Whether homeowners live in hurricane-prone areas or not, wind is a residential roof’s biggest threat, causing $9 billion of damage each year and affecting 60 percent of homes across the country. To keep homes safe during hurricanes and devastating wind storms, the roofing industry has spent the past decade developing better wind-resistant materials. Fortunately, these new building techniques, retrofitting practices and improved materials can be incorporated into existing roofs and re-roofing projects by trusted Charleston roofing experts.
One of the most destructive forces during hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes is wind uplift, which causes the majority of roof failures. This danger is especially strong at the roof’s edges and in spots where the roofing material is not securely attached to the structure.
Consumers who are re-roofing their homes can find out how well their prospective shingles resist wind and uplift by checking their labeled ratings. Shingles that offer the least wind resistance are rated as Class A for 60 mph winds. Class D shingles can resist winds up to 90 mph, and Class F shingles are wind-resistant at 110 mph. The highest rating is Class H, which signifies wind and uplift resistance at 150 mph.