Can I claim wind damage on my roof?
Short answer. Yes. Wind is a covered peril on standard homeowners policies, so shingles that were torn off, creased or lifted by a storm can be claimed. Many wind claims are small, a few shingles on one slope, so the real question is whether the repair beats your wind and hail deductible or whether brittle, unmatchable shingles push the claim toward a larger replacement.
What wind damage looks like
- Missing tabs or whole shingles, often at ridges, rakes and eaves where uplift is strongest.
- Creased shingles: a horizontal line across the tab where it bent back in the wind. A creased shingle is damaged even if it lies flat again.
- Torn shingles and exposed nail heads.
- Displaced ridge cap and loose hip shingles.
- Lifted flashing or bent drip edge.
Repair or replace?
The adjuster's first instinct on a wind claim is usually a repair. Three things can change that:
- Brittleness: older shingles can crack when a roofer lifts them to reach the nails. If neighboring shingles break during a repair attempt, a spot repair is not realistic.
- Matching: discontinued shingles or faded colors may make a patch stand out badly.
- Extent: damage spread across several slopes adds up quickly.
Is it worth claiming?
Compare a written repair estimate with your wind and hail deductible in dollars. If the repair is a few hundred dollars and the deductible is several thousand, fix it yourself and skip the claim. If damage is widespread or repairs are not feasible, a claim makes sense.
Do this right after the storm
- Photograph missing shingles and any that landed in the yard.
- Keep the blown-off shingles; they show how they were nailed.
- Cover exposed areas to prevent leaks.
More: wind damage roof claims, matching and partial replacement and wind and hail deductibles.