Is It Wind Damage or an Old Roof Wearing Out?

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"So it can’t be wind damage if the shingles are still on the roof?"

A commenter in a roofing thread asked that. Shingles still on the roof don't rule wind out: wind can lift unsealed shingles, and water can seep underneath the shingle¹. A closer damage assessment should be done by a professional roofing contractor², and an adjuster, the person your insurer sends to look at the damage, may inspect it too. Your part before the next rain is the record: photos and a list.

Quick answer:

Check the roof from the ground only, for missing or damaged shingles³, and leave repairs to a roofer².
Photograph and list the damage before any temporary repair⁴.
Water coming in: put a bucket under the drip and move belongings away from the spot.
Read your policy and look for a separate wind/hail deductible⁵, the part of a claim you pay yourself, before you call anyone.

On this page

Is it wind damage or an old roof wearing out?
Wind damage you can see and photograph from the ground
While you wait for a roofer: safe steps from the ground and inside
Are 20 mph gusts bad?
Insurer or roofer: who do you call?
What to have ready before you call
Quick questions

Photos and a written list help whoever looks at the roof, whether the cause turns out to be wind or wear.

Is it wind damage or an old roof wearing out?

You can't be sure from the ground, and shingles still being on the roof doesn't settle it. Because wind can lift shingles that aren't stuck down, a roof can leak without anything blowing off.

Age matters to insurers, though. In Texas, home policies don't pay for damages that happen over time, like rotted boards, cracking window seals, or worn roofs⁶.

That is why people argue it both ways. One reply in a roofing thread put it bluntly: "Wind would carry the shingle off the roof. This is wear." Someone else can look at the same roof and see a lifted shingle that is leaking. A roofer does the closer look², and so does an adjuster.

Did the wind finish off a roof that was already due for replacement? How to tell if you need a new roof.

Wind damage you can see and photograph from the ground

Start with the shingles, then check the ceilings inside. Two short checks:

Outside, from the ground: missing or damaged shingles and any signs of leaks³.
Inside, on ceilings: water stains, sagging or signs of bulging³.

Take a photo of each thing you see, with the date, and write it on a list as you go.

While you wait for a roofer: safe steps from the ground and inside

Protect the house and keep the record. A few steps, in order of how serious things are:

Water coming in or an open hole: put a bucket under the drip, move belongings away, and photograph first.
Wet ceilings or belongings: dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth⁷.
Temporary fixes only: keep receipts for anything you buy, because you may be able to submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement later⁸. If you want a roofer to cover the roof for now, ask for the price in writing before the work starts.
If the roofer can't come today: keep catching and drying the water, then look again from the ground and inside after the next rain.

In California, a policy may not cover ensuing damage to your property if you have not taken reasonable steps to secure the property from subsequent damage⁹. Stay on the ground while you do all of this.

Are 20 mph gusts bad?

A 20 mph gust is below the level of a Wind Advisory, which means sustained winds of 30 mph for one hour and/or frequent gusts of at least 45 mph¹⁰. Wind speed alone won't tell you whether your roof was hurt, so check the roof itself after any storm.

Not sure the wind was strong enough to hurt it, and want someone to check? Is a free storm inspection safe to accept.

Insurer or roofer: who do you call?

Whether you talk with your homeowners insurance or call a roofer first, have your record ready and make sure the roofer is one you chose. Here is an order that keeps you prepared:

Stay safe and document. Photograph and list the damage before doing any temporary repairs⁴, then make temporary fixes only.
Prepare. Read your policy to see exactly what your responsibilities are⁸, and find your deductible. If the damage is clearly smaller than the deductible, a claim may not pay anything⁸. If you are unsure, a written estimate from a roofer you chose helps you decide¹¹.
Pick who to call. Contact your insurer, or a roofer you pick yourself, and be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up or repairs¹². Have your questions ready, and write down names and dates.
Let the adjuster see the damage. In North Carolina, permanent repairs should wait until your insurance company has inspected your property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs⁴.

In coastal states, a wind/hail deductible can be a percentage, not a flat amount. For a $300,000 house with a 5 percent deductible, the first $15,000 of a claim is paid by the owner⁵. Your numbers will differ, and a wind/hail deductible applies to any kind of wind damage⁵.

Whoever comes, here is what you want from the visit, as one commenter wrote.

"if it is wind damage, they should know it, and if it’s not wind damage, they may be able to tell you where/what the problem is so you can fix it."

Wondering whether insurance pays for wind damage? Whether insurance covers wind damage to a roof.

What to have ready before you call

Photos taken from the ground, each with the date.
A written list of what you saw outside and inside.
Your policy, with the deductible page marked.
Questions on paper: is there any evidence of wind damage rather than wear, can you show me a photo of each problem, and which repairs are temporary or permanent?
A notebook for names, dates and what each person said.

Quick questions

Will insurance cover roof damage from wind? Windstorm and hail damage are covered under homeowners insurance¹³ in general, but coastal areas can have restrictions. Your own policy and deductible decide, so read both.

Should I pick up the shingle pieces in my yard? Photograph them where they landed first. Then, if you can reach them safely from the ground, keep a few somewhere dry. They show the roofer and the adjuster what came off.

What if the roofer says wind did not cause the damage? Ask what shows it and ask for a photo of it. A fair next step before you decide anything is to get another opinion.

What if a roofer wants me to sign today? You don't have to answer on the spot. Scammers offer a discount, but only if you sign a contract right away¹². You can send this:

Please send your estimate in writing, with a photo of each problem. I will decide after I have read it.