You heard it during the storm, something flapping up on the roof. Now there are three shingles in the flower bed, and from the yard you can see a pale strip where they used to be. You’re wondering if it’s a quick fix, whether more shingles are loose that you can’t see, and whether the next storm will finish the job.
Those are the right questions. Wind damage roof repair in the Ozarks is often simple when it’s caught early, but loose shingles you can’t see from the ground are what turn one storm into two repairs.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor with an office in Springfield, licensed and insured. Your inspection is free, and we’ll show you every loose or damaged spot we find.
How wind damages a roof
Wind doesn’t push evenly across a roof. It speeds up over the edges, corners and ridge, and that creates lift, the same way air lifts an airplane wing. That’s why wind damage almost always starts at the rakes, the eaves and the peak.
Asphalt shingles are held down by nails and by a strip of sealant that bonds each shingle to the one below it. Heat activates that strip after installation. Over the years, or if a roof went on in cold weather and never sealed well, the bond can weaken. Then a strong gust gets under the edge, lifts the shingle, and bends it back.
Signs of wind damage on your roof
Some wind damage is obvious. Some isn’t. Look for:
- Missing shingles, often showing a lighter patch of exposed underlayment or an older layer
- Creased shingles, with a straight line across the tab where wind folded it back and it settled down again
- Lifted edges along the rakes and eaves that don’t lie flat
- Torn or missing ridge caps along the peak
- Bent or loose flashing around chimneys and walls, or a drip edge pulled away from the fascia
The creased ones are easy to miss. From the ground the shingle looks like it’s in place, but the crease breaks the shingle and the seal, and the next storm can tear it right off.
Straight-line winds and falling limbs
Around southwest Missouri, a lot of wind damage comes from the straight-line winds that ride along with spring and summer thunderstorms. They can hit hard enough to strip shingles across a whole slope, with no tornado anywhere nearby.
Trees are the other half. On a wooded lot, a windstorm can drop limbs onto the roof, and even a branch that only scrapes across it can tear shingles loose or crack them. Trimming branches that hang over the roof is one of the cheapest ways to head off damage.
Why a roof leaks in wind-driven rain
A roof that’s dry in a normal rain can leak in a windstorm. Wind pushes rain sideways and even uphill, under shingle edges and behind flashing that would shed a straight-down shower just fine. If a stain only shows up after storms with heavy wind, look first at lifted shingles near the edges, or at flashing that’s pulled loose.
Wind damage roof repair in the Ozarks, or a new roof?
When only a few shingles are missing or creased, they can usually be replaced and sealed down, and the roof is back in business. On an older roof, the shingles around the damage may be brittle and crack as they’re lifted, so a small repair can grow on the spot. Matching color on an older roof can be tough, too.
If wind has stripped large areas, or the roof is near the end of its life and the seal strips have given up across the board, replacing the roof may be the better use of your money. You’ll see photos and get a plain answer either way. For more on minor fixes, see shingle roof repair in the Ozarks.
Wind ratings on shingles
Shingle packaging lists a wind rating, and it’s easy to read too much into it. The rating assumes the shingles were installed to the maker’s instructions, with the right nailing pattern, and that the seal strips bonded. A roof put on with too few nails, or nails in the wrong spot, won’t hold up the way the package suggests. If you’re replacing a wind-damaged roof, ask how the new one will be fastened at the edges and ridge.
Wind damage and insurance
If you decide to file a claim, you file it with your insurance company and you pay your deductible. We inspect the roof, photograph and measure the damage, write an estimate and work with your adjuster so the wind damage is documented. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible. Our insurance roof claims page for the Ozarks explains the steps.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We’ll check every slope, not just the spot where shingles came off, and show you photos with a written estimate.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Many residential shingle roofs are finished in a single day, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Wind damage questions from Ozarks homeowners
Can a few missing shingles wait?
They shouldn’t wait long. Exposed underlayment breaks down in the sun, and the shingles next to a gap catch more wind in the next storm.
Can lifted shingles be sealed back down?
Sometimes. If a shingle lifted without creasing or cracking, it can often be resealed. Creased or cracked shingles need to be replaced.
Why did only one side of my roof lose shingles?
Wind usually hits hardest on the side facing the storm and at the edges and corners. That’s normal, and it’s why we check the whole roof anyway.
Do you repair wind damage on metal roofs?
Yes. Loose panels, popped fasteners and torn trim on metal roofs are all part of the inspection.
Keep the next storm from finishing the job
One windstorm loosens shingles. The next one takes them off. Getting the loose ones fixed now keeps a small repair from turning into wet decking and a ceiling stain.
Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection, or see our overview of storm damage roofing in the Ozarks. You’ll have a roof that’s sealed down tight and a house that stays dry the next time the wind picks up.
