What wear-and-tear actually looks like
- Granule loss uniformly distributed
- UV degradation (brittleness, curling)
- Thermal cycling damage
- Random pattern without directional consistency
- Aging consistent across roof
What storm damage actually looks like
- Directional uplift matching wind vector
- Debris impact marks
- Uniform displacement
- Specific point failures (fastener pull-through)
- Damage concentrated in wind-exposed areas
Distinguishing the two
On ground level / drone
- Look for directional patterns
- Check exposed vs. protected slopes
- Debris strike locations
- Ridge and eave behavior
On the roof (physical inspection)
- Feel for soft spots
- Check fastener condition (pulled vs. rusted)
- Shingle tab flexibility
- Manufacturer date codes
Expert documentation
- Forensic engineer report
- Photographic pattern analysis
- NOAA event correlation
Countering the denial
- Document specific event impact
- Separate event damage from age
- Expert report establishing storm causation
- Manufacturer standards for material performance