Why do shingles lift or blow off in a nor'easter?
Wind pressure and suction act on the edges and ridge first. If the sealant strip that bonds each shingle to the one below has aged or never fully set, a gust can peel the tab back. Once a few lift, the wind gets under the next row and works along the slope.
Older roofs lose their seal gradually, so a shingle that held through ten winters can give way in the eleventh. Cold weather makes the sealant strips slow to bond when a roof is laid in late fall, which is one reason roofers check edges after the first hard blow of the season.
That is also why wind damage is a good moment to read the roof's age. The guide on how long roofs last in Massachusetts gives published lifespans and what shortens them.
How can I tell if shingles are damaged when they look fine?
Look for creases, lifted edges and shingles that no longer lie flat. From the ground with binoculars, a creased tab looks like a slight ridge across the width, and a lifted edge shows a thin dark line under the shingle. A roofer can test the seal by hand, which you should not attempt yourself.
After a windy night, walk around the house and look at each slope in turn. A different texture, a shadow along an edge or a shingle sitting higher than the others is worth a photograph.
Mention it when you call even if you are unsure. A roofer would rather hear about it and find nothing than miss a lifted row.
Is wind damage to a few shingles an emergency?
Not by itself, but it can become one. Missing shingles expose the underlayment, which is meant to be temporary protection, and the next rain or thaw can get through. Photograph the damage and call; if water is already entering the house, say so, and treat it as a leak.
A roofer can place a temporary cover over an exposed area when the weather and schedule allow. Whether a roofer can come quickly depends on how many roofs a recent storm has hit.
If a limb has fallen on the roof or a large area is open, the storm damage roof repair page covers that wider situation.
Do trees make wind damage worse?
They can. Limbs that rub the roof in wind wear the shingles, and a falling branch can crack shingles and boards. Trees near the roof also drop leaves and twigs that fill the gutters. A tree service handles the limbs; the roofer repairs what the roof lost.
Look at the overhanging limbs when you check the roof after a storm. A branch resting on the roof is a job for a tree service, not for you on a ladder.
Trimming back limbs that touch the roof is worth discussing with a tree service before the next windy season, since those are the ones most likely to rub through shingles.
