Wind-damaged shingles are missing, lifted, creased or torn, and some look fine from the ground. Fixing a few usually costs $150 to $700, according to Fixr, and HomeAdvisor says the average shingle repair is $975. The price jumps when the damage has spread across slopes, when the underlayment or deck is exposed, or when the roof is old enough that a patch is not worth it. If the damage is sudden and the repair costs more than your deductible, it may be an insurance claim. This guide covers what the damage looks like on the shingle itself, what repair costs, and when to file. For the first 72 hours after a storm, see our storm damage guide.
What wind damage looks like
Wind rarely removes every shingle. It works shingle by shingle, and the damage comes in stages. InterNACHI, the home inspectors' association, describes the sequence: the wind lifts a tab, and uplift gets worse quickly once a tab is up. If the tab slides up over the nails that hold it, more of the shingle is exposed. If the bond breaks but the nails hold, the tab can bend far enough to crease or tear. InterNACHI says damage is usually worst at the eaves, rakes and ridges.
| What you see | What it means | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Bare patches, dark underlayment or wood showing | Shingles have blown off and the roof is open to rain | High: cover it and call a roofer |
| A tab that stands up or flaps in a breeze | The seal has let go; the shingle is held only by its nails | Medium: it will fail in the next strong wind |
| A horizontal crease across a tab | The tab bent over its edge; the mat is cracked | Medium: it can tear off, and water can enter at the crack |
| Torn tabs or a ragged edge | The wind pulled the tab against its fasteners | Medium to high |
| Shingle pieces or granules in gutters | Something has broken loose, or the surface is wearing | Look closer; granule loss can also come from age or hail |
| A row of shadow under a course | An unsealed shingle sits slightly proud of the one below | Low to medium: have a roofer press-test it |
A creased tab can lie flat again afterward, so the damage is easy to miss from the ground. Do not climb up to look: NRCA, the roofing contractors' association, says to ensure your own safety first, never to inspect alone, and not to attempt an inspection in the dark. Look from the ground with binoculars, or ask a roofer to do it.
Why unsealed shingles fail
A self-sealing shingle has a strip of heat-activated adhesive that bonds the lower edge of each tab to the shingle below it. IBHS, the insurance industry's building research institute, says the strength of that seal is the main factor in how these shingles hold up in high wind. Once a seal lets go, the shingle depends on its nails, and a tab that is only nailed can flap and crease.
InterNACHI lists the adhesive bond as the top factor against wind damage, with the number and placement of fasteners second and third, and it calls improper installation a large part of the problem. IBHS reported on September 22, 2026 that it kept rated shingles on test roofs for ten years. All the products it tested carried the top wind classification, yet unsealing was still the single greatest driver of wind vulnerability. Most products started to decline between years five and ten, at very different rates.
For you, this means an older roof can lose shingles in a wind that a newer roof shrugs off, and that a roof that shows no missing shingles can still hold many unsealed ones. Our guide to shingle wind ratings explains what the numbers on a package do and do not tell you.
What wind damage repair costs
Published prices for shingle repair differ, because the sources measure different things. All are national figures.
| Source | What it says | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Fixr, January 21, 2026 | $150 – $700 to repair damaged or missing shingles; $350 – $1,100 per square (100 square feet) of asphalt shingle repair | Total price for a repair job |
| HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 | $975 average shingle repair; replacing broken shingles can cost as little as $150; roof repair of all kinds averages $1,174 | Its customer surveys and other published research |
| This Old House, March 5, 2026 | $50 – $800 for shingle damage | Its estimate of cost for damage limited to shingles |
A few things push a bill toward the top of these ranges:
- Labor. Fixr puts labor at $50 to $120 an hour and says it is usually at least 60% of a repair bill. This Old House reports that 65% of the homeowners in its 2026 survey said labor was the largest share of their project cost.
- A call-out after a storm. Fixr says emergency service can add $100 to $300.
- A steep or complicated roof. Fixr lists roof pitch and complexity as cost drivers.
- Hidden damage. If wind has exposed the underlayment or the deck, repairs go beyond the shingles. Our roof decking and underlayment guide explains what those layers do.
The shingles themselves are cheap. This Old House gives $30 to $40 a pack for basic shingles, so the material for a small repair is a small share of the bill. For a detailed breakdown, see our shingle repair cost guide.
We looked for a published national price for pressing down or hand-sealing a shingle that has lost its seal, and did not find one. Ask a roofer to price it as its own line.
Repair, section or replace
This Old House suggests considering replacement if more than 30% of the roof is substantially damaged, and says replacement may make sense when a roof is decades old or needs repair again and again. Wind damage that is limited to a few shingles on a roof in good shape is a repair. A roof that keeps shedding shingles because most of its seals have failed is a different problem; replacing the missing ones will not stop the next loss. Our repair or replace guide walks through the decision, and the roof replacement cost guide shows what the larger job costs.
Is wind damage an insurance claim?
Often, yes, if it is sudden. Triple-I, the insurance industry's information group, says homeowners policies typically cover roof damage from a covered peril such as wind or hail. Wear is a different matter: check your policy's exclusions for it. Policies differ, so read yours, and treat this page as general information, not legal, tax, financial or insurance advice.
The practical test is arithmetic. Triple-I says most insurers offer a minimum deductible of $500 or $1,000 and that the deductible applies each time you file. It says wind and hail deductibles are most commonly a percentage, typically 1% to 5%. Of what? Of your home's insured value, not of the damage. Our own arithmetic: at 2% on a home insured for $300,000, you pay the first $6,000. A $400 shingle repair would then fall entirely below the deductible.
Before you decide:
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved or repaired. NRCA says to gather your policy and call your insurer as soon as possible to request an assessment.
- Keep receipts for temporary repairs. NRCA says your insurer is likely to reimburse them.
- Check your declarations page for the wind or hail deductible, and ask your insurer about your reporting deadline.
- If the roofer's findings and the adjuster's differ, NRCA says you may request a reinspection, and that these are common.
NRCA also advises against repairs beyond emergency ones before the roof has been assessed, because some repairs cover up the evidence a roofer needs. See our roof insurance claim guide for how a claim works and the emergency roof repair guide for tarping. Wind can also come with hail; our hail damage guide shows how to tell them apart.
What a roofer should do
A useful inspection looks past the obvious gap. Ask the roofer to check the eaves, rakes and ridge, since NRCA says most wind damage begins at the edges of a roof and grows with each wind. Ask whether the shingles around the gap are still sealed. Ask what was found under the missing shingles, and ask for the findings and the price in writing, with photos. NRCA says that after a disaster unprofessional contractors try to take advantage of homeowners, to keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid and to beware of a contractor who wants money before materials are on site.
Frequently asked questions
Can wind damage a roof without tearing shingles off?
Yes. Wind can break the seal under a shingle or crease a tab without removing it. The damage may be easy to see only from close up.
How much does it cost to replace a few wind-blown shingles?
Fixr gives $150 to $700, This Old House gives $50 to $800, and HomeAdvisor says an average shingle repair is $975. The smaller figures are for a handful of shingles; the average includes larger jobs.
Will insurance pay for wind-damaged shingles?
It may, if the damage is sudden and the repair costs more than your deductible. Wear is a separate question. Your policy decides, so read it or ask your insurer.
Should I wait for the insurance adjuster before I fix anything?
Make emergency repairs that stop water getting in, photograph first and keep your receipts. NRCA warns that some repairs cover evidence a roofer needs, so leave the rest until the roof has been assessed.
Does a wind rating mean my shingles can not blow off?
No. Ratings come from lab tests of shingles as manufactured, and IBHS found rated shingles unsealed over ten years on test roofs. See what shingle wind ratings mean.
Where this information comes from
HomeAnvil does not yet publish price data of its own. Every figure and claim on this page comes from a published source, read on October 13, 2026. The deductible example is our own arithmetic.
- Fixr, roof repair cost, updated January 21, 2026: shingle repair ranges, price per square, labor, emergency service and cost drivers.
- HomeAdvisor, roof repair cost, updated June 19, 2026: the $975 average shingle repair, the $150 starting price and the $1,174 average for all repairs.
- This Old House, cost of roof repair, updated March 5, 2026: shingle damage range, pack prices, its labor survey and the 30% replacement guideline.
- NRCA, Roof repair after strong winds: how wind damages a roof, edges, inspection safety, temporary repairs, claims and contractor cautions. The document carries no date.
- InterNACHI, Mastering roof inspections: asphalt composition shingles, part 50: tab uplift, pull-over, creasing and the factors that prevent wind damage. The page carries no date.
- IBHS, Wind uplift of asphalt shingles: the seal between shingles as the main factor in wind performance.
- IBHS, asphalt shingle wind performance after 10 years of aging, September 22, 2026.
- Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How your roof influences your home and business insurance: covered perils for roofs. Triple-I, Understanding your insurance deductibles: minimum and percentage deductibles. Neither page carries a date.
We looked for a published national price for hand-sealing unsealed shingles and for a minimum service charge, and found neither. We will update this page when these sources publish new figures.
Related guides
Storm damage to your roof: how to tell and what to doWind damage usually starts at a roof's edges. How to spot lifted, creased and missing shingles and debris damage, and what to do in the first 72 hours.
How much does it cost to replace missing shingles?Replacing a few missing or damaged shingles usually costs $150 to $700. A bundle costs $25 to $40. When a patch becomes a section or a new roof.
How does a roof insurance claim work after a storm?Insurance usually pays for sudden wind or hail damage, not wear. Wind/hail deductibles often run 1% to 5% of your home's insured value. How a claim works.
Roofing emergency: what to do and who should tarp itAn open roof or active leak needs a tarp, not a repair. Emergency tarping costs $150 to $3,300, about $450 on average (HomeAdvisor). Safety, receipts, the fix.
How do you know if hail damaged your roof?Quarter-size (1 inch) hail can start to damage older 3-tab shingles, laminated ones at 1.25 inches. How to spot real damage and when to call your insurer.
Should you repair or replace your roof?Most roof repairs cost $395 to $1,967; a replacement typically costs $5,900 to $13,400. How age, damage, layers and repair history decide which one you need.- What is an asphalt shingle roof, and is it right for you?Asphalt shingles are the most common home roof. 3-tab starts near $1.50 a square foot, architectural near $3.50. Life, wind, hail and warranty compared.