The storm’s over. The rain’s stopped bullying the windows, and the wind’s packed up and gone, but what it’s left behind isn’t pretty. But now what? Well, there are bits of the neighbour’s fence now call your garden home, there’s a puddle suspiciously close to the lounge, and is that… half the roof tiles on the lawn? From the looks of it, you have some cleanup to do and you might even need to contact a contractor roofer too.

The adrenaline’s worn off, and now it’s just you, your house, and a whole lot of mess. But what’s next? Well, sure, the weather might’ve had its fun, but there are a few things that’ll help stop the chaos from getting worse.

Don’t go full detective just yet

Okay, so what’s your first instinct? Well, when you know it’s safe, then you need to charge outside. But of course, be sure to pause. Why? Well, storms have a sneaky habit of leaving behind hazards. Like what exactly? Well, it could be things like dangling power lines, wobbly trees, or that old garden chair now somehow wedged in the hedge.

But once things look calm enough for a closer snoop, it’s time to do a proper walkaround. Start with the windows and doors, any cracks, gaps, or broken seals? That’s how water and draughts love to slip in unnoticed. Then, of course, there’s the roof. Sure, missing tiles and loose flashing might not scream “fix me” at first glance, but leave them be, and they’ll cause more leaks than a cheap tent. So you can’t take any risks there.

Is it damp anywhere?

Yes, this is pretty major, but for the most part, water damage is a sly one. It’s not always as dramatic as a flooded basement or a collapsed ceiling. Sometimes, it’s just lurking; you can’t see it, but it’s there, and it’s slowly making a mess. That slight damp patch in the corner? The suspicious, musty smell creeping in? Well, those are classic signs.

Now, if you had severe weather, and something like tiles came off, then yeah, you really should consider booking a damp survey ASAP, since this saves future you from headaches and soggy wallpaper. But why does this even matter? Well, a professional can spot the stuff no one else can, like moisture sneaking through the walls or quietly festering beneath floorboards. It really has a way of ruining a whole home.

The garden’s had a rough night too

Out back, it probably looks like a wind tunnel tore through. There might be broken fences, battered flower beds, and random bits of plastic that might’ve come from two streets over. While sure, it’s tempting to ignore it all and head straight for the kettle, sorting out the garden now could spare the house from round two.

No, really, just think about it; loose fence panels love turning into flying missiles when the next storm rolls through. So, securing anything that looks like it might take off again is a solid shout. Besides, getting the garden back in order makes everything feel a bit more normal after the chaos.

Snap first, clean later

Seriously, the clean-up itch is real, but this is one of those “phone eats first” moments. Just go ahead and grab a few photos of the damage before clearing a thing. Future-you will be thankful when it’s time to deal with insurance and those snaps are handy for any tradespeople you bring in, so they know exactly what they’re signing up for when it’s time to fix the carnage.

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