Storm and winter damage repairs (gota fría)

Record the damage and assess the repair

Storm damage can affect several parts of a house at once. A damaged shutter is visible from outside; water inside may have travelled from a roof, terrace or drain before it reaches a ceiling. Our service covers inspection, photographs, making the affected area safe and repair of the cause. The scope follows the condition found at the property.

• Inspect affected roofs, terraces, drains and shutters.
• Photograph visible damage for your records and your insurer.
• Assess what needs to be made safe before the repair.
• Repair the cause and document the work.

Information to send from abroad

Give the property location and explain how you learned about the damage. A neighbour’s message, a photograph or a previous maintenance report can help identify the areas to inspect. State whether anyone is occupying the house and who can provide access. Do not ask a visitor to enter an unsafe area simply to obtain more photographs.

If earlier dated photographs exist, retain them alongside the new record. They can show a change in condition, though they do not by themselves decide the technical cause or an insurance claim. If you have already contacted your insurer, keep its instructions available so you can make informed decisions about the next steps.

What needs a separate agreement

The description here does not promise an arrival time or universal repair duration. Access, the condition of the building and the work required must be established for the particular job. A damaged external or shared element may involve the community of owners or another responsible party as well as the owner of the affected room.

Insurance cover and payment are matters for the policy and insurer. We photograph the damage and the work, but do not guarantee claim acceptance. Agree investigation, repair and making-good as identifiable parts of the scope, particularly if the original cause is not visible at the first inspection.

Follow the cause through to the finish

Replacing a damaged internal finish is only part of the job if water can still enter above it. Where the source needs further work, our damp and leak service covers that investigation and repair. Where a shutter or fitting is the isolated problem, small repairs may provide the appropriate scope.

Checks around an empty period

End-of-season checks include the roof, terraces and drains before the house is left empty. A maintenance plan can include agreed checks after heavy rain, supported by key holding for authorised entry. These services provide dated observations; their schedule must be agreed and is not implied by this repair page.

Permission and community checks

Where the agreed work involves building alterations, the route depends on its scope. TRLOTUP articles 232, 233 and 241 distinguish licence and responsible-declaration procedures and their conditions. A service name is not a permission category. In a community of owners, LPH article 7 limits alterations affecting the building or other owners and requires prior notice to the community representative for works within the provision. Check shared elements before authorising the work.

How we price the work

Start with a free estimate, then a fixed-price quote after a site visit. The scope, access and findings inform the quote. Review what is included and what needs a separate decision before accepting it. There are no standard rates on this page: the price follows the property and the agreed work, rather than a figure detached from the inspection.