Why Bunbury roofs need repairs when they do
Storms arrive just before winter
The 2005 tornado hit on 16 May, the 2024 tornado on 10 May, and the storm that followed it on 1 and 2 June. In 2024 alone, South Bunbury, Withers, College Grove, East Bunbury, Glen Iris and Picton had more than 440 properties damaged between them.
Damage you can't see from the street
After the 2005 tornado, the SES saw everything from minor roof damage to houses with no roof left. The minor end is the sneaky part: a lifted ridge cap, a cracked tile or a loose screw doesn't leak much on day one, then lets in water all winter.
Then three months of rain
July averages 145.5 mm, June 134.5 mm and August 118.2 mm, most of Bunbury's 728.6 mm year. Storm damage left unrepaired going into that stretch gets worse every week.
After a storm: what to do, in order
Make it safe
Stay off the roof. Turn the power off at the switchboard if water is near lights, and keep out of rooms with a sagging ceiling. For an emergency, call the SES on 132 500.
Photograph everything
The roof from the ground, the ceilings, the water, and anything damaged inside, before any clean-up. Your insurer will want it.
Call your insurer
Ask what they need and whether they send their own assessor or want your quotes. Our guide to storm damage claims explains how it usually goes.
Get it covered, then quoted
A roofer can put on a temporary cover and quote the proper repair separately. That's normal, and it stops the winter rain making things worse while the claim is sorted.
Storm chasers to watch for
- A knock on the door after a storm with an offer to fix your roof today.
- A quote with no ABN, no licence or registration number, or no description of materials and labour
- A price that leaves out GST, which traders must include when they state a price
- Pressure to sign before your insurer has seen the damage
What to ask a Bunbury roofer after a storm
- Is this storm damage or wear and tear, and will you say so in writing for my insurer?
- Can you make it watertight now and quote the full repair separately?
- Will you photograph the damage while you're up there?
- My neighbours had damage. Can you check for hidden damage on my roof too?
- Can you match my existing tiles or sheets?
- What's your licence number?
If it were our roof
After any big blow, we'd get the roof looked at even if nothing's obviously wrong, especially if the houses around us were damaged. Small storm damage turns into winter leaks. And if we didn't have storm damage, we'd still book a check in April, so anything loose gets fixed before the May fronts and the June rain.
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.