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High Winds
High Winds » Projects » Installing a new roof - make it stronger

Installing a new roof - make it stronger

When installing a new roof, making it stronger and more secure is as important as choosing the right roofing materials.
 
Make sure the contractor removes all existing roof covering down to the decking. (Building codes generally allow homeowners to install a second layer of asphalt shingles over an existing layer of old shingles, but that is not always best for your home, especially in high wind and hail areas.)
  • Have the roof decking inspected for signs of rotting, delaminating, warping or anything else that would deem it structurally unsound.
    • If any of these conditions exist, replace these sections with similar materials of the same thickness.
  • Inspect the points where the roof and the foundation meet the walls of your house. Strong connections are extremely important if your home is to resist high winds and the pressures they place on the entire structure.
    • If you are building a new home, have the builder use straps and wood structural sheathing to tie the structure together and anchor it to the foundation. These con­nections are relatively inexpensive when used during construction, adding three to four percent to the price of a home.
    • If you are remodeling, ask the contractor to install straps and anchors that will strengthen the house from the roof to the foundation, even if it is only in the area that is being remodeled. This should only cost a few hundred dollars for a typical 1,500 to 2,000 square foot house.
  • Gable ends
    • Brace the end wall of a gable roof properly to resist high winds. Check the cur­rent model building code for high-wind regions for appropriate guidance, or consult a quali­fied engineer or architect.
  • Check the fastening of the roof deck to the rafters or trusses that support the deck.
    • For wood plank decks: If at least two nails were installed every time one of the planks crossed a rafter or truss) you should not need to re-nail the deck.
    • For wood panel sheathing, including plywood or Oriented Strand Board, OSB:
      • Nail sizes and nail spacing commonly used, particularly along trusses and rafters in the middle of the panels, have not provided the needed resistance to uplift in high wind events.
      • Staples have been found not to hold roof sheathing down very well, regardless of how close together they may be.
      • Re-nail the roof to the rafters and trusses using 8d ring shank nails.
  • Apply a secondary moisture barrier, such as modified bitumen, over the seams where the roof decking meets or apply a product that covers the entire roof.
  • Choose a roof covering that is approved for the hazards in your area, better roofing materials will be approved for high wind, hail impact and wildfire).