingress, then schedule the permanent repair. Tell us your county and we will match you with available roofers near you.
Can a roof be tarped in the rain?
Yes, an experienced roofer can fit a temporary tarpaulin or cover in poor conditions to keep water out until a permanent repair is possible, as long as it is safe to access the roof. It is not a job to attempt yourself in a storm. The make-safe buys time and limits the internal damage while you arrange the full repair.
How do I avoid rogue traders after a storm?
Storms bring out door-to-door "storm chasers" offering cheap fixes for cash. Use a rated local roofer with a real business and Google reviews, get the quote in writing, never pay in full up front, and be wary of anyone pressuring you to decide on the spot. Every roofer in our directory is a listed business with a public Google rating.
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