How do I keep shingles from blowing off?
Keep them sealed, nailed and sound: have a licensed roofer inspect after storms, repair lifted or missing shingles early, and ask for wind-rated shingles with full nailing when you repair or reroof. The Building America guide says codes require not less than four fasteners per strip shingle and recommends six nails per strip in high-wind areas. Old, curling shingles blow off easily, so a worn roof needs replacing, not patching.
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By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
This is a job for a licensed pro in Virginia
This page explains what the work involves, the permits, what a licensed pro does and what drives the cost. It does not give step-by-step instructions, because this work needs a licence, a permit or both, and doing it wrong can injure someone. Before you hire, check the licence on Virginia's DPOR record.
Short version: the roof has to be sealed, nailed right and in good shape
Shingles blow off when the factory sealant has stopped holding, the nails were placed or driven badly, or the shingles have aged. You cannot fix any of those safely from a ladder, so the practical answer is: get a licensed roofer to inspect, and fix the cause rather than just the missing piece.
Why shingles blow off
The seal never formed or has failed. Shingles stay put because of a factory sealant strip, and the sealant needs warmth. Owens Corning's warranty says its shingles contain asphalt sealant that requires direct warm sunlight for several days (Thermal Sealing) in order to seal properly.[3] A roof laid in cold weather can sit unbonded for a while, and an old roof can lose its bond with dust and age.
Nailing. The Building America guide calls improper nailing a common error in shingle installation, and lists high nails, low nails, overdriven nails, underdriven nails, angled nails, and inadequate nails.[2] Codes specify the type and minimum size of nails and require the number to follow the manufacturer's instructions but not less than four fasteners per strip shingle.[2] The same guide says that, generally, each shingle strip should be installed with six nails in high-wind areas.[2]
Age. When shingles become old and worn out, they curl, split, and lose their waterproofing effectiveness, and the weakened shingles are easily blown off, torn, or lifted by the wind.[1] See why roof shingles curl.
Trees. When tree branches touch the roof, they scratch and gouge roof material as they are blown back and forth by the wind.[1]
What keeps them on
Inspect after storms and each spring and autumn, from the ground. Look for lifted edges, missing tabs, exposed nails and granules in the gutters. Binoculars help. Do not go up on the roof to check.
Repair early. The Forest Service guide says to repair missing or torn shingles as soon as possible, because the problem is likely to spread and nearby shingles are easily ripped off or blown away.[1] A single lifted shingle is cheap to fix; a stripped slope is not. See can a few missing shingles be replaced without a new roof.
Ask for wind-rated shingles and correct fastening when you reroof or repair. Building codes require asphalt shingles, including hip and ridge shingles, to be tested and classified for wind resistance in accordance with ASTM D7158 or D3161.[2] The Building America guide says to install shingles according to the manufacturer's instructions for high-wind locations and, in high-wind areas, to apply dabs or continuous bands of asphalt roof cement beneath shingles along eaves, rakes, hips, and ridges, which may be required in some jurisdictions.[2] Ask your roofer what the manufacturer specifies for your shingle and your site, and ask the local building department whether it requires more than the national code.
Keep the attic vented and the roof clear. Never block off sources of roof ventilation, such as louvers, ridge vents, or soffit vents.[1] Trim branches away from the roof and keep leaves off it.
Replace the roof when it is spent. Patching a roof whose shingles are failing across the board only delays the next blow-off. Compare options in should I replace missing shingles or the whole roof.
After a storm
A blown-off shingle leaves the roof deck exposed, and exposed sheathing will eventually succumb to water damage.[2] Photograph the damage from the ground, check ceilings for stains and call a licensed roofer. Be wary of door-to-door offers; see how to avoid storm-chasing roofers.
When to call a licensed pro
For the inspection and for any repair. Do not climb onto the roof to test or press down loose shingles: roof work is dangerous, and a roof is no place to test or press down loose shingles. DPOR says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.[4] Virginia's contractor regulations define roofing contracting as the service that provides for the installation, repair, removal, or improvement of materials common to the industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks.[5] Check the licence before you pay anything.
Getting help in Virginia
Loclis lists DPOR-licensed roofing businesses with their licence number and class. Browse roofing services or read more roofing repair answers. For prices, see how much it costs to replace missing shingles in Virginia.
When you are ready, describe the job once and licensed local roofers respond.
Common questions
- Why do shingles blow off in the first place?
- Usually the factory seal has not bonded or has failed, the nails were placed or driven badly, or the shingles are old and worn. Owens Corning says its sealant needs direct warm sunlight for several days to seal properly, so cold-weather installs can stay loose.
- How many nails should a shingle have?
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions, but codes call for not less than four fasteners per strip shingle, and the Building America guide says six nails per strip in high-wind areas.
- Is roof cement enough to hold a loose shingle?
- Not as a lasting fix by itself. Dabs of roof cement under shingles are a recognised extra for securement, but whether a shingle can be re-secured or must be replaced is a call for a licensed roofer.
- Can I climb up and press loose shingles back down?
- Do not. Roof work is dangerous and old shingles crack. Check from the ground with binoculars and have a licensed roofer do the work.
- What should I do if shingles blew off in a storm?
- Photograph the damage from the ground, check the ceilings for stains and call a roofer licensed by DPOR. Exposed sheathing will eventually succumb to water damage, so do not wait long.
Sources
- [1] Overview of Roofing Materials for Forest Service Facilities, USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Asphalt Shingle Roofs, Building America Solution Center, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] System Protection Limited Lifetime Warranty, Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [5] 18VAC50-22-30, Definitions of specialty services (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
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