How do you file an insurance claim for wind damage?
Short answer. Note the date and time of the windstorm, photograph the damage and any shingles or debris on the ground, make temporary repairs to stop leaks, and report the claim to your insurer with the date of loss. Keep the shingles that blew off, since they show how they were nailed and whether the sealant had bonded, which is often what a wind claim turns on.
Why the blown-off shingles matter
A shingle on the lawn is evidence. Its back shows the adhesive strip, so you can see whether it had bonded to the shingle below. Nail holes show whether it was nailed in the correct zone. Printing on the back may identify the product, which helps with matching. Adjusters use these details to decide whether wind or installation caused the loss. Bag a few, label them with the date, and keep them.
Step by step
- Write down the storm. Date, time, and what you saw or heard.
- Photograph from the ground. Missing shingles, lifted edges, ridge caps out of place, and shingles in the yard where they landed.
- Check the attic. Daylight or wet spots point to openings.
- Cover openings. Tarp exposed decking and keep the receipt.
- Get an inspection. A roofer can find creased shingles that look fine from below and judge whether repairs are possible.
- Report the claim with the date of loss and a factual description.
- Be there for the adjuster, with your roofer if possible.
What the adjuster will check
- Wind data for your area on that date.
- Crease lines and tears, not just missing shingles.
- Nail placement and sealant on the fallen shingles.
- Whether replacement shingles can match the roof.
Common pitfalls
Throwing away the fallen shingles, waiting until a leak shows up, and having the roof repaired before the adjuster sees it.
More: wind damage roof claims and emergency tarping.