Do I have Wind Damage?

I met with an adjuster this week for a roof claim. I learned a great deal from our conversation and from viewing pictures taken of the damaged shingles. I wanted to share with all those who work in or with the insurance industry how to identify if the damage is due to wind. 

1. The shingle is lifting from the side vs. the bottom.

2. The shingle does not appear to be damaged from the wind bending the shingle up and down. 

It is probable that the shingle was scored by a razor. It is our speculation that that the roof installer scored the shingle while cutting open the thick plastic that wrapped each bundle and over time comprised the integrity of those damaged shingles, which weathered faster over time to the present damaged state. 

Now this is what an adjuster is looking for:

1. Shingles creasing across the entire tab where it has bent up and down until curling, loss of granulation, or until it has broken off and is missing leaving behind the top edge of shingle tab. This will be ripped off its nails from the bottom and may be even curling upward in big sheets. 

2. They are looking for other clues that high winds have occurred i.e. ( broken branches, fallen trees, blown over furniture, damaged gutters or window panes, broken antenna, or fallen satellite dishes, along with news reports of high winds.

Also remember the high winds are not all equal. The magnitude of the pressure on the shingle is determined not only by speed but orientation of the roof slope to the direction of the wind and where the shingle is adhered to the roof line. Edges of roof slopes are more susceptible to damage versus near the center.  

Also, you need to be aware of if the insurance carrier observes the brittle test. This is a very important piece of information that you need to know before giving a bid.

I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to add comments or questions below and I will do my best to answer them.