Repair Wind Damage on Metal Roofs

Is this just cosmetic, or real wind damage to your metal roof that needs proper repair? After a fall nor’easter blows 50-60 mph off the Atlantic, homeowners in Nassau County often walk outside to find bent edge panels, loose ridge caps, and flapping trim on their metal roofs. The answer depends on where the wind lifted the metal, what’s happening beneath the surface at clips and fasteners, and whether water has started working into seams or around flashings. Even metal roofs-chosen specifically for durability-can suffer serious wind damage that won’t reveal itself until the next storm if you don’t repair the attachments, edges, and flashings correctly now.

Wind doesn’t just blow things off roofs. It creates suction that tries to peel panels up from underneath, especially at eaves, rakes, and corners. In Nassau County’s coastal and canal-side neighborhoods, nor’easters and tropical remnants routinely gust above 50 mph, and that’s enough to stress or loosen details that looked perfect before the storm. You might see obvious damage-missing trim, bent panels-or subtle signs like new leaks, rattling noises, or slight panel movement where everything used to be tight. Both need professional attention.

Step 1: Safety and Quick Damage Check Right After the Wind

Before you do anything else, walk your property and look at the ground. Fallen metal pieces, screws with rubber washers, trim sections, or displaced ridge caps tell you something came loose above. Check gutters for bits of metal or coating. Then head inside to your attic or top floor and look for new stains, drips, or daylight showing through cracks or seams. These are your first clues that wind opened a path for water.

Do not climb onto a wet or storm-damaged metal roof. Wet metal is extremely slippery, and panels that have been lifted or bent may shift under your weight. Most wind damage happens at edges and high zones that are steep or hard to reach safely. Use binoculars or your phone’s zoom from the ground or a window to inspect the roof surface. Take photos-you’ll need them for your roofer and possibly your insurance company.

What Wind Damage Looks Like on a Metal Roof

Edge and Corner Damage

Wind uplift is strongest at eaves, rakes, and corners, and that’s where you’ll see the most obvious failures. Panels may be visibly bent upward, displaced from their original position, or missing entirely along these edges. Drip edge and rake trim can pull away from the fascia. Even if nothing has blown off completely, loosened edge metal and gaps at corners let wind-driven rain penetrate on the next storm. On a canal-side home in Freeport, the failure started at the eave-three panels lifted just enough to loosen every clip along the first four feet, and water poured into the soffit during the following rain event two days later.

Loose, Rattling, or Oil-Canning Panels

Not all wind damage is dramatic. Panels that now rattle in moderate wind, flex more than they used to, or show new “oil-canning” ripples (wavy distortion across flat sections) may indicate that clips, screws, or fasteners underneath have been stressed or partially pulled. Some panel movement and minor oil-canning are normal on long metal spans, but new noise or visible lift after a storm means attachments have been compromised. Left alone, those loosened spots become the starting point for bigger failures in the next big blow.

Fastener and Seam Issues

On corrugated or exposed-fastener metal roofs, wind can lift panels enough to loosen screws, crack the rubber washers under screw heads, or enlarge the holes around fasteners. On standing seam roofs, powerful gusts stress the seams themselves and the end-laps where panels overlap, sometimes opening them slightly or popping clips out of the seam. Rust streaks, water trails, or discoloration along fastener lines, seams, or panel laps are clues that wind has created a new leak path. These issues often aren’t visible from the ground, which is why a roof-level inspection after a wind event is critical.

Damage Around Flashings and Penetrations

Strong wind works flashing loose around chimneys, skylights, vents, and rooftop equipment, especially where sealants were already aging or where counterflashing wasn’t mechanically locked. These areas are prime suspects if you see leaks below them after a storm. On a hilltop property in Glen Cove, the ridge and hip caps stayed put, but the chimney cricket flashing lifted at one corner, and water ran down the inside of the chimney chase and into the second-floor bedroom. Wind finds the weak link.

Why Wind Damages Metal Roofs in Nassau County

Uplift, Not Just Blown Debris

Most people think of wind damage as something hitting the roof or blowing panels away. The real problem is uplift-wind rushing over the roof creates a pressure difference that tries to suck panels up and away from the structure. This force is strongest at edges, corners, and ridge lines, and it acts on every storm, not just once-in-a-decade events. Over time, repeated nor’easters and coastal gusts fatigue fasteners, clips, and seams even if panels never fully detach. When one big storm finally exceeds the weakened attachment capacity, that’s when you see the dramatic lift and separation.

Combined Wind and Rain Effects

Nor’easters and tropical storms bring sideways, wind-driven rain that forces water under laps, behind flashings, and through fastener holes that are normally protected by gravity and panel overlap. Once wind has loosened a detail-even slightly-that same detail becomes a prime leak point in every subsequent storm. It’s not just the big event that causes problems; it’s the cumulative effect of wind opening a gap and rain exploiting it over and over until someone repairs the attachment properly.

Salt Air and Metal Fatigue

Near the bays and along the South Shore-Long Beach, Oceanside, Island Park, Atlantic Beach-salt accelerates corrosion at screw holes, cut panel edges, and anywhere protective coatings are thin or scratched. Corroded spots are weaker and more likely to deform, crack, or pull through under wind loads. Repairing wind damage in coastal Nassau County often means addressing both the mechanical looseness (clips, screws, seams) and the corrosion-prone areas (raw edges, fastener penetrations) together, or the repair won’t hold up to the next storm cycle.

What a Professional Wind-Damage Repair Service Does

Detailed Roof and Attic Inspection

A professional metal roofer will walk the entire roof, not just the area where you see obvious damage. They’ll focus on edge zones, seams, fastener lines, and all flashings, checking for both dramatic failures (bent or missing panels) and subtler issues like stressed clips, slightly opened seams, or fasteners that have backed out a quarter-turn. They’ll also inspect the attic or ceiling spaces below for hidden water intrusion-stains, damp insulation, or mold-that tells them where wind-driven rain has been entering even if the exterior damage looks minor. This complete picture determines whether you need targeted repairs or more extensive work.

Securing and Refastening Panels

Lifted or loosened panels are reset and re-fastened using proper fasteners, clips, or anchors that meet or exceed current local wind uplift requirements. Damaged or undersized fasteners-common on older installations-are replaced with larger, corrosion-resistant hardware: stainless steel screws with EPDM washers on exposed-fastener roofs, upgraded clips and cleats on standing seam systems. Panels that can’t be properly re-secured because the metal is torn, the substrate is damaged, or holes are enlarged beyond reliable re-fastening are replaced with matching material. The goal is to restore the attachment capacity the roof was designed to have, or better.

Repairing Seams, Laps, and Flashings

Stressed seams and panel laps are re-locked, reinforced, or rebuilt depending on the system. Failed sealants are removed and replaced with compatible products-polyether or polyurethane sealants on metal-to-metal joints, butyl tape under laps where called for by the panel manufacturer. Flashings at walls, chimneys, skylights, and penetrations are re-detailed so they shed wind-driven rain correctly, often with added hem-lock closures, extended counterflashings, or mechanical fastening where sealant alone used to (and failed to) hold things in place. On the Freeport canal house, we rebuilt the entire eave edge with new drip edge mechanically locked to the fascia and cleated into the first panel, then resealed and re-fastened the first four panel runs-essentially upgrading a marginal original detail while repairing the wind damage.

Addressing Coating Damage and Corrosion

Where wind or debris stripped paint, scratched coatings, or exposed bare metal, we clean the damaged areas, treat any rust with phosphoric-acid-based primers, and apply touch-up coatings that match the original finish. In coastal Nassau County, this step is critical: even a small area of exposed steel or aluminum will corrode quickly in salt air, and the next wind event will find that weak spot and tear right through it. On some repairs, we recommend upgraded hardware-stainless screws, Kynar-coated flashings-and additional protective coatings as part of the repair to improve future storm performance, not just restore what was there before.

Temporary Patches vs Permanent Wind-Damage Repairs

When a Temporary Patch Is Appropriate

For small, obvious issues on low, accessible structures-like a single bent edge panel on a one-story porch or shed-a temporary patch or tarp may be appropriate to stop active leaks until a roofer can arrive. Use caution: even “simple” metal work can go wrong if you over-tighten, use the wrong fasteners, or seal something that needs to move. Temporary measures are stopgaps; they don’t restore wind resistance and shouldn’t be relied on as final fixes.

Why DIY Fixes Can Make Wind Damage Worse

Screwing panels down too rigidly, sealing movement joints solid, or using the wrong fasteners can trap thermal expansion stress or create weak points that fail under the next big gust. I’ve seen homeowners screw every rib of a corrugated panel to the purlins trying to “make it stronger,” only to crack the panel from thermal stress and give the next wind event more starting points to lift. Improper patches may also void manufacturer warranties or complicate insurance claims if adjusters see them as alterations to the original roof system. If you’re not confident you understand how the metal system is supposed to move and attach, call a professional before you touch it.

Wind Damage, Insurance, and Your Metal Roof

Document Damage Before and After Repair

Take photos of visible roof damage from safe vantage points-ground level, an upstairs window, a ladder at the eave if it’s safe-and date them as close to the storm as possible. Photograph interior damage too: ceiling stains, drips, soaked insulation. A roofer’s written report and photos describing wind-related failures-uplifted edges, stressed seams, broken fasteners-help clarify the scope with your insurer. Many policies cover wind damage but have specific language about “sudden and accidental” loss versus “maintenance issues,” so showing that the damage happened in a documented storm event is important.

Understand Repair vs Replacement Recommendations

Insurers and roofers may recommend repair when the damage is limited to specific zones and the roof system can be brought back to manufacturer specs and code, and replacement when wind has compromised large areas, the substrate, or structural elements. Ask both parties to explain their reasoning in terms of safety, performance, and long-term cost. Sometimes a repair is appropriate but should include upgrades-better fastening, improved edge details-that weren’t part of the original installation, and those costs may or may not be fully covered depending on your policy. Get everything in writing so you can make an informed decision.

When You Absolutely Need a Metal Roofing Pro

Call a professional immediately if you see any of these conditions after a wind event:

• Any panel or trim visibly lifted at eaves, rakes, or ridges on a main house roof
• Leaks appearing in multiple rooms or along long stretches of ceiling after the storm
• Signs of structural movement-sagging, unusual creaking, framing cracks, or Ridge beams shifting
• Roofs that are steep, tall, or complex, especially with standing seam or concealed-fastener systems where attachments are hidden and can’t be assessed from the ground
• Any damage combined with salt-air corrosion or pre-existing rust issues

A Nassau County metal roofing specialist understands regional wind ratings, local code requirements, and how different metal systems-standing seam, corrugated, ribbed panels, architectural snap-lock-behave under nor’easter and coastal wind conditions. They can design repairs that not only stop current leaks but also restore uplift resistance and reduce the risk of future storm failures. TWI Roofing has been repairing wind-damaged metal roofs across Nassau County for years, and we know exactly where to look, what to fix, and how to upgrade marginal details so your roof is storm-ready again.

Preventing Future Wind Damage on Your Metal Roof

Every wind-damage repair is an opportunity to upgrade vulnerable details. We don’t just put things back the way they were; we bring attachment, flashing, and edge details up to or beyond current Nassau County wind codes so the roof performs better in the next storm. That might mean adding clips to reduce fastener spacing at edges, upgrading from sealant-only ridge caps to through-fastened systems, or replacing exposed-fastener panels in high-wind zones with standing seam. These upgrades don’t always add significant cost when done as part of a repair, but they add years of reliable performance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Damage to Metal Roofs

Isn’t metal supposed to hold up to wind better than shingles?
Yes, well-designed and properly installed metal roofs often outperform shingles in wind events-especially when panels are mechanically attached with clips or through-fasteners rather than relying on adhesive. But poor edge details, aging fasteners, corroded panels, or extreme storm conditions can still cause damage that needs repair. Metal is durable, not indestructible, and the details matter as much as the material.

If panels haven’t blown off, can there still be serious wind damage?
Absolutely. Wind uplift can loosen fasteners, stress seams, open panel laps, and pull flashings away from walls without ever blowing a full panel off the roof. These less-visible issues leak, worsen with each storm cycle, and eventually lead to bigger failures. An inspection after any significant wind event is worth doing even if the roof looks intact from the ground.

How quickly should wind damage be repaired?
As soon as practical, and definitely before the next storm season. Compromised details-loosened clips, opened seams, lifted edges-are much more likely to fail again and cause greater damage in the next wind event. If you have active leaks, temporary measures may be needed immediately, but schedule the permanent repair within weeks, not months.

Will repairing wind damage affect my roof warranty?
Using compatible repair methods, materials, and documented professional work usually preserves manufacturer warranties, or the repair can be coordinated with the warranty terms. DIY fixes, mismatched materials, or incorrect installation methods can void warranties. A professional roofer should review your specific warranty paperwork and ensure repairs comply with manufacturer requirements.

Do you repair wind-damaged metal roofs across Nassau County?
Yes. TWI Roofing provides wind-damage inspections, emergency repairs, and full restoration services for residential and light-commercial metal roofs throughout Nassau County. We work with insurance companies, provide detailed documentation, and design repairs that restore-and often improve-your roof’s wind resistance.

Get Wind-Damaged Metal Roofs Back to Storm-Ready

Wind damage on a metal roof isn’t always obvious, and it isn’t always catastrophic, but even modest uplift or detail failures lead to leaks and bigger problems if ignored. The right repairs focus on restoring attachments, seams, and flashings to handle future storms, not just sealing visible gaps or slapping on a patch. If you’re in Nassau County and you’ve noticed new leaks, rattling panels, bent edges, or visible lift after a nor’easter or tropical storm, schedule a professional wind-damage inspection now.

Bring your photos, notes from the storm date, and any previous roof installation or warranty documents. TWI Roofing will walk your roof, assess both obvious and hidden damage, explain what needs repair and why, and design a fix that protects your home in the next big blow-not just until the next rain. Wind will test your roof again. Make sure it’s ready.