Build Your Florida Home to Withstand Hurricanes

Author: willpeartin | Posted: 08.06.2012

Hurricanes are massive, swirling storms that form over warm ocean waters. Winds produced by a hurricane can reach speeds of more than 119 kph (74 mph), which is faster than the fastest animal on land. It’s this feature of a hurricane that makes it so devastating. These fast and strong winds have enough force to damage buildings, uproot trees, and destroy everything on its path.

From the 1926 Miami hurricane to the 2005 Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma, Florida is a state that is all too familiar with the destructive nature of these violent storms. In the aftermath of these disasters, thousands of homes and lives have been ruined. With the hurricane season fast approaching, from June to November, is your Florida home prepared for the heavy rain and beating winds? With the right design and construction methods, you might be able to reduce wind pressure on your home. Here are a few design and construction tips to help your house survive and defend itself from a fierce hurricane:

Use hurricane clips or nails to connect your roof to walls.

Hurricane winds often have sufficient force to uplift roofs. After the powerful Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which destroyed and damaged 117,000 homes, stapled roofs were banned in Florida. Staples aren’t strong enough to combat strong wind pressure. Nails can keep your roof from being blown off during an extreme wind event, provided that it’s strongly attached to the walls. However, a hurricane clip is more recommended because it provides the roof with enough support to withstand high winds.

Design roofs with multiple slopes.

Fort Lauderdale roofing companies know that roofs with multiple slopes, such as a four-sloped hip roof, can last longer when subjected to hurricanes and storms. Roofs with multiple slopes are usually expensive, so an economical alternative are Gable roofs. Just remember that a 30-degree slope on your roof offer the best results.

Install hurricane shutters.

Protect your fragile windows with hurricane shutters. These shutters are designed to prevent flying debris to break through your windows. Some roofing companies in South Florida recommend the use of hurricane shutters because broken windows can allow air pressure to rise inside a building, thereby increasing the risk of roof breakdown.

Limit roof overhangs to 20 inches.

Roof overhangs protect your home from the hot summer sun, but in the event of a hurricane, these overhangs are vulnerable to uplift, leading to possible roof failure. A roofing company Miami residents can trust know that overhangs not greater than 20 inches are advisable for a hurricane-resistant home. If you want to read more tips on how to protect your home from hurricane attacks, you may visit sciencedaily.com for related articles.

Article was printed from http://www.articleside.com/home-improvement-articles/build-your-florida-home-to-withstand-hurricanes.htm
Click here to return original format