Wind Damage Doesn't Wait for a Leak
Hail gets the headlines, but wind is the Ohio Valley's other signature — and it is sneakier. A straight-line gust can crease shingle tabs, break their adhesive seals, and peel flashing back at the edges without dropping a single shingle on your lawn. From the ground, the roof looks fine. It just isn't watertight anymore, and the leak shows up months later in a storm that had nothing to do with the damage. Well Krafted Roofing is a family-owned company out of New Albany, and inspecting wind-hit roofs is a core part of our storm damage work across Floyd, Clark, and Harrison County and into Louisville. We get on the roof, check the edges and ridge by hand, photograph what we find, and tell you straight whether it needs a repair, a replacement, or nothing at all.
Wind Damage We Find & Fix
Lifted & Creased Shingles
Wind can bend a shingle tab back far enough to crease it and break its adhesive seal. From the yard it lies flat again — but it is no longer watertight. We find these by hand, on the roof.
Edge & Ridge Inspection
Wind uplift is strongest at eaves, rakes, corners, and ridge lines, so that is where damage concentrates. We inspect those zones shingle by shingle instead of glancing at the field from a ladder.
Missing Shingle Replacement
Blown-off tabs and full shingles are replaced with GAF materials matched as closely as possible to your existing roof, sealed and fastened to spec.
Flashing & Ridge Cap Repair
Gusts peel back flashing at edges, walls, and penetrations and pop ridge caps loose. We re-secure or replace them so the most vulnerable seams on your roof are tight again.
Photo Documentation
Every finding is photographed and written up. If the damage is storm related, that documentation supports your insurance claim and gives your adjuster something concrete to look at.
A Straight Verdict
Not every windstorm totals a roof. If a repair will hold, we say so. If the damage is widespread enough that replacement is the smarter money, we say that too — and show you why.
Why Wind Damage Hides at the Edges
Wind doesn't press down on a roof — it pulls up on it. As air accelerates over the eaves, rakes, corners, and ridge, it creates uplift, and that is exactly where shingles fail first: tabs creased along the edge courses, ridge caps worked loose, flashing lifted where the roof meets a wall. The middle of the roof can look untouched while the perimeter has quietly lost its seal. That is why a real wind inspection starts at the edges and works in, not the other way around.
Terrain makes it worse. Homes up on the Knobs and other open, ridge-top exposures catch wind that valley lots never feel, so the same storm can strip one roof and leave another alone a mile away. If your home sits high — around Floyds Knobs especially — it earns a closer look after any strong blow. And Ohio Valley storms rarely bring one hazard at a time: the same front that creases your shingles often drops ice too, so it is worth knowing the signs of hail damage as well.
One honest note on temporary protection: if wind opened up your roof, covering the exposed area before the next rain is part of most policies' expectation that you prevent further damage — and reasonable costs for that are often reimbursable, so keep your receipts. Don't climb a damaged roof to do it yourself. Call us, and if you end up filing, our insurance claim documentation page explains how we photo-document damage and meet your adjuster on the roof.
Schedule an InspectionMorning-After Check (From the Ground)
- Shingles or tabs anywhere on the lawn
- Shingle edges flapping or sitting unevenly
- Gaps or missing pieces along the ridge line
- Flashing peeled back at edges or walls
- Bent gutters, drip edge, or fascia
- Granule piles below downspouts
- Fence, siding, or tree damage nearby
Photograph what you see, stay off the roof, and call 502-208-7089 for an inspection.
Our Wind Damage Process
Call or Request Online
Tell us what the storm did — what you found in the yard, what you can see from the ground — and we get an inspection on the schedule promptly.
Walk the Roof
We check the edges, corners, ridge, flashing, and field by hand, because creased and unsealed shingles rarely show from the ground.
Report What We Found
You get photos and a plain-language rundown: what is damaged, whether it reads as storm damage, and whether repair or replacement makes sense.
Fix It Right
We complete the repair or replacement with GAF materials, clean up the property, and walk the finished work with you.
Wind Damage FAQs
My shingles look fine from the ground. Can wind still have damaged them?
Yes — this is the most common wind damage we find. A gust lifts a tab, creases it, and breaks the adhesive seal, then the shingle lies back down and looks normal. It is no longer bonded, so wind-driven rain can get underneath it. The only reliable way to find creased shingles is a hands-on roof inspection.
What does wind damage look like when it is visible?
From the ground you might see missing tabs or whole shingles, shingle pieces in the yard, flashing peeled back at edges or walls, loose or missing ridge caps, and bent gutters or drip edge. Damage tends to cluster along eaves, rakes, corners, and the ridge — the places wind uplift is strongest.
What should I do the morning after a windstorm?
Walk the property at ground level and photograph anything you find — shingles or tabs on the lawn, downed limbs, damaged fencing or siding. Look up at the roof edges and ridge from the yard. Do not climb the roof; wind-damaged shingles are loose underfoot. Then call for an inspection so the damage gets documented while it is fresh.
How much wind does it take to damage a roof?
There is no single number. Newer, well-sealed shingles are rated for strong winds, while older shingles with dried-out adhesive can fail in far less. Exposure matters too — homes on open ground or ridge tops take more wind than sheltered lots. Straight-line gusts in Ohio Valley storms are regularly strong enough to crease or strip shingles.
Does homeowners insurance cover wind damage?
Wind is a commonly covered peril on homeowners policies, but coverage, deductibles, and filing windows vary by policy and by state — some policies carry a separate wind deductible. Read your policy or ask your agent what applies to you. We inspect, photograph, and document the damage so you have a clear record to base that conversation on.
Should I tarp my roof after wind damage?
If shingles are missing and rain is coming, temporary protection is reasonable — most policies expect homeowners to take sensible steps to prevent further damage, and those costs are often reimbursable, so keep your receipts. Do not climb a damaged roof yourself. Call us and we can advise on what protection makes sense until permanent work is done.
Should my roofer be there when the adjuster looks at wind damage?
Yes. If you file a claim, we can meet your adjuster on the roof, walk them through what we found, and provide our photos and inspection notes. The claim decision belongs to your insurer — we are roofers, not adjusters — but thorough documentation helps make sure nothing on the roof gets overlooked.
Wind damage — repair or full replacement?
It depends on how widespread the damage is and the age of the roof. Scattered missing tabs on a newer roof usually repair cleanly. Creasing across large areas of an older roof often means the shingles have lost their seal for good, and replacement — typically $8,000 to $18,000 for most homes in our area — is the better long-term money.
Why do ridge-top homes get hit harder?
Wind speeds up as it climbs terrain and accelerates over roof edges, so homes on ridges and open exposures — like much of the Floyds Knobs area — see stronger uplift at the eaves, corners, and ridge caps than sheltered valley lots in the same storm. If your home sits high, it is worth an inspection even after storms your neighbors shrugged off.
Storm Blew Through? Get It Checked.
We inspect wind-hit roofs across the river towns and the hill country alike — from Jeffersonville to Corydon and everywhere between, plus Louisville. Call 502-208-7089 or fill out the form above.