High winds damage Denver roofs by lifting shingles where the wind pressure is strongest, at the eaves, rake edges, corners and ridge, until the sealant strip lets go and the shingle creases, tears or blows off. Once a few shingles are gone, the underlayment is exposed and the next gust peels more. Flying debris and falling limbs add punctures. After a windstorm, look for missing or creased shingles and debris on the roof, cover any exposed area, and have the roof inspected before the next storm.
Why Denver gets damaging wind
The National Weather Service Denver/Boulder office says winds of 60 to near 100 mph can occur in and near the foothills, including Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins, and that chinook and bora winds can exceed 100 mph in extreme cases. Upper-level winds over Colorado are much stronger in winter than in the warm season, so the worst downslope windstorms tend to come in the cold months. Summer thunderstorms add their own gusts; the NWS calls a storm severe when it produces winds of 58 mph or more.
Where wind damage starts
- Rake edges and eaves. The perimeter takes the highest uplift. Shingles here lift first, especially on the corners of a gable.
- Hip and ridge caps. The peak of the roof sees strong negative pressure. Missing ridge caps are a common sign of a windstorm.
- Unsealed shingles. Shingles hold down with nails and a factory sealant strip. If the strip never bonded, often because the roof was installed in cold weather or dust settled on it, the shingle flaps in the wind until it creases or tears off. We explain cold-weather installs in weather-related roof repairs.
- Debris and trees. Wind turns branches and loose objects into projectiles. A single limb can puncture shingles and decking.
What to check after a windstorm
- Walk the yard for shingle pieces, ridge caps and nails.
- Look at the edges and ridge from across the street. Lifted or missing tabs and exposed black underlayment are easy to spot.
- Look for creases. A horizontal line across a shingle means it bent back in the wind and has probably lost its seal.
- Check the attic and ceilings after the next rain.
- Photograph what you find with the date. Wind claims, like hail claims, need a date of loss.
What Denver code requires
The City and County of Denver’s Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated April 11, 2024) sets the rules a wind repair or new roof must meet:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum wind rating, east of Federal Blvd | 115 mph |
| Federal Blvd to Sheridan Blvd | 125 mph |
| Sheridan Blvd to Kipling St | 140 mph |
| Shingle testing | ASTM D 7158 class D, G or H by zone; ASTM D 3161 if the brand is outside D 7158 |
| Nailing | Manufacturer’s instructions, or at least four nails per shingle strip |
| Repair permit (buildings under 25,000 sq ft) | Needed when the repair is more than 10 percent of the roof or two squares, whichever is smaller |
Ask any roofer which wind zone your house is in and which rating the shingle carries. Our article on ASTM D3161 shingle wind ratings explains the classes.
Repair or replace?
A small wind repair, a few shingles on one slope, is usually a Denver roof repair. If shingles have unsealed across a slope, patching chases the problem from storm to storm. The same storms often bring hail as well; our Denver hail repair timeline covers that path, and preparing a Denver roof for summer covers prevention. To compare contractors, see how to vet a storm roofer.
Call our Denver-area office
Integrity Roofing and Painting has been family-run since 1990 and is veteran-owned, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our Denver-area office is at 13275 E. Fremont Pl in Centennial. Call (303) 209-0152, book a free Denver roof inspection, or see Denver storm damage repair.
Sources: National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, High Wind Safety; National Weather Service, glossary: severe thunderstorm; City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist, updated 4/11/2024.
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