Why does my roof leak in heavy rain but stay dry the rest of the time?
Because a well-maintained roof shouldn't leak at all — even in a downpour. If yours only lets water in during heavy or wind-driven rain, something small is letting water past under pressure: a cracked tile, a slipped slate, lifted or fatigued flashing, or a partially blocked valley or gutter forcing water to back up and find another way. In ordinary rain the defect copes; under volume or wind it doesn't. The leak being occasional doesn't mean the defect is — it's there all the time, waiting for the next storm.
Why does the drip appear nowhere near the actual problem?
Water travels. It gets in at one point, runs along the underside of the felt, down a rafter or across the top of a ceiling, and shows itself somewhere else entirely — which is why chasing the stain rarely finds the hole. A damp patch by the chimney breast often traces back to flashing higher up; a drip in a bedroom corner can start at a valley several metres away. Finding the entry point is most of the job, and it's done from the roof and the loft, not from the stain.
Does a leak that only happens sometimes still need fixing?
Yes — and sooner is genuinely cheaper. Every wetting soaks the felt, battens and timbers a little further, and timber that stays damp starts to rot quietly. A defect that costs a modest repair today can become replaced battens, re-felting or ceiling repairs after a winter of storms. It will not resolve itself, and Somerset winters are not kind to "I'll watch it."
What should I check myself — safely?
From the ground: missing, slipped or visibly cracked tiles, anything odd along the ridge, gutters overflowing in rain (watch during a downpour from a window — overflowing gutters in one spot often mark a blockage or a low joint). From inside the loft with a torch, in daylight: darkened or damp patches on the felt, daylight showing where it shouldn't, water staining on timbers. Nothing on a ladder, nothing on the roof — finding the cause from above is the contractor's job, with the right access.
What does fixing a rain-only leak cost?
Most turn out small once found: straightforward repairs typically run from around £150, rising to £600 or more where flashing, valleys or multiple areas are involved. Access is the biggest single factor — work needing scaffolding costs more because the access itself costs money. If the leak has been left long enough to damage timbers or ceilings, the price reflects the damage rather than the original defect — which is the argument for calling early. You get a written price before anything starts.
Will insurance cover it?
Usually only if the damage was sudden — a storm lifting flashing or breaking tiles. A leak from gradual wear, like perished mortar or aged felt, is generally treated as maintenance and not covered. If a storm did cause it, insurers ask for dated photographs, a written damage report and a repair quote, and the contractor can provide all three. The claim stays yours to make.
What happens when I call?
We take your call — evenings and weekends included — and arrange for the contractor to take a look. Describe what you see and when it happens ("only in heavy rain, patch near the chimney") — that pattern genuinely helps narrow the cause before anyone's on a ladder. We cover Taunton, Wellington, North Petherton, Bishops Lydeard and Wiveliscombe.