The whys, hows, and absolute importance of weatherproofing your roof or building against hurricanes.
By definition, your roof is what makes your house or building into a real shelter. It is the biggest part of any structure that offers the most protection from harsh weather conditions. Preparing for inclement weather conditions like hurricanes could mean better protection for your investment, fewer repairs, and less worry in case you are in the path of 155 mph or even higher winds.
Hiring a specialist to assist you in inspecting your roof to prep for harsh weather conditions is always your best recourse. Always get expert advice on how to protect your home or building. But getting professional help doesn’t mean you leave it all to them to take care of your property, you should know what proofing your roofing for hurricanes is.
Make Annual Inspections
We would hope that by now we would be able to predict when a hurricane would hit, but the fact is we don’t. We have yet to figure out a system to accurately predict when and where hurricanes will hit. And because of this unpredictability, it is good practice that you conduct inspections on your roof annually.
At least once a year is advisable.
A well-maintained and properly weather-proofed roof might be able to withstand hurricane winds or could at the very least give your property a fighting chance. Make yearly inspections a habit. Hire a reputable and trusted roofer to have your house properly inspected and evaluated.
If your property does require repair or proofing, be sure to employ a contractor with a high rating. Remember that weatherproofing is a very critical step in ensuring the basic purpose of your structure, which is to serve as shelter.
Here are some of the things you should look for while inspecting your roof:
Visual Inspection Of Your Roof
If your roof has shingles, check to see if there are curled pieces, loose, and get them fixed or replaced immediately. Inspect the nails and the gaps between shingles, it is very important that shingles are securely nailed down and are properly spaced from each other. The ideal spacing is at least four inches.
Inspect Rafters
Check for unsecured, loose, or missing nails which could mean that the plywood deck is compromised or was not installed properly. Loose nails can be very dangerous amidst a hurricane.
Inspect Roof Interior (Attic)
From inside your attic, check to see if lights are shining through small gaps – this means that water and wind can also get in and your roof is not secure enough to resist harsh weather conditions.
Although these visual inspections can be done all by yourself, always remember that expert opinion is unparalleled and is always a safer bet when it comes to your roof’s security against hurricanes.
Always seek a roofer you can trust.
Hurricane Proofing
Keeping your expectations grounded, hurricane-proofing will give your property the best chance of surviving a hurricane. Nothing is a sure thing as hurricane strengths remain an unpredictable variable. It is nonetheless prudent to run these routines, especially if you know you live in an area prone to get hit by harsh weather annually.
After the inspections and evaluations, now you need to get the job done in time for hurricane season. Assuming that you already found a trusted contractor, these are the common ways to hurricane-proof a roof:
Storm Shutters, Metal Roofing, and Specialized Attachments/Brackets
These materials are more durable and can better withstand hurricanes. Special attachments brace your roof to your frame to add more strength to resist high winds.
The Roof Design
The actual design of your roof could dictate whether it is more prone to damage or not. Gable roofs, inverted V roofs, and roofs with vertical walls on either end are very susceptible to hurricane wind damage. Invest in more protective designs such as using wooden braces connected to your rafters will dramatically increase the stability of your roof. A pyramid-shaped hip roof can and roofs with sealed vents on either end are better at resisting strong hurricanes.
Secure Shingles
Use roofing cement applied with a caulking gun to secure your roof shingles. Inspect and make sure that their edges are properly secured to the deck or rafters with construction adhesive.
Metal Hurricane Clips
These are installed in the interior of your roof. These clips add more structural support to your existing roof by connecting your structure’s interior walls to the roof. Homeowners might find it difficult to add these clips by themselves as roof interiors are usually tight spaces which is again best to seek professional help with these types of retrofitting.
Hire the Best Roofing Contractor
Hurricanes are but the worst of the seasons. The elements can wreak havoc on your roof and the entire property, especially if it is not properly maintained and regularly inspected to check for damages.
Do not leave it to chance and more importantly do not leave to just anyone, hire reputable trusted roofing contractors to ensure that your shelter remains a dependable, weather- proofed, and secured one.
Quality Discount Roofing & Construction provides exterior services to homes & businesses including roofing, siding, gutters & insulation which offers the best customer experience at the best prices in Jacksonville, Florida.
At Quality Discount Roofing, you will be professionally catered to from start to finish. Backed by an expert team of roof contractors with over 209 years of combined experience. Get your free estimates roofing now by visiting our website.
