Changes To Make To Your Roof For Better Wind Mitigation
If you live in an area that receives high winds, then you need to make sure your roof is designed to withstand those high winds. If your roof is really old, then the best way to make sure it's wind-hardy is often to replace it. Newer roofs are generally made with more secure attachments and waterproof materials than older ones. But what if you're not quite ready to replace your roof yet? Then, you may want to have a roofer make one or more of the following changes to your roof.
Hurricane Straps and Clips
The way a roof is attached to your home's walls makes a big difference in the amount of wind that the roof can tolerate. A roof that is not securely and consistently attached to the walls may blow off completely. If your roofer finds that your roof is not consistently attached to the walls, then you may want to have your roofer add what's known as hurricane clips. These are clips that can more firmly attach the roof to the walls of your home. Hurricane straps are similar, but they are straps of metal rather than pre-made clips. Usually, these updates can be added without having to remove the roof, although the project may take a day or two.
Opening Protection
The home's openings — doors and windows — play a major role in its wind resistance. You may not think this applies to the roof. However, if you have a skylight, it certainly does. Skylights can be the first thing that fails when a high wind comes. But there are steps a roofer can take to protect that opening. They can upgrade the skylight to shatter-resistant glass. They can also install shutters that you can close before a storm for extra protection.
Hip Modifications
Hip roofs are sloped on all sides, whereas gable roofs are sloped only on two sides. Hip roofs are the most wind-resistant. However, if you have a gable roof, you may be able to have what are known as hip modifications performed on your roof. These updates will change the slope of the flat sides of your gable roof, making them more resistant to the wind. This is not a cheap update, but it does tend to cost less than replacing your roof entirely.
If you live in an area with high winds, then make sure your roof offers you the best protection from those winds. Contact a professional roofing service for more information.