What Roofing is Best for Hurricanes?

If you live in an area that is regularly subject to heavy hurricanes, you may wonder what roofing is best for hurricanes; it’s very important that you upgrade your roof for its hurricane preparedness. A metal roofing system is considered to be one of the best for withstanding hurricane force winds and most metal roofs are rated to withstand winds of up to 160 mi./h. Metal roofing systems can also help to protect your neighbors. Many metal roofing systems are designed so that they won’t blow away in pieces to become projectiles much like asphalt shingles do when they come loose. 

In areas of Florida that are prone to hurricanes and tropical storms, metal roofing is often considered one of the best long-term protections that you can install, but there are some other budget friendly options that you can consider. 

Metal Roofing

A metal roof is widely considered to be the best option for protecting your roofing systems from wind damage. With up to a 160 mile-per-hour wind resistance rating, these systems offer a durable and long-lasting method for preventing shingles from blowing away. The only real drawback to metal roofing is that it can often come with an increased upfront cost and there are some homeowners who do not appreciate the look of metal roofing for their home. 

Ceramic Tiles

A ceramic tile is good for hurricane support but it doesn’t have the same type of strength as a metal roof in high winds. Ceramic tiles offer wind resistance of up to 130 mi./h and they have an aesthetic appeal that make it a very popular choice for homeowners. The overall weight of this roofing material keeps it as an excellent option in many homes throughout Florida. 

Natural Slate Roofing

Natural slate roofing does not have the same type of wind resistance as ceramic or metal roofing and the wind resistance here is rated up to 110 mi./h. Slate offers an eco-friendly choice for roofing material but slate can often be a more expensive upfront cost. Slate is often more expensive than options like ceramic roofing tiles but it is revered for the look that it can deliver on a home. 

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are not considered an excellent option for high winds but it can be further reinforced and it’s one of the most budget friendly options that you can select for your roof. Installing covers for your asphalt shingles can be a great way to handle storms but even with covering for the shingles, this is not a great option for handling storms above a category three. Even though asphalt shingles are common in the area because of their affordability, they are definitely not the best type of roofing material that you can install if you’re concerned about materials that will stand up during a hurricane. 

The type of roofing material is not the only way that you can protect your roof during the hurricane season. If you’re ready to prepare your home and able to prepare before any major storm, you can avoid the chance that roofing materials could fall off as potential projectiles and that you are able to stop further damage to your roof by catching it early on. 

Maintenance

A professional inspection for your roof and repairing any hidden damage before a hurricane is often a great choice. Getting someone to check out your roof and then perform any minor repairs will help to prevent major repairs after a storm rolls through. 

Roof Reinforcements

Hurricane straps or roof reinforcement is an excellent way that you can protect your roofing. It’s a bit, time consuming and costly but these tiedown systems can keep your roofing systems in place and prevent a major problem with your roof or lost materials throughout a storm. 

Preparing Your Yard

Taking items like trash cans and chairs inside can prevent the chance that you could have unsafe materials bouncing off your roof. Boarding up windows and preparing your yard accordingly can make sure that you will experience less damage to your roofing system.

Keep some of these top ideas in mind if you would like to protect your property accordingly during a hurricane. Contact us today if you need any help preventive maintenance!