Melbourne weather rarely gives much notice. VICSES receives around 20,000 storm-related requests for assistance each year, accounting for roughly 80 per cent of its calls.
On 26 October 2025, a tornado in the city's west prompted more than 600 SES calls and cut power to more than 25,000 customers, according to ABC News. If water is entering your home or roof tiles have gone missing, VICSES advises calling 132 500 rather than climbing up for a closer look.
This guide explains what happens after a storm, including how damage is assessed, how repairs differ from restoration and replacement, and which Victorian rules and insurance steps may affect the work.
Key Takeaways
- Emergencies come first. Significant roof leaks and storm damage may qualify for VICSES assistance on 132 500. Temporary make-safe work is intended to stop further water entry, not provide a permanent repair.
- Document damage before repairs begin. The Insurance Council of Australia advises contacting your insurer before authorising building work. Emergency Victoria also recommends photographing damage during recovery.
- Weather damage and wear are treated differently. Sudden storm, hail and wind damage may be covered, depending on the policy. RACV notes that pre-existing damage and wear and tear are generally excluded from home and contents insurance.
- Restoration is not structural repair. It can improve a roof's weather resistance and appearance, but it cannot correct a damaged structure.
- Paperwork matters in Victoria. The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) regulates relevant work, and plumbing work valued above $750 requires a compliance certificate.
Storm damage or slow wear? Knowing the difference
On tiled roofs, storm damage may include broken or slipped tiles, displaced ridge caps, cracked mortar bedding, and torn or lifted flashings around chimneys and vents. On metal roofs, common signs include impact dents, scratched or chipped coatings, loose fasteners and buckled sheets.
Wear and tear usually looks more gradual and widespread. Examples include powdery mortar along several ridges, surface rust in valleys, brittle sealant and sagging gutters. A storm can expose existing deterioration rather than cause it, and insurers commonly distinguish between the two.
Your first 24 to 72 hours
Start with safety. Stay off the roof, keep clear of fallen powerlines and avoid ceilings sagging with trapped water. Switch off power to affected areas only if it is safe to do so. Call 132 500 for significant leaks or storm damage. A roofing contractor is the appropriate contact for planned repairs, not an active emergency.
While the damage is fresh, take photographs from the ground and inside the house. Include ceilings, insulation and damaged contents. Keep receipts for emergency purchases and services, and contact your insurer promptly. The Insurance Council of Australia advises speaking to your insurer before authorising building work. It also notes that insurers may fast-track advance payments within five business days when there is urgent financial need.
Temporary make-safe work, such as securing a tarp, should focus on preventing further damage. Keep records of the work, and do not discard damaged materials before your insurer has assessed them.
Repair, restoration or replacement?
Most work on a weather-damaged roof falls into one of four categories. Knowing which service is being quoted makes it easier to compare contractors and avoid gaps in the scope.
- Temporary make-safe. This may include tarping, isolating power and clearing blocked valleys. It is appropriate when water is still entering the home and permanent repairs cannot begin immediately.
- Targeted repairs. Examples include replacing broken tiles, refixing ridge caps, repairing valleys and flashings, and sealing penetrations. This option suits localised damage when the rest of the roof remains sound.
- Full restoration. On tiled roofs, this generally includes cleaning, replacing broken tiles, re-bedding and re-pointing ridges, priming and applying protective coatings. Metal restoration may involve cleaning, treating surface rust and recoating sheets that have not corroded through.
- Full re-roofing. Replacement may be necessary when there is structural damage, widespread tile deterioration or corrosion through metal sheeting. A coating cannot restore a roof that has failed.
Costs vary significantly with roof condition, access and the extent of the damage. Ask each contractor to price the same written scope rather than comparing quotes based on vague descriptions.
What a restoration usually involves
A tile restoration generally follows a sequence: inspection, high-pressure cleaning, replacement of broken tiles, re-bedding ridge caps in fresh mortar, applying flexible pointing, and then priming and coating the surface. Metal roof work focuses more on cleaning, corrosion treatment and suitable recoating.
If you're comparing what a roof restoration in Melbourne may cover, O'Shea Trades provides a clear commercial example of a typical scope. Its outline includes inspection, tile replacement, re-bedding, re-pointing, sealing, painting and guttering work where required. The O'Shea Trades outline is a useful starting point, but the final scope should always reflect the condition and material of your roof.
Take extra care when considering coatings for a metal roof. BlueScope states that overpainting COLORBOND steel voids its warranty unless the work is completed under its direction. Check the product warranty before agreeing to a recoat.
Permits, licences and paperwork in Victoria
Under BPC rules, "roofing stormwater work" includes roof coverings and flashings, along with cleaning, painting and membrane work on roofs. This means restoration coatings may be regulated work rather than purely cosmetic maintenance. A licensed plumber must issue a compliance certificate for plumbing work valued at more than $750 and lodge it within 5 days of completion. Ask who will issue the certificate before work begins.
Permit requirements depend on the scope. VBA Practice Note BP-01 indicates that like-for-like roof repairs, such as replacing tiles with tiles or sheeting with equivalent sheeting, may be exempt when structural soundness is unaffected. However, the note dates from 2022 and predates later regulatory reforms. A change of roofing material or work affecting the structure will generally require further approval. Confirm the requirements with your council or a registered building surveyor.
What insurance usually covers
Home insurance commonly covers sudden events such as storms, damaging wind and hail. It commonly excludes gradual deterioration. RACV notes that pre-existing damage and wear and tear are not covered under its home and contents insurance. Your outcome will depend on the wording of your policy and the assessor's findings.
Photograph the roof before and after work, retain damaged materials until they have been assessed, and request a detailed written scope instead of a one-line quote. Check with your insurer before authorising any non-emergency work.
Melbourne watch-outs worth planning around
Damaging winds and sudden downpours are recurring risks in Melbourne. Routine prevention includes clearing gutters and valleys, cutting back overhanging branches, securing loose outdoor items before a forecast front, and checking ridge caps and flashings during calm weather. After a hailstorm, it is safer to spot hail damage safely from the ground than to climb onto the roof.
Older homes may require additional care. Asbestos Victoria warns against walking on corrugated asbestos cement roofs because weathered sheets can collapse. If you suspect asbestos cement roofing, do not disturb or pressure-clean it. Use an appropriately licensed removalist if removal is required.
Image: Surface rust spotting along a metal valley flashing where debris has collected.
Choosing a contractor and setting expectations
Check relevant licences and registrations with the BPC, and ask who will issue the compliance certificate. Request a written scope that clearly distinguishes repair, restoration and replacement. It should identify the products, preparation method and number of coating layers. Thorough cleaning and preparation are essential to coating performance.
Be cautious about door-to-door offers immediately after a storm. Consumer Affairs Victoria has warned homeowners about unsolicited repair services. Compare two or three written quotes based on the same scope. Service information from providers such as O'Shea Trades can help you learn the terminology before requesting quotes, making it easier to distinguish a complete restoration from a basic coat of paint.
A thorough restoration can improve the appearance and weather resistance of an ageing roof. It cannot correct structural damage, and it is not a substitute for replacement when a roof has reached the end of its serviceable life. Understanding which situation applies before requesting quotes will help you choose an appropriate scope of work.
