Safety before anything else
When a storm has torn through, the instinct is to get up and look. Resist it. Roofs that have been hit by wind, hail or a falling branch can be unstable, wet surfaces are treacherous, and power lines may be down nearby. Follow this order:
- Keep people safe. Move everyone away from rooms with sagging ceilings, broken windows or water near electrical fittings.
- Turn off power to affected circuits at the switchboard if water is near lights or power points. If unsure, call a licensed electrician.
- Call for help if it is dangerous. For storm damage that needs urgent make-safe work, contact the Victoria State Emergency Service on 132 500. For life-threatening situations, call 000.
- Stay off the roof. Even after the weather clears, let trained people with fall protection go up.
Record the damage properly
Insurers rely on evidence. Good records made early make the process smoother.
- Take wide photos of each side of the house, then close-ups of damaged areas.
- Photograph inside: ceilings, walls, floors, furniture and anything else affected.
- Film a short walk-through video with commentary on what happened and when.
- Note the date and time of the storm and when you first noticed water coming in.
- Keep receipts for emergency costs such as tarps, accommodation or drying equipment.
- Save the weather warnings or news reports for that day.
Ruined carpets and furniture should stay put until the assessor or insurer okays disposal.
Get the roof made safe
A make-safe repair stops further water entry. It might be a tarp secured over the damaged section, a few replacement tiles, or re-fixing loose sheets and flashings. The SES may handle this in an emergency; otherwise a roofer can attend.
Make-safe work is temporary. Tarps flap and shift in wind, so check them after each blow, and get permanent work organised as soon as practical. Ask the roofer for a written note of what they did, with photos, because your insurer will want it.
Notify your insurer
Contact your home insurer as soon as you can. Most policies expect prompt notification, and delays can complicate claims. When you call:
- Have your policy number, photos and a short description ready.
- Ask whether they require their own assessor, and when that might happen.
- Check whether you can choose your own roofer or must use their network.
- Confirm what emergency costs they will reimburse.
Storm damage is often covered under home building policies, but wear and tear, rust and gradual deterioration usually are not. If a roof was already in poor condition, an insurer may argue that the storm only exposed existing problems. Check your policy wording carefully.
Repair or replacement?
After the make-safe, a roofer should inspect the whole roof, not just the obvious damage. Their findings will usually point one of two ways.
| Finding | Likely outcome |
|---|---|
| Limited broken tiles or a few lifted sheets, rest sound | Repair damaged sections |
| Hail damage across many roof faces | Full or partial replacement |
| Branch impact damaged rafters or battens | Structural repair plus re-roof of that area |
| Old roof with widespread pre-existing wear | Replacement, but insurance may not cover all of it |
| Asbestos cement roof cracked by hail | Licensed removal, then new roof |
| Matching tiles or profile no longer available | Larger replacement to achieve a consistent roof |
If an older concrete-tiled roof in the eastern suburbs is extensively damaged, insurers sometimes approve replacing whole roof planes or the entire roof, particularly where matching tiles cannot be found. Whether that happens depends on the policy and the assessor's view.
For an overview of common storm damage signs, see common roofing issues after Melbourne storms.
Choosing who does the work
Whether the insurer appoints a builder or you choose your own roofer, a few checks apply:
- Ask to see current roof plumbing registration or licence, which in Victoria now sits with the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the Victorian Building Authority). Search the public register yourself.
- Confirm public liability insurance and, where relevant, domestic building insurance.
- Get a written scope listing materials, quantities and what happens to the old roof.
- Ask for a compliance certificate for qualifying roof plumbing work when it is finished.
Be cautious of door-knockers offering to start immediately after a storm, especially if they want a large deposit or ask you to sign an insurance assignment on the spot. Take your time and check credentials. Our guide on choosing a roofing contractor in Melbourne has more pointers.
Permits and special cases
A straight swap of damaged roofing for the same product is commonly permit-free. Structural repairs to the frame, a move to heavier roofing, or a property inside a heritage or bushfire planning overlay can change that. Speak to a registered building surveyor or your council before work starts.
Hail-cracked asbestos cement sheeting is a hazard, not a patch job. WorkSafe Victoria limits unlicensed removal to 10 square metres of the non-friable kind; larger areas need a licensed asbestos contractor. See our page on asbestos roof removal and replacement.
The replacement itself
Once approvals are sorted, a storm-damage re-roof follows the same steps as any other: stripping the damaged covering, checking and replacing battens and sarking, installing new tiles or sheets, new flashings and capping, and reconnecting gutters and downpipes. For a detailed walk-through, see what roof replacement involves step by step.
Many owners use the opportunity to improve the roof: adding sarking where there was none, upgrading gutters, or switching from tiles to metal roofing, which is lighter and quick to install.
Out-of-pocket costs and the excess
Even with an approved claim, there are usually some costs to you. The policy excess comes off the payout, and anything the insurer treats as pre-existing wear, or as an upgrade beyond like-for-like, may be your responsibility. If you choose a better material than the one damaged, the insurer may only pay the equivalent of the original. Ask for a written breakdown separating the insured scope from any extras before you sign the contract, so nobody is surprised by the final invoice.
Where insurance does not apply, or only partly applies, the price of a replacement depends on roof size, pitch, access, material and how much hidden damage turns up. Our roof replacement cost guide explains the main drivers.
Planning for the next storm
A new roof is a good moment to reduce future risk. Trim overhanging trees, keep gutters clear, and book periodic inspections so small problems are dealt with before the next front.
When you are ready for permanent work, Roof Repair Melbourne VIC can send independent local roofers out to quote on the storm damage at no charge. Have each one show their registration and insurance before you commit, and reach us through the contact page to begin.