Missing and Wind-Damaged Shingles

What Is Missing and Wind-Damaged Shingles?

Wind damages shingles in stages, and the visible blow-off is the last stage, not the first. Gusts lift tabs and break the factory adhesive seal strip; a lifted tab flexes until it creases — a horizontal fracture line through the mat that permanently weakens the shingle and marks it as wind-damaged for claim purposes even while it lies flat afterward. Broken seals leave shingles loose to lift in the next event, and fully torn-off tabs expose underlayment and nail lines that leak on a schedule set by the next rain. Edges, ridges, hips, and the corners of slopes see the highest wind pressures and fail first. Repair judgment turns on extent and matchability: scattered blow-offs on a young roof patch well; widespread creasing, brittle aged shingles that break during repair, or a discontinued color that cannot be matched push toward slope or full replacement — and many carriers recognize repairability and matching limits in scoping wind claims. Documenting creases requires close-up photos taken on the roof; they are invisible from the ground.

Important Distinction

Note: A creased shingle is damaged even though it is still on the roof: the crease breaks the mat and the seal, and adjusters treat creased tabs as wind damage, not cosmetic wear.

Also Known As

These are the search terms and phrases that commonly refer to this topic, so you can find it however you describe it.