Best Roofing Style and Material for Hurricane Winds in Florida

Your roof is the first line of defense that your home has as soon as the winds begin to pick-up and a hurricane approaches. You might have at first thought that picking the style and material for your roof  is only to make your home look good and increase its value, but if you pick the right ones, it also helps your home stand strong against the hurricane winds. This blog post will dive deep into understanding wind resistance in roofing, roofing style, material options, and protection tips. 

Understanding Wind Resistance in Roofing

What makes roofing materials and the design of your roof stand the match against high-velocity winds boils down to wind resistance and its aerodynamics. This means that the less the material and design resist to the wind, the better it will perform under storm conditions. 

Choosing the Right Roofing Material for Hurricane-Prone Areas

When you first had to choose the roofing material for your home, you went with what you thought looked good, or gave a modern twist, or made your home stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. But, for those who live in hurricane-prone areas like Florida, you have to look at more than what you personally profere. You have to look at things like the durability and longevity that weighs heavily into your final decision. 

The Superiority of Metal Roofing

At the top of the list for the homeowners who are looking for the best defense against hurricane-force winds and its damage, is metal roofing. Metal roofing has unmatched wind resistance of up to 160 mph and their durability and longevity is far superior than other roofing material. They will remain put while their traditional counterparts, like shingles, will kind of wobble in the face of some potent wind gusts. However, if you are a homeowner that “looking pretty” is a huge deciding factor, then you might feel a bit hesitant choosing metal roofing, even with all the advantages said before. But if you can live with it not being the prettiest roof on the block, you have a roof that will stand strong in your hurricane-prone area.

The Elegance of Ceramic Tile Roofing

While metal roofing may rank first in the hurricane resilience material match, ceramic tile roofing still holds its own. It can withstand windforce of up to 130 mph, which is still nothing to sneeze about. Now for those homeowners who are looking for the “pretty” factor, ceramic tile roofing does offer an elegant classy look, taking the “Miss Congeniality” trophy. But before you get your hopes too high, just note that ceramic tiles do have a considerable weight which can be a limiting factor, especially if your Florida home has structural limitations. Jip, weight is not just a number. Despite this heavy drawback, it still has a blend of outstanding performance and beauty that makes it a viable option for those homeowners in hurricane-prone areas.

The Compromise of Slate Roofing

Even though it falls ways short compared to metal and ceramic tile roofing, natural slate roofing can still withstand wind speeds of up to 110 mph. But on top of that, it offers homeowners also the “pretty” factor with an extra side of eco-friendly nature. Yes, this roofing material appeal is in its environmental sustainability (Go Green!) and its unique appearance, which hypnotizes those who are looking for a way to stand out from the other houses on the block. Unfortunately, its third running in the wind resilience is not the only con on the list. It does cost a pretty penny and it also has a weight factor (like the ceramic tiles). So the homeowners in hurricane-prone areas will have to not only think about the structural requirements, but also the financial requirements when they are looking for a durable shield for their homes.

Pragmatic Choice of Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Asphalt shingle roofing presents as a pragmatic roofing solution for homeowners in hurricane-prone areas where it shares the third spot with natural slate roofing. It can also withstand wind forces of up to 110 mph, which makes it also a contender for suitable roofing material that can stand toe-to-toe with a category 3 storm intensity. If money is what’s a driving factor with your roofing options, then asphalt shingle roofing will fit your budget. Its label as a cost-effective option in the roofing materials because it is more affordable and readily available. But here is also where you really need to weigh-up what means more to you. If you are a homeowner in an area where it’s frequently struck by high-category hurricanes, then the limitations of enduring more severe storm conditions (over a category 3) on asphalt shingle roofing should weigh more than its cost-effective and available pros. 

Premier Roofing Styles for Hurricane Resistance

In the roofing marriage, you will need a partner for your roofing material. And that is a hurricane resistant roofing style. Just like your metal roofing material that jumps to the first place, hip roof style stands out far superior in the roofing design race. It is known by the slopes on all four sides that converge at the top, which gives the hip roofing style superior stability because it has less wind resistance. Hip roofs have a reduced risk of structural damage when the hurricane winds blow, because the aerodynamic shape allows the winds to pass over with less obstruction. Its durability is further enhanced by additional bracing that usually comes with a hip roof construction. Homeowners in a hurricane prone area can not go wrong with this style if they want to max out their property’s defense against hurricanes. 

How to Protect Your Roof During Hurricane Seasons

Once you have chosen your roofing material and have it installed, you lie your head to rest at night thinking that you have done all that you could to safeguard your home for when the hurricanes come knocking with the best roof for hurricanes. Sure, you might have a metal roof that can stand strong on a 160 mph behemoth or even an asphalt shingle roof that holds on against winds of 110 mph, but there is way more that you can do to protect your roof and home against the hurricane season. This involves reinforcing your roof with hurricane straps and clearing your yard of potential particles. And it doesn’t hurt to get professionals in to do an inspection of your roof before the season hits – it’s easier to deal with a small problem before it becomes a huge problem. This holistic approach will make your home (combined with the capabilities of your roofing material) extra resilient to the galeforce winds of a hurricane.

Strengthening Your Home with Hurricane Straps and Roof Reinforcements

Using hurricane straps and roofing reinforcements is a crucial step on your plan to make your home more resilient to hurricanes. Hurricane straps are often already integrated into new construction, but if your home doesn’t have them yet, it is a very good idea to get them installed as soon as possible. They provide an extra barrier of protection for your home against the vicious winds that’s always in the mix of a hurricane. Even though it is very possible to add these mighty reinforcements to an existing structure, just brace yourself for the time it will take and also make sure that you have a good budget for them (they don’t come cheap). Your other option for reinforcement (if you don’t want to go down the hurricane strap path Dorothy) is called cable tie-down system. This is where they anchor the roof directly to the foundation which can also give you a protective layer against those tearing winds. 

Yard and Home Prep

It’s good that you have reinforced and strengthened the top of your house, now, let’s move on down, way down to the ground and look at ways to secure your yard too for the hurance season. The easy bits that you can do are move all things moveable indoors. This can be like your garden chairs, trash cans, umbrellas and so on. If there are way to large items that can’t be moved indoors or they are unsafe (like a propane tank), get them securely anchored down. If you’re not keen on repairing broken windows in the aftermath, then make sure that you trim your trees regularly. And speaking of windows, boarding them up can help to protect your home content and those inside from anything flying in or even shattered glass.