Why Central Coast roofs end up needing repairs
East Coast Lows, not summer hail
The storms that stand out in the records here are East Coast Lows. The one on 7 to 8 June 2007 struck the Hunter, the Central Coast and Sydney and killed nine people. In April 2015 Norah Head recorded gusts of 135 km/h. Wind like that works ridge caps and flashings loose, and the damage often doesn't show until it rains.
Heavy falls around Gosford
Gosford averages 1,314.7 mm a year on just 94.7 rain days. That much rain on so few days means heavy bursts, and a burst overwhelms a cracked tile, a blocked valley or a tired flashing much faster than drizzle would.
The February to April stretch
February (189.9 mm), March and April are Gosford's wettest months. A tile that slipped in spring is usually the one dripping into the ceiling by March.
Storms that take the power out
Storms on 3 to 5 June 2016 left 9,000 homes across Sydney and the Central Coast without power. If storm water is anywhere near your lights or power points, turn the power off at the switchboard and stay out of that room.
Before a roofer gets there
Catch the water
Buckets and old towels under the drip. If the ceiling is sagging or bulging, keep everyone out of that room.
Call the SES if it's an emergency
If the storm has opened the roof and water is pouring in, the SES is on 132 500.
Ring your insurer early
Moneysmart says to contact your insurer as soon as practical, even before you know how bad it is, and to talk to them before paying for temporary repairs. Many insurers can arrange a tarp.
Photograph from the ground
Take photos and video of the ceiling and of the roof from the yard before anything is moved. Stay off the roof, wet or dry. Our leak finder helps you narrow down where the water is getting in.
Licences, and knocks on the door after a storm
NSW licenses roof tiling and roof plumbing separately. Tiling covers tiles, bedding and pointing. Roof plumbing covers metal roofs, gutters, downpipes and flashings. Once a job is worth more than $5,000 including GST, the roofer needs a contractor licence in the right category, so look them up on Verify NSW before you agree to anything.
Be careful with anyone who turns up after a big blow. The Insurance Council warns that 'disaster chasers' offer quick repairs or claim to act for your insurer, and says insurers won't send a tradesperson to your home without telling you first.
What to ask a Central Coast roofer about a repair
- Is this storm damage, wear, or a bit of both? Can you show me in photos?
- Which licence do you hold: roof tiling, roof plumbing, or both?
- If the ridge caps lifted in the wind, will you refix them with flexible pointing or clips, or just patch the mortar?
- Is the water coming through the roof itself, or from a valley or gutter overflowing in heavy rain?
- Is there any chance the roof sheets or eave linings here are asbestos cement?
- What happens to the price if you find more damage once you start?
What we'd do
Get the fault fixed before the next wet season rather than waiting on a big restoration quote. On the Central Coast that means late winter or spring, ahead of February. If the same ridge keeps failing after every East Coast Low, ask whether the caps are held with flexible pointing or clips, as Monier recommends for high winds. New mortar on its own may not survive the next big wind.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.