Yeah, matching shingles is a pain, especially if your roof’s older and the original color’s faded or discontinued. I’ve seen people try to blend new with old, but sometimes it just ends up looking patchy—like a bad haircut you can’t hide. If you’re lucky enough to have leftover bundles, that’s gold. Most folks aren’t that prepared, though.
Insurance is a wild card. I’ve been on jobs where the adjuster was super reasonable and covered a whole slope because the match was way off, but other times they’ll nitpick every detail and only pay for the bare minimum. Documentation helps, but it’s not a magic ticket. I’ve seen perfect paperwork get ignored if the adjuster’s having a bad day.
Cost-wise, after a big storm, I’ve seen repairs run anywhere from a few hundred bucks for minor patch jobs to several grand if you need a full slope or more. Depends on your roof size, shingle type, and how picky you are about the match. Sometimes it feels like rolling the dice, honestly.
Matching old shingles is always a headache, especially if the originals are sun-faded or discontinued. I’ve run into that patchwork look more times than I’d like to admit. You’re right about insurance being unpredictable—sometimes you get lucky, sometimes it’s a battle over every square foot. One thing I’d add: take tons of photos before and after, and keep any samples you can pull off the roof. It won’t guarantee a full slope gets covered, but it’s helped my clients make their case more than once. Hang in there... storm repairs are stressful, but with good documentation and a bit of patience, you can usually get a fair shake.
- Man, matching old shingles is like trying to find socks after laundry day—never quite the same color. I had a job last summer where the homeowner swore the new batch was “close enough.” By the time the sun hit it, you could spot the patch from the street. Not my proudest before-and-after photo.
- Insurance is a whole circus. Sometimes they’ll cover a whole slope, sometimes they want you to play Tetris with leftover shingles from 2003. I’ve had adjusters argue over a single shingle—no joke.
- Totally agree on photos and samples. One time, I found a faded shingle in the gutter that matched better than anything at the store. Saved my client a ton of hassle.
- As for cost… depends on the storm, but even a small patch job can run $800-$1500 around here (Midwest). Full slopes or major repairs? Easy to hit $5k+, especially if decking’s shot.
- Best advice: expect surprises, keep your sense of humor, and maybe invest in a tarp or two for next time. Storm season’s never boring...
Matching shingles is always a pain—sometimes I wonder if manufacturers change the color just to mess with us. As far as cost, those Midwest numbers are pretty much spot on. Around here (southeast), small repairs after a storm usually start around $1k, but if decking’s soft or there’s hidden water damage, you’re looking at $4k or more real fast. Insurance can help, but it’s a toss-up whether they’ll cover the whole slope or just patch it. Ever had an adjuster say “it’s just cosmetic” when half the roof is curled up? That one still bugs me.
Matching shingles is a nightmare, yeah. I tried to fix a patch last fall and even the “same” color from the same brand looked off—guess ten years of sun will do that. I’ve noticed the cost jumps fast if you find any rot under the shingles. First it’s a few hundred for materials, then you’re pulling up plywood and that’s when things get expensive. My adjuster also called some lifted shingles “cosmetic”—which is wild, because wind-driven rain doesn’t care about looks. I’d say always check for water spots in your attic too... sometimes that’s the first clue things are worse than they look outside.
