I think an "experienced" roofing business would be able to install a roof resistant to the weather! I would try to get bids from other roofers and ask them if they guarantee their work. This shouldn't happen, unless you had "hurricane force" winds! If this is a new build I would tell the GC you want a more reliable roofing outfit to install your roof!

Every shingle will require a dab of cement on each tab.

The heat activated stuff on the shingles will not work in very cold weather, and a wind storm can do exactly what you have.

First things first,

What kind of shingle are they,

Hand nailed or gun nailed?

A steeper roof (like yours) takes longer and hotter to seal down, because it doesnt have the gravity pressure that a flatter roof pitch does.

First off, I would take a good look at the shingles on the ground and make absolutely certain that they were nailed in the proper place. If they are nailed too high, that actualy puts a "lift" the bottom edge of the shingle, and they may never seal down.

Once the wind gets under one shingle, (especially when they were done in november, and Im thinking NW Iowa, or SW Minnesota for a location since you said snowstorm) it will take a large section off, much like yours.

How do I know? Mine (installed in November, 8/12 pitch did the same thing. Improper installation started it (nailed too high) and the sustained wind did the rest.

Thanks "Rollie".

GAF Prestique 30-year shingles.

They were gun nailed.

Roof is 10/12 pitch

Home is in Connecticut - top of a mountain.

Looks like shingles were nailed 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the chalk line - some nails missed the "double" shingle area completly. (is it possible that lift would be created by the nail missing the chalk line by only 1/4 to 5/8 inch?)

Kathy,

If the nail misses the double thickness of the shingle, then the lift will occur. The closer the nail is to the double layer, the more lift. The further away from the nail line, the fulcrum effect diminishes.

Take several new shingles and lay them out on the floor or table and use your finger to press down in the location above the double layer, and you will see the lift that occurs. Also, take a look at just how accurate the nailing would have to be to avoid the lift.

There are several brands out there that have about 1 1/2 inch of double layer, so the margin of error/ nail line is much larger, but the GAF double thickness is only about 1/2" wide, so you have very little tolerance for missing the nail line.

The winds you sustained, probably were high enough for your insurance to kick in, but if you get/need an adjuster, the first thing they may tell you about is the improper installation. Same with the shingle company. (assuming the improper nailing is everywhere on the roof). Everyone is looking for a scapegoat, in this case, right?

The installation instructions are very specific, as seen in the link, and they are printed on every bundle of shingles.

I think I would try to gather up as many of the blown offs as I can (both the good ones and the bad ones) and then call your installer back in and tell him that yes, you agree with him that because of the timing of events, no, they werent sealed down and werent going to seal down this winter, but you are worried that they will never seal down very well because of the steepness of your roof, and the fact that they are improperly nailed, and are subject to blowing off because of the lift involved with nailing too high. If he agrees with you, then you have some protection on the labor end. If not, then just make sure that when they repair the roof, that they follow the installation instructions to a T and depend on your homeowners insurance.

That is assuming that you determine that improper nailing contributed greatly to the fail.

Your installer is gonna think youre out on a witch hunt, looking for someone to shoulder the blame, when that is not the case.

Ive been a contractor for over 30 years, and am almost embarrased to say that it happened to me. I was shingling when my installer was in diapers. I brought it to his attention that I wasnt looking to chew his butt out about it, but more to educate him on the importance of proper installation technique, especially during the later months of the year and winter time, when there is no chance to seal down. He was surprised to see the lift that occurred on my office table, and offered little to the conversation, but an apology, and a guaratee to have a meeting with his men, and change their ways. He also said he would take care of me with an extended warranty on the labor end of it, and Im guessing they are going to come out this spring or summer and superseal my roof down with mastic, as mentioned previously in this post and on the installation instructions.

One cannot dispute that environmental conditions (cold and high winds) contributed greatly to your roof blowing off, and maybe it was bad enough that even with a perfect install, they wouldve went. Only you can determine what or who is truly at fault.

Here is a link that might be useful: GAF installation instructions

I'm going through exactly the same issue. GAF laminate shingles provide a very narrow nail line and I'll wager that a majority of your shingles are indeed "high nailed".

This places nails not only above the laminate line, but also directly on it - exactly the spot where GAF prohibits nails. If a large, fast "crew" of "roofers" indeed nailed on your shingles using guns at a rapid rate, I'll wager that a vast majority of them are high nailed.

The roof should be torn off and replaced. I would advise against any attempts at remediation or remedy - simply demand that the roof is replaced.