Field guide · Sep 24, 2026

Missing shingles after a windstorm? What to do, what it costs, and when to call insurance.

A strong storm rolls through Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb overnight, and in the morning there are shingle pieces in the yard and a bare patch on the roof. It’s unsettling, but in most cases it’s a repair, not a new roof. Here’s what to do first, how to protect the house until it’s fixed, how to think about repair vs. an insurance claim, and what the fix costs from our published price book.

First: stay safe and look from the ground

• Stay off the roof. Storm-damaged shingles can be loose and slick, and wind often isn’t done when the rain stops. Checking the roof up close is our job.
• Look from the ground. Walk around the house and use your phone’s zoom or binoculars. Look for bare patches, shingles folded back, torn ridge caps along the peak, and loose or bent metal at the edges.
• Check inside. Look at ceilings under the damaged area and, if you can safely walk the joists, the attic. Wet decking or insulation means water is already getting in.
• Save the pieces. Pick up shingle pieces and edge metal from the yard and set them aside. They help with color matching and they’re part of your record.
• Watch for hazards. If a limb is on the roof or near power lines, stay clear and call the utility first.

Take photos before anything changes

Whether or not you end up talking to your insurer, good photos help. Take wide and close shots of the roof from the ground, the debris in the yard, and any stains or drips inside. Write down the date and time of the storm and when you noticed the damage, and keep receipts for anything you spend to protect the house. Our guide on whether homeowners insurance covers roof leaks in Michigan goes deeper on documentation.

Temporary protection until the repair

What you need right now depends on what’s showing where the shingles used to be:

• Underlayment still in place, no water inside. The felt or synthetic layer under the shingles gives some short-term protection, but it isn’t meant to be exposed for long. Schedule the repair soon and keep an eye on the ceiling when it rains.
• Bare wood, a hole, or water coming in. If more rain is in the forecast, this is when a tarp makes sense. A loose sheet weighted with bricks tends to blow off in the next gust; a properly fastened tarp stays put.
• A limb went through the roof. Treat it as an emergency: keep people out of the room below, catch water where you can, and call for a tarp.

Our emergency tarp is $450 for up to 400 sq ft, and $200 of that is credited toward the permanent repair. Large or multi-slope tarps, including tree-impact openings, are $750–$1,200. Same-day response outside Mon–Sat 7am–7pm adds 50%. For the full checklist when water is actively coming in, see what to do when your roof is leaking right now.

Why wind takes some shingles and not others

Asphalt shingles are held down by nails and a factory seal strip that bonds each course to the one below it. Wind gets under a shingle where that bond is weak — often at the rakes, the eaves, and along the ridge, where the roof takes the most wind. Seal strips can also let go on older roofs, and shingles nailed too high or with too few nails give up sooner. That’s why the damage is usually in one or two spots rather than across the whole roof.

Just as important: shingles that are still on the roof can be lifted and unsealed without being missing. We check the tabs around the bare spot, not just the gap itself.

Repair or insurance claim?

In general, homeowners policies are built around sudden damage like a windstorm, rather than slow wear and tear. Whether filing makes sense usually comes down to how much damage there is compared to your deductible:

• A few shingles in one spot. Replacing 1–5 wind-lifted, cracked, or missing shingles is $395 on our price book. That may be less than your deductible, so many homeowners simply repair it. Your agent can tell you where your deductible sits.
• Damage on several slopes, torn ridge caps, bent edge metal, or water inside. This is the kind of situation worth a call to your insurer or agent before permanent repairs, and it’s worth asking whether they want an adjuster to see it first.
• A limb or tree impact. Tarp first to limit further damage, then call your insurer.

Either way, every job we do comes with a photo report — before, during, and after. After a storm we also offer storm damage documentation: a dated photo set and written scope formatted for your insurance adjuster. It’s $189 on its own and free when bundled with the repair. We don’t handle the claim for you, and we don’t inflate a scope to hit a deductible.

Be careful with door-knockers after big storms offering a “free roof” through insurance. Losing a few shingles in one storm rarely means the whole roof is finished. If someone has already told you it needs replacing, our $189 second opinion review gets you a straight written answer from a company that doesn’t sell replacements.

What missing-shingle repairs cost

Every price below comes from our published price book. You get the exact number in writing before we start, and the invoice matches it:

• Shingle replacement, 1–5: $395 — wind-lifted, cracked, or missing shingles in one area, color-matched from stock where available.
• Shingle replacement, 6–20: $550–$850 — a larger single area on the same slope, with new ice-and-water or felt beneath as needed.
• Hand-seal loose shingle tabs: $425 per slope — wind-loosened tabs re-adhered with roofing cement.
• Section repair, up to 1 square: $900–$1,450 — a 10 ft × 10 ft area stripped to deck, re-underlaid and re-shingled, for when the damage goes past the shingles.
• Ridge cap replacement: $14 per linear foot. Drip edge replacement: $16 per linear foot. Rake and gable edge repair: $550–$900.
• Decking replacement, if rot or damage turns up under the repair: $185 per sheet — quoted before we proceed, never a surprise on the invoice.

On our emergency & storm section, a typical wind event — lifted shingles, torn ridge caps, damaged edge metal — runs $500–$3,000, priced off the line items above. The only things that change a price are the access modifiers on the price book, like a steep pitch or a second shingle layer. Our minimum on any repair visit is $389, applied only when the completed work prices out below it.

A handful of blown-off shingles is exactly the kind of job some bigger companies don’t want. We do — see small roof repairs welcome. Shingle replacement and tab sealing carry our one-year spot repair warranty, and section repairs stripped to deck carry three years, written on the invoice.

What happens on a wind-damage visit

We check the damaged area and the shingles around it for lifted or unsealed tabs, look at the ridge and edges, and check the attic below where accessible. Then we replace what’s missing, seal what’s loose, and photograph it all. If the source of a leak isn’t obvious, our $189 leak diagnostic is credited in full if you approve the repair the same visit. And if the roof is truly at the end of its life, we’ll document that and refer you to a licensed installer — we don’t sell replacements.

FAQ: missing shingles after wind

Should I file an insurance claim for a few missing shingles?

It depends on your policy and your deductible. Replacing 1–5 wind-lifted or missing shingles is $395 on our price book, which may be less than your deductible. Wider damage across several slopes is a better reason to call your agent. Policies vary, so ask your insurer.

How much does it cost to replace shingles that blew off?

From our 2026 price book: 1–5 shingles in one area is $395, 6–20 shingles on the same slope is $550–$850, and hand-sealing wind-loosened tabs is $425 per slope. A typical wind event with lifted shingles, torn ridge caps, and damaged edge metal runs $500–$3,000.

Is it safe to leave missing shingles until the weekend?

If the underlayment is intact and no water is coming in, it can often wait for a scheduled repair, but it is not meant to be exposed for long. If you see bare wood, a hole, or water inside and more rain is coming, call for a tarp. Our standard emergency tarp is $450, with $200 credited toward the permanent repair.

Will the new shingles match my roof?

We color-match from stock where available. On an older or sun-faded roof, new shingles can look slightly different at first. Your photo report shows exactly what was replaced.

Does a windstorm mean I need a new roof?

Usually not. Missing shingles in one or two areas are a repair. If the roof is truly at the end of its life, we’ll show you the photos and refer you to a licensed installer — we don’t sell replacements. If someone else told you it needs replacing, our $189 second opinion gives you a written answer.

Related guides: Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks in Michigan? · Roof leaking right now? What to do in the first hour · Roof repair cost in Michigan (2026)

Metro Detroit Roof Repair — repairs only. Flat rates. Photo report every job. Service-area business across Wayne, Oakland & Macomb. Licensed Michigan Maintenance & Alteration contractor 2101214735.