The Right Roof for Hurricane Season

Florida is known for its hurricane season and according to testing completed on a variety of roofing materials, there are some clear winners when it comes to the best types of roofing material on the market for withstanding hurricane winds. In order to make sure that you have the right materials, slopes, and shapes for your roofing, here are some of the best configurations that can withstand a hurricane season.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles remain a popular type of roofing material because they’re extremely affordable and appealing. It’s quite easy to get a hold of asphalt shingles from a roofing company and they can withstand a significant amount of wind, rain, and hail. Asphalt shingles are commonly rated up to 110 mi./h or the average wind speed of a category three hurricane. Shingles can be somewhat susceptible to blowing away as their lightweight but repairs can be made easily as shingles are replaced after a storm. 

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is an ideal solution for hurricane resistance. New Age metal roofs are extremely long-lasting and as there is no need for shingles to be installed, there’s less of a chance that these items can be blown away during a storm. Roofing materials in this format can withstand winds up to 160 mi./h or a category four hurricane. 

Tile Roofing

In the case of Florida homeowners, tile roofing has become a popular option because it can easily withstand up to 100 mi./h winds. Tile also comes with a dual-edged benefit from its resistance to heat. If tiles get damaged in a storm they can often be replaced without the need to install a completely new row of tiles.

Roofing Shape

Now that we decided on the ideal types of roofing materials, we can take a look at the ideal roofing shape for wind resistance. The shape of your roof can often mean the difference between your roofing materials being battered by the full force of winds or having roofing materials shrug off high winds. Most roofing professionals advise that an octagon-shaped or hexagonally shaped roof with multiple panels can reduce wind loads.

Proper Roof Slope

A roof with multiple slopes at right angles will often perform better in a high wind situation. A hip roof that has four slopes will often deliver a higher level of wind resistance and a gable roof which only has two. Gable roofs are much more susceptible to having winds affect the flat and horizontal side of the home. 

Proper Preparation for Hurricane Season

If you’re working to prepare your home for hurricane season it is usually best to have a contractor take on tasks like:

Cleaning Out Gutters And Downspouts:

Proper cleaning of gutters and downspouts can make sure that water has a proper place to flow during heavy rainfall. Without proper downspout cleaning and gutter cleaning, you could have your foundation potentially washout or your gutters collapse. 

Trimming Overhanging Trees

Properly trimming overhanging trees can prevent the chance that plants may fall onto your roof and do damage to your roofing materials. A quick trim of overhanging trees and shrubs will also prevent the chance that these items may fall into Windows and cause damage to your neighbor’s property. 

Check For The Signs of Damage

Checking for the signs of damage on your roofing materials will make sure that they are appropriately replaced before your roof is tested by high winds. If you notice the signs of damage or missing shingles it’s important to get them replaced before hurricane season begins. 

Installing Hurricane Straps

Hurricane straps can be an effective measure for protecting your roofing materials and for keeping the structural integrity of your roof during high winds. Installing hurricane straps is something that you can do yourself or hire a professional to take on if you would prefer to stay off your roof.

Contact us today if you are seeking an inspection of your roof before hurricane season or if you need repairs before your roof may be tested by high winds.