The purpose of your roof is to protect you from the weather elements. However, if a hurricane blows it off, it will not protect your home. Indeed, it may cause extensive damage to your home’s inside.
Even a minor breach in the roof may let in damaging winds and pouring rain.
Installing a roof that can withstand strong winds is the best approach to protecting your house. But you may ask:
How Can I Make My Roof More Storm-Resistant?
Below, we will see the construction determining factors to make your roof resist high winds and storms.
- The Shape and Slope of the Roof
A gable roof is the simplest roofing type to build since it only has two slopes. Two of the house’s walls rise to the roof’s peak, and the roof slopes down to meet the other two walls. The price of this layout is far lower than that of more complicated roof forms. Yet, this design is not ideal for resisting hurricanes.
Multiple roof slopes make a house more secure during hurricanes than a gable roof. High winds are less likely to cause damage to these designs since they will not hit a single section of the roof.
According to the experts, roofs with hexagonal or octagonal shapes fare better in hurricanes. Unfortunately, they are not always the most beautiful or functionally appropriate.
A hip roof is a viable option. This roof style gently sweeps down to join the walls on all four sides. In case of a storm, the many panels will help to lessen the wind’s effects on your property. Hip roofs, with their 30-degree slopes, are also great for providing shelter from high winds.
The following are some examples of alternative hurricane-safe roof types:
- Cross hip: Two hip roofs joined to form an L
- Hip and valley: Several hip roofs are connected
- Pyramid hip: Instead of a ridge, the slopes meet at a single point.
- Mansard: A type of hipped roof with asymmetrical pitches
- The Roof Surface
Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice. These roofs consist of individual sheets applied in an overlapping pattern. Though, strong winds can blow the shingles off.
Asphalt shingles might cup and buckle due to weather conditions. During a storm, the shingles are more prone to become loose due to these imperfections, which act as wind traps.
Heavy clay tiles have their own set of problems. If a hurricane rips them from the roof, they will become hefty, fast-moving missiles. Besides, they may cause even more harm to your property or others.
Homeowners and contractors recognize metal roofing as the safest option in hurricane-prone regions. These large panels will not come loose and leak. Even if the metal suffers damage from hail or other flying debris, the roof will keep the house safe.
- Underlayment Quality
The roof’s surface is half the story to keep water and wind out of our building. For maximum safety, your roofing contractor must install proper underlayment. You can install ice and water barriers at critical places, such as in the V and W valleys. Additionally, choose appropriate underlayment for your region and roof style.
Some roof designs are more resistant to hurricanes than others because of several factors. We will continue exploring them in our next post. If you are building a new home or renovating your home’s structure, you need to know them all! So, we will see you there.
HUDCO Roofing & Exteriors can provide you with the help you need. You can get in touch with us by calling us at 225-414-6153. We service areas in Alexandria, Houma, and Ruston, LA.