I was quite surprised to wake up on Saturday, Jan. 5, to find a section of my back fence in my neighbor's yard. As I turned in the night before, the wind was blowing rather ferociously. I have lived in Tooele for nine years and do not recall any wind storm quite like the one we shared that weekend. As I ventured out that Saturday morning around the neighborhood, I noticed I had been one of the fortunate ones. I saw homes with missing, torn and dangling vinyl siding; damaged and missing fencing; and of course ripped, flopping and swept away roofing shingles.

Over the next several days, I found myself being the sounding board of many fix-it questions posed by friends and neighbors. One specific question that seemed to be asked over and over again was "How do I repair my shingles?" Although the same question was repeatedly asked, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer.

I would like to share some reasons as to why shingles seem to get the raw end of the deal when it comes to their battle with the wind, and some helpful hints as far as repairs go.

Quite often, I hear people telling me that they have constant issues with shingles being damaged by wind but their next-door neighbor does not, and why that would be the case. I mention to them that several factors come into play.

The time of year the shingles were installed can play a major factor as to why there seems to be damage caused by wind. It is more common that shingles installed during colder months do not seal properly.

The quality of the shingle must also be a consideration. A 20-year standard shingle will have more potential for damage over a 30-year quality shingle. This would also include the quality of the installation.

Regular maintenance will definitely play a roll in overall condition of the shingles. A regular check-up of your roofing shingles with the needed repair will save you from larger future issues.

Now, as far as repairs are concerned, depending on the size and gravity of the situation, several approaches can be taken.

If there seem to be small areas of damage that have occurred, like a 1-foot-by-3-foot area, and there does not appear to be any issues with water entering the structure due to the damage, I recommend doing the repair when temperatures are above freezing. This will allow those areas a proper and permanent repair. If repairs are done in sub-freezing temps, the likelihood of those areas having further problems is higher.

If there is evidence of water entering the structure then you can either take the approach of a temporary repair to suffice until warmer weather approaches or hire a professional to do the proper permanent repairs.

Based on the age, condition and number of layers of shingles it might be your best bet to have the entire roof re-shingled. Good luck in your future roofing projects.

If you would like to submit a home remodeling or home improvement question to be addressed in this column, please e-mail them to Joel Jones at joelthehomeinspector@msn.com.

Joel is the owner of "The Inspector," a home and building inspection company and a home improvement and remodeling consultant.