How Do I Know If My Roof Has Wind Damage?

Common signs of wind damage include missing or lifted shingles, exposed nail heads, curled shingle edges, dented or bent flashing, and granules collecting in your gutters. Some wind damage is subtle, like shingles that look fine but have lost their seal, so a ground-level look is not always enough. If a storm with sustained winds over roughly 50 to 60 mph passed through, it is worth having the roof inspected even if nothing looks obviously wrong.

Visible signs from the ground

Walk around your home and look up at the roofline. Missing shingles are the most obvious sign, but also look for shingles that appear crooked, lifted at the corners, or a different shade than the rest of the roof (that discoloration often means the granule layer was scraped off). Check your gutters and the ground around downspouts for loose granules, which look like coarse sand.

Signs that are easy to miss

Wind does not always tear shingles off. Often it breaks the seal between shingles without visibly moving them, which leaves the roof looking normal from below while water can still get underneath during the next rain. Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights can also get bent or loosened by wind without an obvious visual clue. This is exactly why an on-roof inspection matters more than a driveway glance.

Interior clues worth checking

After a windy storm, check your attic and ceilings for new water stains, damp insulation, or a musty smell. These can show up days after the storm as small leaks slowly work their way through the decking. Catching this early prevents a small repair from becoming a bigger one.

What we look for during an inspection

• Lifted, missing, or creased shingles
• Broken shingle seals not visible from the ground
• Bent, loose, or missing flashing
• Granule loss and exposed mat
• Damaged vents, boots, and pipe collars