Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
Why is my roof missing shingles after a windstorm?
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
The short answer: wind gets under the shingle edge
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.
For a single-family re-roof in CEC Climate Zone 9, the Title 24 Part 6 prescriptive cool-roof values are an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 16, on steep slopes of 2:12 or more, and at least 0.63 with emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75, on low slopes under 2:12. That requirement is triggered when more than 50 percent of the roof area is replaced, which is a different threshold from the City permit trigger, and the parcel's zone should be checked with the CEC zone finder before a product is specified.
Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
- Age. The thermal seal on a standard three-tab or architectural shingle weakens noticeably after 12 to 15 years of Simi Valley heat cycling.
- Heat and UV. Summer attic temperatures here routinely push 140°F to 150°F, which bakes the seal strip brittle.
- Prior lifting. A shingle that lifted in a smaller wind event and re-seated itself has already lost most of its bond.
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
Why Simi Valley windstorms strip shingles so fast
After a windstorm, photograph lifted tabs, ridge caps and debris before repairs, check the attic for daylight and staining, and call for an inspection before a partial repair is quoted. A wind repair that ignores ridge fastening will fail at the next event.
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.
For a single-family re-roof in CEC Climate Zone 9, the Title 24 Part 6 prescriptive cool-roof values are an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 16, on steep slopes of 2:12 or more, and at least 0.63 with emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75, on low slopes under 2:12. That requirement is triggered when more than 50 percent of the roof area is replaced, which is a different threshold from the City permit trigger, and the parcel's zone should be checked with the CEC zone finder before a product is specified.
Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
How to tell if the damage is cosmetic or structural
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
After a windstorm, photograph lifted tabs, ridge caps and debris before repairs, check the attic for daylight and staining, and call for an inspection before a partial repair is quoted. A wind repair that ignores ridge fastening will fail at the next event.
- Bare decking or underlayment showing. Exposed felt or OSB means water has a direct path in. This is the one to fix today.
- Creased or torn shingles still on the roof. A shingle that is wrinkled but attached has lost its seal and will be gone in the next event.
- Granules in the gutters and at the downspout splash. Heavy granule loss after one storm means the shingle mat is thinning.
- Lifted ridge caps. Ridge and hip caps catch wind first and often signal that the field shingles are next.
- Dented or pulled flashing. Wind-driven debris bends step flashing and chimney flashing, and that is where the slow leaks start.
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
How do I repair missing shingles in Simi Valley California?
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.
Spot repair: one to five shingles
For a single-family re-roof in CEC Climate Zone 9, the Title 24 Part 6 prescriptive cool-roof values are an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 16, on steep slopes of 2:12 or more, and at least 0.63 with emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75, on low slopes under 2:12. That requirement is triggered when more than 50 percent of the roof area is replaced, which is a different threshold from the City permit trigger, and the parcel's zone should be checked with the CEC zone finder before a product is specified.
Section repair: one full slope
Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
Full replacement
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
After a windstorm, photograph lifted tabs, ridge caps and debris before repairs, check the attic for daylight and staining, and call for an inspection before a partial repair is quoted. A wind repair that ignores ridge fastening will fail at the next event.
Does insurance cover windstorm roof damage in Simi Valley?
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.
For a single-family re-roof in CEC Climate Zone 9, the Title 24 Part 6 prescriptive cool-roof values are an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 16, on steep slopes of 2:12 or more, and at least 0.63 with emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75, on low slopes under 2:12. That requirement is triggered when more than 50 percent of the roof area is replaced, which is a different threshold from the City permit trigger, and the parcel's zone should be checked with the CEC zone finder before a product is specified.
- Documentation. Date-stamped photos of the missing shingles, the granule piles, and any interior staining. Take them before anyone touches the roof.
- A written scope. The adjuster writes their own estimate. Ours is usually more detailed on decking, flashing, and code-required items like drip edge.
- Matching. If your shingle line was discontinued, the insurer owes for a reasonable match, which sometimes means the whole slope rather than a patch.
Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
Common mistakes after a windstorm
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
- Climbing up during the event. Gusts over 60 mph will take a ladder and a person with it. Wait until the wind advisory expires.
- Tarping over wet decking and leaving it. A tarp buys you a week. Past that, trapped moisture rots the sheathing and the repair doubles.
- Paying a door-knocker in cash. After every major wind event, out-of-area crews work Simi Valley neighborhoods. Ask for a state contractor license number and a local address, and never pay more than a small deposit up front.
- Filing a claim for a $400 patch. A small claim can affect your premium. Pay for minor repairs out of pocket and save the claim for real damage.
When to call a professional
After a windstorm, photograph lifted tabs, ridge caps and debris before repairs, check the attic for daylight and staining, and call for an inspection before a partial repair is quoted. A wind repair that ignores ridge fastening will fail at the next event.
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my roof lose shingles in a windstorm in Simi Valley CA?
For a single-family re-roof in CEC Climate Zone 9, the Title 24 Part 6 prescriptive cool-roof values are an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 16, on steep slopes of 2:12 or more, and at least 0.63 with emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75, on low slopes under 2:12. That requirement is triggered when more than 50 percent of the roof area is replaced, which is a different threshold from the City permit trigger, and the parcel's zone should be checked with the CEC zone finder before a product is specified.
How do I repair missing shingles in Simi Valley California?
Shingles go missing after a Santa Ana wind event for two reasons that combine: the gust, and the shingle's age. Heat-aged tabs lose granules and flexibility, and a gust that would not lift a new shingle lifts an aged one, starting at the ridge and the edges.
Does insurance cover windstorm roof damage in Simi Valley?
Recorded Santa Ana gusts include 62 mph in the WeatherCurrents network on 4-5 October 2013, and Easy Fire winds in 2019 were reported at 40 mph sustained with gusts to 70 mph. No design wind speed for Simi Valley was found, and no gust figure is presented here as a code value.
Who repairs wind damaged roofs in Simi Valley CA?
After a windstorm, photograph lifted tabs, ridge caps and debris before repairs, check the attic for daylight and staining, and call for an inspection before a partial repair is quoted. A wind repair that ignores ridge fastening will fail at the next event.
Can I just tarp the roof and wait until spring?
A recent local fire was the Easy Fire, 30 October to 2 November 2019, at 1,806 acres, ignited near Easy Street and Madera Road at the westerly end of Simi Valley. The Woolsey Fire ignited on 8 November 2018 south of Simi Valley on or near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and burned about 80 percent of that site.
Get help with Roofing in Simi Valley
Simi Valley is an incorporated city in Ventura County, incorporated on 10 October 1969, and permits inside city limits run through the City of Simi Valley Building & Safety Division, not through LADBS. The City's own FAQ states that re-roofing of more than 10 percent of the total square footage of the roof, or over 100 square feet, requires a permit. A job can therefore need a City permit without triggering other code thresholds, and the permit route, the fee line and the inspection outcome are confirmed at application, not assumed from another city's rules.