Which condition occurs when shingles flutter or flap up and down with the wind, tear, and finally blow off the roof entirely?

• A. Buckling
• B. Bundle
• C. Blow-off
• D. Cap flashing

Answer: (C)

Blow-off is the term for when shingles are lifted and flapped by wind to the point that they tear and eventually blow completely off the roof. This happens when the shingles aren’t secured well enough or the installation doesn’t follow proper nailing patterns and counts, allowing wind uplift to overpower the fasteners. In wind-prone areas, using the correct number and placement of nails, along with clean, dry decking and proper shingle quality, is essential to prevent blow-off.

Buckling, by contrast, is shingle distortion from heat, moisture, or structural movement rather than wind uplift. A bundle is simply a unit of shingles, not a condition of the roof. Cap flashing is the metal piece used around projections like vents or chimneys, not a wind-driven failure mode.