Emergency tarp and seal
The first call after a gust has opened the roof. A tarp or a temporary seal keeps water out until the permanent repair is planned, and the report says what the cover does and does not do.
Urgent? Phones answered 24/7
Wind Damage Roof Repair in Indianapolis, IN
Re-sealing lifted shingles, replacing missing ridge caps and securing the flashing that straight-line gusts pull loose.
- Ice dams and freeze-thaw
- Marion County and suburbs
- Roof repair and replacement
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Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Wind Damage
Wind Damage Roof Repair: what it covers
Quick answer
Wind damage repair puts back what straight-line gusts have lifted or removed: shingles that have unsealed at the edges, missing courses, torn ridge caps and flashing that has moved. In Indianapolis, straight-line wind is one of the main drivers of roof demand alongside hail, and the repair makes the roof watertight before it restores the seal.
Straight-line wind is less dramatic than a tornado but it does steady damage to roofs. A gust that comes in one direction can lift the edges of every shingle on one slope, and the damage is often at the eave and the ridge, where the air moves fastest across the roof.
Indianapolis Roofing connects Indianapolis callers with a local technician who makes the roof watertight first and then plans the permanent repair. The aim of the first visit is to stop water getting in. The repair is then planned from the findings, so the work follows the damage and not a guess.
Wind and ice work together on Indianapolis roofs. A seal that has been loosened by a winter's freeze-thaw cycles is easier for a spring gust to break, so the wind record is read against the state of the roof in winter as well.
- Service area
- Indianapolis & Marion County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Why does a straight-line gust do more damage than its speed suggests?
A straight-line gust pushes steadily across a slope, and it finds every loose edge in turn. The sealant that has already weakened over a winter gives way, and each lifted shingle can pull the next one loose.
Wind moves fastest over the eaves and the ridge, and it lifts the shingle nearest to the edge first. Once the seal has broken there, the shingle flutters and the next gust works the tab further from its nails until it tears.
A roof that has been through a cold winter can have sealant that has lost its grip, because the freeze-thaw cycles open the bond. A gust that a newer roof would hold can then lift the edges of an older one, and the damage looks sudden when it was prepared over months.
Which parts of an Indianapolis roof does wind attack first?
Wind attacks the eaves, the rakes and the ridge first. Those are the places where air moves fastest and where the shingles have the least overlap to hold them down.
The corners and edges of a roof catch more wind than the middle of a slope, and a gust that comes from one side loads the windward edge hardest. The damage starts at the perimeter and moves inward if the lifted shingles are not repaired.
The ridge is the other weak point. Ridge caps are small pieces of shingle bent over the peak and held by a few nails and a thin layer of sealant. A gust can bend, crack or tear them off, and an open ridge lets water run down into the attic at the top of the roof.
What does a wind repair include?
A wind repair makes the roof watertight, replaces shingles that are cracked or missing, re-seals lifted edges, replaces damaged ridge caps and secures the flashing. Each step is checked before the next starts.
The repair starts with what keeps water out. Missing shingles are replaced first, then the lifted edges are re-sealed, and the ridge and flashing are secured after that. A missed nail or a loose cap is easier to catch at each step than after the whole job is done.
The technician records what was done on each slope and reports anything found but not repaired, such as an old patch that needs attention later. The record goes to the homeowner, because a repair is only as good as the record of what it covered.
How do wind and ice damage differ on the same roof?
Wind lifts and tears the shingle edges and the seals, while ice opens joints and cracks shingles along the eave. A roof can show both after a winter and a spring storm, and the inspection separates them because the repairs differ.
Wind leaves lifted tabs, creased shingles and torn edges, mostly at the perimeter and the ridge. Ice leaves cracked shingles and open joints, mostly at the eave and in the valleys. Each has its own repair, and each belongs in its own section of the record.
The distinction also matters for an insurance claim. A claim that describes wind damage on a slope that shows only ice cracks will be questioned, and the record keeps the two categories separate so the claim is clear.
When is a wind repair an emergency?
When the roof is open to the weather or water is reaching a ceiling, the repair is urgent. A missing section over a bedroom or a torn-off ridge with a stain below is worth a visit at once.
The test is whether water can reach the house in the next rain or snowmelt. An open section of decking, a torn ridge with a dark stain below, or a ceiling that is sagging from wet insulation are all reasons to call. A flapping shingle with no leak can wait for a planned visit.
If it is safe to do so, a homeowner can put a bucket under a ceiling leak until the crew arrives. A tarp should not be attached to the roof by someone standing on a slope, and the crew will check any tarp that was put up before they arrived.
Warning signs
Signs you need wind damage roof repair
Do not climb a roof that has lost shingles or that has a sagging section. Loose shingles can slide, and decking that has been wet for a long time can give way under weight. If a tree or a branch is on the roof, keep people and pets away from the area under the damage and let a crew with the right equipment make it safe before anyone climbs.
- Shingles lying loose or curled at the tab along the eave or rake
- Missing shingles in a row near the ridge or at the corner
- Bare nail heads with no sealant mark on the shingle below
- Ridge caps lifted, cracked or gone along one side of the roof
- Flashing bent or pulled away from a wall or a chimney
- Shingle debris in the yard on the side the wind came from
- Gutter runs or fence panels bent after a strong gust
Our process
How our wind damage roof repair visit works
Make the roof watertight
Any open section is covered with a tarp or a temporary seal first, and the interior is protected below it. This step keeps the next rain out while the permanent repair is planned.
Map the uplift slope by slope
The technician checks the seal on each shingle at the edges, the ridge and around any penetration. The pattern of lifted shingles shows the direction of the gust and the edges that took the load.
Replace what cannot be sealed
Shingles that are cracked, creased or torn are replaced with a matched shingle where one is available. Old shingles that have lost their flexibility often crack when lifted, so they are replaced rather than reseated.
Re-seal the edges and the ridge
The eaves, rakes and ridge are where wind lifts most, so the sealant and nails are checked and restored there. Ridge caps are replaced where they are cracked or loose.
Check the flashing and the attic
Loose flashing is secured or replaced, and the attic is checked from below for daylight, wet insulation and staining. The findings are written up so the homeowner knows what was done and what was left.
Options
Types and options for wind damage roof repair
Edge and ridge re-sealing
Lifted shingles along the eaves, rakes and ridge are re-sealed and secured with the correct fasteners. It is often the most economical way to restore a roof's hold after a strong gust.
Slope replacement after wind
When one slope has lost a large area of shingles, the damaged section is replaced and matched where a match is possible. Where it is not, the report explains the options, including a larger section of roof.
Job stories
Typical jobs for wind damage roof repair
Lifted shingles at the eave after a gusty evening
- What homeowners notice
- A gust in the early evening lifts several shingles along the eave of a single-story house. The roof is still dry, but a neighbor has noticed shingles in the yard and the homeowner can see a dark line where the sealant has pulled away.
- What we do
- The technician checks every tab along the eave and the rake, and tests each for sealant bond. Shingles that still bend without cracking are re-sealed, and two that are brittle are replaced with a matched shingle. The ridge is checked and found sound, and the attic shows no daylight.
- What to expect
- The roof is secured the same day. The report lists the tabs re-sealed, the two replaced and the photographs of each, and it notes that the rest of the roof showed no further lift.
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If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent wind damage roof repair, send the form and we'll call you back.
Marion County
Why wind damage roof repair is different in Central Indiana
Straight-line wind is one of the main reasons Indianapolis roofs need repair, along with hail in spring and summer and ice in winter. A roof that has been through a winter is often weakened at the edges, and a spring gust finds those edges first.
The 10 August 2020 derecho brought widespread wind damage across central Indiana, with trees and power lines down, according to the NWS Indianapolis office. The wind record for an address is the first thing read on a wind call, because the storm's path is often narrow.
The older houses near Broad Ripple, and the houses on the broad lots of the outer suburbs, take wind in different ways. An older house has a simpler roof outline, and a suburban lot can have more open ground for the wind to cross. The technician checks the edges that face the open ground first.
Related
Related services
Derecho and Fallen-Tree Roof Repair
Making an open roof safe after a derecho or a fallen tree, clearing limbs with the right equipment, and recording the damage for the insurer.
Emergency Roof Tarping
A temporary cover over an open or damaged roof so the next thaw or rain stays out, with the permanent repair planned afterwards.
Chimney and Flashing Repair
Resetting or replacing flashing at chimneys, walls and valleys, with the mortar joints, the cap and the crown checked where the leak begins.
Hail Damage Roof Inspection
A slope-by-slope count of hail hits, the metal parts checked, and a dated record that separates storm marks from older wear.
Where we work
Wind Damage Roof Repair across Marion County
- Wind Damage in Indianapolis
- Wind Damage in Haughville
- Wind Damage in Fountain Square
- Wind Damage in Meridian-Kessler
- Wind Damage in Beech Grove
- Wind Damage in Irvington
- Wind Damage in Lawrence
- Wind Damage in Speedway
- Wind Damage in Southport
- Wind Damage in Decatur Township
- Wind Damage in Broad Ripple
- Wind Damage in Clermont
- Wind Damage in Cumberland
- Wind Damage in Castleton
- Wind Damage in Greenwood
- Wind Damage in Camby
- Wind Damage in Avon
- Wind Damage in Brownsburg
- Wind Damage in Plainfield
- Wind Damage in New Palestine
- Wind Damage in Carmel
- Wind Damage in Zionsville
- Wind Damage in Fishers
- Wind Damage in Whiteland
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Guides
Read before you book
What did the 2020 derecho do to Indianapolis roofs?
The 10 August 2020 derecho brought widespread wind damage across central Indiana, with trees and power lines down, according to the National Weather Service's Indianapolis office.
FAQ
Wind Damage Roof Repair FAQs
Is a wind repair an emergency?
It is when water can reach the house in the next rain or melt, such as an open section of roof or a ceiling leak. A flapping shingle with the roof still dry can wait for a planned visit. Call (833) 751-2102 and say which it is.
Can you re-seal shingles that have lifted?
Often, yes. A shingle that still bends without cracking can be re-sealed and secured. A shingle that is brittle, creased or torn is replaced, because it will not hold a seal again.
Will a new shingle match the rest of my roof?
Matching depends on the age and make of the existing shingles. Older roofs can have colors that have faded, and a patch can look different. The technician says how close a match is likely.
Does wind damage mean the whole roof has to be replaced?
Not usually. Wind damage is often confined to the edges or one slope. The inspection says which areas are damaged and whether a repair is enough.
Will you help with an insurance claim?
The technician provides a written record of what was found, with photographs, which you can send to your insurer. The insurer decides what is covered and what it pays.
How long does a wind repair take?
A small edge repair can be finished in an afternoon. A slope replacement can take a day or more, depending on the area and the access. The technician gives an estimate of the time on the visit.