Not every storm does the same kind of damage, and the difference matters more than most people realize. Wind doesn’t just blow shingles off. It gets underneath them and pulls up, the same uplift effect that peels a sticker off a car window at highway speed.
Louisiana’s hurricanes are ranked on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and the real turning point is Category 3, sustained winds of 111 mph or higher. Below that, most homes see surface-level damage: loosened or missing shingles, damaged siding, gutter problems. At Category 3 and above, even well-built homes can start losing the roof deck itself, not just the covering on top of it. That’s the real difference between a repair and a full tear-off. It’s also why we inspect the deck, not just the shingles, after any significant storm.
Different roofing materials also hold up differently. Standard composite shingles are generally rated somewhere in the 90 to 120 mph range, depending on the product. Concrete tile holds up to somewhat higher winds, and metal roofing highest of all. Material matters, but so does installation. A roof installed to the standard actually matters more than the number printed on the shingle wrapper.