Why does my roof rattle or bang in strong wind, and is it dangerous?

By Charlie the Roofer for Roofline · Published 19 October 2026 · Checked against the sources listed below

What is most likely making the noise?

Usually something loose at the edges of the roof, which is where BS 5534 now asks for extra fixings. Marley, summarising the standard, says tiles around the perimeter of a roof have to be fixed twice. The usual causes, in rough order of how often they turn up:

1. A gutter or fascia. A hollow knock at the eaves is often a gutter moving on a loose bracket. See fascias and soffits.
2. Underlay flapping. A soft drumming in the loft is often the felt or membrane under the tiles moving.
3. Edge tiles at the verge or eaves. A sharp tap that keeps time with the gusts is often a tile lifting and dropping back. Marley notes that before the 2014 revision of BS 5534, mechanical fixings were only needed in high-wind locations or for certain tiles, so edge tiles on an older roof may never have been clipped.
4. A ridge tile. A heavier knock along the top can be a ridge tile rocking on a mortar bed that has let go. Our dry ridge, hip and verge page covers the fix.
5. Dry verge caps. The plastic units along a gable edge lock together and hold the edge tiles down, so a unit that was never locked in place can click or lift.
6. Vent and extractor flaps. Light gravity flaps on bathroom and kitchen outlets get pushed about by the wind.

Why does the chimney howl, and what stops it?

A howl or whistle from a fireplace in a gale is wind noise in the flue, and a cowl or ventilated cap on the pot usually quietens it. Chimney Cowl Products, a cowl maker, says its cowls have been very successful at preventing wind noise in chimneys.

If the chimney is no longer used, do not seal it solid. Bradford Council's guide to chimneys says flues should not be blocked at the top and bottom, because a well ventilated flue is kept dry by rising warm air.

A rattle at the stack is different. It can be a loose cowl, or a pot that has worked loose because its flaunching, the mortar collar that holds it, has cracked. The same guide says flaunching decays quickly and suggests checking chimneys from the ground every six months.

Which noises are normal and which need a roofer quickly?

Slow creaks and the odd tick on a still, cold evening are usually normal, while tapping, banging or flapping that follows the gusts means something is loose.

Get a roofer out quickly if

• you can see a tile, ridge tile or verge cap lifted or out of line from the ground
• there are pieces of tile, slate or mortar in the garden or on the path
• a gutter is hanging down or the fascia has pulled away
• you can see daylight or fresh water stains in the loft

Telford and Wrekin Council's storm advice is to stay indoors as much as possible, not to go outside to repair damage during the storm, and not to walk close to buildings that may have been weakened. Never go up a ladder or onto the roof yourself. If the wind has already done damage, our storm damage guide covers insurance claims.

What will a roofer check and fix?

A roofer matches the noise to one part of the roof, then fixes that part properly rather than bedding it back in mortar. It helps to note which wind direction the noise comes with and which room you hear it from.

The check starts at the edges of the roof and along the ridge, then the underlay from inside the loft. Loose edge tiles get extra clips or nails, and loose ridges or verges can be dry fixed. Marley says only dry verge, hip and ridge products properly tested to BS 8612 can be used to comply. Our BS 5534 guide explains the fixing rules.

Height matters in Yorkshire. Roofing Today notes that BS 5534 underlay labels assume a site no higher than 100m above sea level, so an underlay rated for a low wind zone may not suit a higher site. Exposed homes on high ground, such as in the Pennine foothills around Penistone, may need a higher-rated underlay.

Roofline is based in Barnsley and covers Yorkshire. Send a photo or short video of where the noise comes from on WhatsApp to 07413 797731, or book a free inspection. Roofline sends photos of what it finds and gives a free itemised quote.

Sources

1. Marley, Changes to the British Standard for Slating and Tiling BS 5534
2. Marley, Should I use mortar or dry fix for my ridge and hip tiles?
3. Roofing Today, Choosing the right roof tile underlay
4. Chimney Cowl Products, Chimney wind noise: how do you solve it?
5. City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Homeowner's guide to conservation areas: Chimneys
6. Telford and Wrekin Council, Gales and high winds

General information about roofing in England, checked against the sources above when published. It is not a substitute for advice about your own roof.