A summer storm on the Beaches can bring wind, heavy rain and hail in under an hour. The damage it leaves behind usually starts with something small that was already there: a blocked gutter, a loose tile, a dead branch, a drain full of leaves. Half an hour walking around your place now can save a lot of grief later.
The checklist
Work through these before the season really kicks in. Most of them you can check from the ground.
1. Gutters and downpipes
This is the big one. A gutter half full of leaf litter will overflow in minutes in a summer downpour, and that water ends up in your eaves, fascia and ceilings. Make sure every gutter is clear and every downpipe flows. We covered this in detail in how often you should really clean your gutters, and if you can’t see into yours, our gutter cleaning service includes a $59 drone inspection that’s credited back if you go ahead.
2. The roof
Stand back from the house and look for cracked or slipped tiles, lifted flashing around chimneys and vents, and anything sagging. A pair of binoculars helps. If something looks wrong, call a licensed roofer rather than climbing up yourself.
3. Trees and branches
Dead limbs and branches hanging over the roof or power lines are what come down first in a strong wind. A qualified arborist can tell you what needs trimming, and it’s worth checking Northern Beaches Council’s rules before removing anything substantial.
4. Loose items in the yard
Outdoor furniture, umbrellas, trampolines, bins and pot plants all become projectiles in a storm. Work out where each of them will go when a warning comes through, so it only takes a few minutes to tie down or bring inside.
5. Drains and stormwater pits
Clear leaves and silt from grates, garden drains and stormwater pits, and check that water runs away from the house rather than pooling against the walls. A blocked pit can flood a courtyard or garage surprisingly quickly.
6. Windows, frames and tracks
Wind-driven rain finds its way through blocked window tracks and weep holes, and through tired seals. Clear the tracks of dirt and debris and make sure the drainage holes aren’t clogged. Our window cleaning includes frames, tracks and seals for exactly this reason.
7. Paths, steps and decks
Moss and algae on shaded paths and steps turn dangerously slippery once the rain starts. A pressure clean removes the growth and makes them safer underfoot, and render or painted walls with the same green film need gentle soft washing instead.
8. Solar panels
Have a look from the ground for anything loose on the mounting rails. After a big hailstorm, check your system’s output in the app. A sudden drop is worth a call to your installer. And if your panels are just dirty, that’s a different problem, covered in are your solar panels quietly losing you money?
After a big storm
- Walk around the house once it’s safe, and take photos of any damage for your insurer.
- Stay well away from fallen power lines and treat them as live.
- Stay off the roof. Wet tiles and glass are treacherous.
- For emergency help with storm damage, call the NSW SES on 132 500. If anyone’s life is in danger, call 000.
- Check your gutters again. Storms dump a fresh load of leaves and debris straight into them.
Where we can help
We’re not roofers or arborists, but the clean-up jobs on this list are what we do every day: gutters, window frames and tracks, paths and decks, and solar panels. Booking them together before the season starts means one visit and everything ready at once. Grab a free, obligation-free quote and we’ll get your place storm-ready.