At Integrity Home Exteriors, we've seen firsthand how wind damage can devastate a home's roofing system. Wind damage is one of the most common causes of roof deterioration, accounting for 40.7% of all homeowners' insurance property damage claims in 2022. With an average claim severity of $13,511 between 2018 and 2022, understanding how to identify wind damage is essential for every homeowner. Our team of roofing experts has compiled this guide to help you recognize the signs of wind damage to your roof, understand the mechanics behind it, and know when to call a professional.
How Wind Damages Your Roof
Wind doesn't simply blow shingles off your roof—it creates complex pressure differentials that can compromise your roofing system in various ways. After assessing hundreds of wind-damaged homes in our community, we at Integrity Home Exteriors have developed a deep understanding of these mechanisms.
The Mechanics of Wind Damage
When wind flows over and around your home, it creates:
Positive pressure on windward surfaces
Negative pressure (suction or uplift) on leeward surfaces, roofs, and areas with geometric discontinuities like eaves, rakes, and ridges
This pressure differential is especially powerful at roof edges and corners, where complex flow separation and vortex shedding occur. Wind flowing within approximately two inches of a shingle's upper surface can create high air pressure beneath the leading edge of the tab, while simultaneously, air flowing over the top generates an area of low pressure. This pressure differential is what initiates shingle tab uplift.
In simple terms: Think of it like this - when wind blows over your roof, it creates a lifting effect similar to how an airplane wing works. The wind doesn't just push against your shingles; it actually pulls them upward. This lifting force is strongest at the edges and corners of your roof, which is why these areas often show damage first. Once wind gets under a shingle and breaks its seal, that shingle becomes vulnerable to being lifted, creased, or torn off entirely.
Roof geometry plays a significant role in how wind affects your home:
Hip roofs (slopes on all four sides) generally perform better aerodynamically
Gable roofs (two sloped planes meeting at a ridge) present larger flat surfaces perpendicular to wind flow, making them more vulnerable
Common Types of Observable Wind Damage
Missing Shingles or Tiles
What to look for: Completely dislodged roofing materials, often found scattered in your yard.
What it tells us: The pattern reveals which direction the wind came from and which areas of your roof faced the highest stress.
Pro tip: If you notice random shingles missing across your roof rather than at edges or ridges, this often indicates poor installation or sealant failure rather than just wind strength.
Tears and Cracks
What to look for: Shingles with visible splits, tears, or cracked surfaces.
Why it happens: Wind forces physically tear shingle materials, especially older, brittle ones or those that have been lifted before.
Curled or Lifted Edges
What to look for: Shingle edges or corners that curl upward or peel back from the roof.
Why it matters: This signals a broken sealant bond and often precedes more serious damage like complete blow-offs.
Damaged Flashing
What to look for: Bent, loose, or detached metal pieces around chimneys, vents, and roof joints.
Why it's serious: Damaged flashing is a major culprit in roof leaks – over 90% of leaks start at these points.
Damaged Gutters and Downspouts
What to look for: Dented, detached, or misaligned gutters and downspouts.
Why it matters: Beyond the direct damage, compromised drainage can lead to water backup and further roof issues.
Debris Impact Damage
What to look for: Punctures or impact marks from fallen branches or wind-blown debris.
Key concern: Even small punctures can create entry points for water, leading to significant structural damage over time.
Telltale Signs in Asphalt Shingles
At Integrity Home Exteriors, we frequently see these specific damage patterns in asphalt shingles after wind events:
Lifting (Tab Uplift)
What happens: Wind lifts shingle tabs without detaching them completely, breaking the sealant bond underneath.
Why it's problematic: Once this seal is broken, the shingle becomes much more vulnerable to future wind damage, even in milder conditions.
Creasing/Folding
What to look for: A visible fold line, typically running horizontally across the shingle.
Why it needs attention: Even if the shingle remains in place, a crease means structural failure. These shingles can't properly shed water and will likely tear in the next wind event.
Tearing
What to look for: Partially torn shingle tabs or larger torn sections.
Common locations: Tears often start at a crease, around nail heads, or at stress points.
Granule Loss
What to look for: Bare spots on shingles or granules accumulated in gutters.
How it happens with wind: Unlike hail damage, wind causes granule loss through shingle-on-shingle abrasion when unsealed shingles flap against each other.
Nail Pull-Through
What to look for: Shingles torn around nail heads or loose nails protruding from the roof.
What it indicates: Either extremely high winds or improper installation with incorrect nail placement or insufficient fasteners.
Hidden Wind Damage You Might Miss
Some of the most concerning wind damage isn't immediately visible. Our inspection team at Integrity Home Exteriors is specifically trained to identify these subtle signs:
Broken Sealant Strips
The hidden threat: Shingles may lift during wind and then settle back looking normal, but with broken sealant bonds underneath.
Why it's serious: These compromised shingles are highly vulnerable to future wind damage and water intrusion.
How we check: Our inspectors physically test shingle adhesion, something most homeowners (and many contractors) never do.
Subtle Flashing Problems
What we look for: Slightly lifted edges, hairline tears, or broken seals around flashing components.
Critical fact: Over 90% of roof leaks originate at flashing areas – even minor damage here can mean major problems inside.
Impact Marks
What they look like: Small dents or bruised areas where wind-driven debris hit the shingles.
Our advantage: Integrity Home Exteriors' inspectors are trained to distinguish between wind-related impact marks and hail damage, which can be crucial for insurance claims.
Interior Warning Signs
Check your ceiling for: Faint water stains, particularly on upper floors or near exterior walls.
In your attic, look for: Damp spots on sheathing or insulation, or musty odors suggesting mold growth.
Why they matter: These indoor signs often appear before obvious external damage is visible.
Horizontal Scuff Marks
What to look for: Horizontal lines where granules have been worn away on shingle surfaces.
What causes them: Wind lifting the shingle above, causing it to repeatedly rub against the one below.
Why they're telling: These marks are concrete evidence of wind action, even when shingles appear intact otherwise.
Early Loosening at Edges
High-risk areas: Roof perimeters, including eaves, rakes, and ridges experience the highest wind stresses.
What to look for: Slightly lifted shingles or fasteners beginning to pull up.
Why they're easy to miss: These early warning signs are often only visible during a close-up professional inspection.
Professional Roof Inspection: What to Expect
At Integrity Home Exteriors, our roof inspection process for wind damage follows established industry standards and adheres to several core principles we've refined through years of experience:
Key Principles of Our Roof Inspection
Safety First: Our inspectors ensure safety by assessing roof stability, using proper safety equipment, and avoiding wet, icy, or structurally compromised roofs.
Systematic Approach: We follow a methodical plan, covering all areas of your roof, associated components (like flashing and gutters), and interior spaces (like attics) to check for leaks or structural issues.
Thorough Examination: Our comprehensive inspection identifies both obvious and subtle forms of damage, using visual inspection, tactile examination, and specialized diagnostic tools.
Objective Assessment: We remain unbiased, basing our findings on factual evidence rather than assumptions.
Detailed Documentation: Integrity Home Exteriors provides meticulous record-keeping, including extensive photographic evidence, detailed written notes, measurements, and diagrams of your roof layout showing damage locations. This comprehensive documentation package is invaluable for insurance claims.
What Our Inspectors Look For
At Integrity Home Exteriors, we employ procedures established by leading industry organizations, but we've refined these through our extensive field experience to develop our own comprehensive inspection protocol.
Our inspection typically includes:
Ground-Level Inspection
Obvious signs of roof damage
Roofing materials found on the ground
Collateral damage to other parts of the property
Damage to roof elevations
Initial indications of wind direction
On-Roof Inspection (When Safe)
Systematic examination of all accessible roof slopes
Focus on high-stress areas: eaves, rakes, ridges, hips, and valleys
Inspection of all roof penetrations and their flashings
Specific Checks During Inspection
Sealant integrity through manual lifting of shingle tabs
Fastener condition and placement
Shingle layer interaction
Flashing details
Attic inspection for signs of water intrusion
Our inspectors are trained to identify evidence of wind effects such as creases, folds, tears, missing shingles, or damaged portions of shingles. We employ close visual inspection and tactile manipulation to detect subtle creases, especially in newer, more pliable shingles, which might otherwise be missed by untrained observers.
Differentiating Wind Damage from Other Causes
At Integrity Home Exteriors, we're experts at distinguishing between different types of roof damage. Here's how we tell them apart:
Hail Damage vs. Wind Damage
Hail damage looks like:
Impact marks and dents
Circular or irregular patterns of granule loss
Bruise-like marks where the shingle has been compressed
Wind damage appears as:
Tears and creases in shingles
Lifted or detached shingles
Damage patterns that follow the wind direction
Concentration of damage in high-stress areas (edges, corners)
Manufacturing Defects vs. Wind Damage
Manufacturing defects typically show:
Consistent patterns across the entire roof
Premature cracking in unusual patterns
Blistering or bubbling of the shingle surface
Widespread granule loss unrelated to impacts
Discoloration that doesn't correlate with wind patterns
Key difference: Manufacturing defects usually appear uniformly across your roof, while wind damage focuses on vulnerable areas like edges and ridges.
Installation Errors vs. Wind Damage
Poor installation often leads to:
Incorrectly nailed shingles that pull loose easily
Improperly sealed tabs due to poor sealant activation
Missing or improperly installed starter shingles
Poorly secured flashing around roof features
Why it matters: Installation errors can make your roof vulnerable to wind damage even in moderate conditions. What appears to be wind damage might actually be the result of poor installation exposed by wind.
Aging and Normal Wear & Tear vs. Wind Damage
Age-related deterioration appears as:
Uniform brittleness across all shingles
Random cracking throughout the roof surface
Thermal splitting (vertical cracks)
General granule loss over the entire roof
Gradual curling of shingle edges from normal aging
How we tell the difference: Wind damage shows distinct patterns aligned with wind direction and concentrates in areas of higher aerodynamic stress. Aging affects the entire roof more uniformly and doesn't follow wind-flow patterns.
The most revealing clue: The pattern and location of damage often tells us more about the cause than the type of damage itself. Our inspection team carefully maps damage patterns across your roof to accurately determine whether wind or other factors are responsible.
When to Take Action
If you observe any signs of wind damage to your roof, it's important to:
Document everything: Take photos and notes of all observed damage immediately after a storm.
Check your insurance policy: Understand your coverage, deductibles, and claim process for wind damage.
Contact a professional roofing inspector: They can provide a thorough assessment and documentation needed for insurance claims. At Integrity Home Exteriors, our inspection team is trained to detect even the most subtle signs of wind damage that might otherwise be overlooked.
Consider preventative measures: Regular maintenance and timely repairs can significantly reduce your roof's vulnerability to wind damage. We offer maintenance programs specifically designed to enhance your roof's wind resistance.
Understanding storm damage assessment and knowing when to seek professional roof repair services can make the difference between minor repairs and major roof replacement. Our team specializes in wind damage restoration and can help you navigate both the repair process and insurance claims.
Conclusion
Wind damage to roofs is a common and often complex issue. By understanding the signs and mechanics of wind damage, homeowners can take proactive steps to protect their property and address problems before they lead to more serious complications. Remember that approximately 1 in 35 insured homes in the U.S. experiences a property damage claim related to wind or hail annually—being prepared and informed is your best defense.
At Integrity Home Exteriors, we're committed to helping homeowners understand, identify, and address wind damage with honest assessments and quality solutions. If you have concerns about potential wind damage to your roof, contact our team for a professional inspection and expert guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Understanding the importance of quality warranty protection and working with experienced contractors who provide comprehensive coverage ensures your investment is protected long-term. When wind damage occurs, choosing professionals who understand both the technical aspects and insurance requirements makes all the difference in achieving a successful restoration.
Tags
Subscribe to Integrity Home Exteriors's Blog
