Hurricanes are one of the most destructive forces that can hit your home. Even though north Louisiana has only been hit by minor tropical activity in recent years, storm watchers keep a close eye on the skies during hurricane season, which runs from June through November each year.

A strong gust of wind, driving rain, and flying debris can cause significant damage to your roof, and to your house in general. Usually, it is far too late to prepare your home for the potential damage caused by a hurricane by the time it is approaching. It is possible to make several improvements in advance to your home that will protect it from hurricane damage.

How can you fortify your roof against storm damage?

The most damaging consequence of a hurricane, short of leveling the entire building, is having your roof ripped off or collapse. If your roof becomes detached, it will not only expose the insides of your home to water and debris, but your home’s structure could also collapse.

As outlined in the Louisiana Foundation’s Make Mitigation Happen brochure, there are proven, research-based steps you can take to protect your home from hurricanes. Some direct quotes from your roofing brochure include:

Water Barriers  

By ensuring that your roof deck is sealed, you will prevent any significant water intrusion if individual shingles fall off. You can also use this to provide additional insulation to your home, improving its energy efficiency. You should also consider adding soffit vents to your home.

Roof-to-Wall Anchoring

To ensure a continuous load path, reinforce foundation-to-wall, floor-to-floor (multistory homes) and wall-to-roof connections. Your home can withstand high-wind forces as a whole due to its continuous load path. Damage is generally caused by weak points in the load path.

Gable Ends

Reinforcing the framing of tall gable walls and bracing the top and bottom will reinforce the structure.

Bracing

It is natural for hip roofs, which slope towards a central ridgeline, to be wind-resistant. Gable roofs can be strengthened by bracing the end walls, which are the most susceptible to uplift.

Put one 2×4 extending from the peak of the gable to the bottom center brace of the fourth truss and the other extending from the bottom center of the gable to the top center brace of the fourth truss in an “X” pattern. Make sure the new braces meet roof members with 1-inch galvanized straps everywhere they meet 3″ wood screws with a 14″ diameter shank, or 16d galvanized common nails.

If the rafters of your roof are framed with collar ties, they can be reinforced. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Thornton-Tomasetti Group Engineer John Knezevich says collars will improve the performance of a roof in the face of strong winds. Every pair of rafters should be braced by running a long stud from one side of the roof to the other, about three-quarters up the slope of the rafters. Using galvanized steel straps and long wood screws, create a bridge across the inside of the roof.

Adhesive

Up in the attic, apply a half-inch bead of construction adhesive to the plywood roof sheathing where each rafter or truss meets. To tighten everything up, Tom Silva, general contractor at This Old House, recommends applying a good, thick bead down the edge of the rafter on both sides. A roof protected by this simple measure will be three times more protected from wind damage.

Strapping

A hurricane strap, an inch-wide galvanized steel tie that extends over the top plate of the truss or rafter and ties the roof and walls together, is installed on the roof and walls of the house. Retrofitting them can be difficult (there is limited space in the attic at the edge of a pitched roof), but a competent professional can do it with ease. For example, the roof sheathing may need to be removed. Each time a roof meets a wall, secure it with a strap.

Making these upgrades to your home will not only increase its value and safety, but you may also be eligible for generous insurance incentives under Florida Statute 627.711.

You need to take the necessary precautions to protect your home and family during hurricanes. It is highly recommended that you hire a professional roofing contractor Abita Springs to ensure the safety and security of your roof and home. Your life is at stake.

For more information please call Magnolia Roofing at 985-200-4812 in Mandeville, LA.