Hail, Hurricanes and Tornados….Oh My!

Guarding homes against the worst of spring weather threats starts right at the top – News and image from the Metal Roofing Alliance 

PORTLAND, OR – As witnessed by recent events, the instability of spring weather can wreak havoc on a home. In many areas, tornadoes suddenly strike. In others, hailstorms cause costly damage. And in hurricane prone areas, it marks the beginning of the official season (the hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends Nov. 30, 2022) with tropical storms already threatening.

While these monster weather events seem vastly different, they have plenty of commonalities. Each can bring powerfully strong winds, strong enough to rip a roof off a home. They also can result in severe damage, either by flying airborne debris or large objects striking and potentially penetrating a home, and intense, sudden downpours. In all cases, it’s the roof of a home that often bears the worst of these extreme conditions and must be relied upon to protect a home from even more costly and serious damage.

“Spring brings a trifecta of threats, depending on the region where you live. Climate instability means it’s more important than ever to evaluate the resiliency of your home and make improvements with the potential of these damaging forces in mind,” said Renee Ramey, Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) executive director.

Many roofers believe metal is the gold standard when it comes to roofing material to guard against severe weather events. That’s because when installed properly, quality metal roofs are rated to stand up to F2 tornado wind speeds (F-scale stands for the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity, with F2 equaling wind speeds of 113-157 mph), resist leaks and are much less likely to puncture, tear or crack due to flying debris or massive hailstones.

Aside from choosing better-performing and longer lasting materials, roofing experts offer these suggestions for preparing your roof from extreme spring weather events:

• Pay close attention to installation practices
  Make sure your installer proposes methods to protect against the worst of potential regional threats. That includes using quality weatherproof underlayment to further guard against water penetration and recommending the proper use of hurricane clips and interlocking systems that will help your home literally “batten down the hatches” in the event of an extreme storm. Keep in mind if your roof decking or sheathing isn’t structurally sound, the roofing materials or upgrades you use won’t matter; it must be stable from the start.
• Use slope design to your advantage
  More and varied roof slopes can improve the aerodynamics of a structure and reduce the pressure on a roof caused by high winds. For new construction or major remodeling projects, work with your architect and engineer on ways to better control and reduce the effects of strong wind force.
• Make the connection
  Securing a roof to the walls decreases the potential of the roof flying off when it’s under intense pressure from high speed winds and severe air pressure fluctuations. During a tornado or hurricane, massive changes in air pressure caused by a penetration such as a broken window can blow a roof off. Securely attaching a roof to the walls of your home helps prevent this phenomenon from occurring. Additionally, talk to your roofer about whether to consider installing a movable flap next to the seam of your roof, which also can help stabilize air pressure.
• Consider style practicality
  In areas where hail damage is common, choosing a textured metal roof design pattern may help disguise potential dings that can result from heavy hail and flying debris. While a quality metal roof is designed to withstand blows and remain intact and impenetrable even when subjected to the heaviest of hailstorms, minor cosmetic imperfections resulting from impacts can be better disguised with textured vs. smooth styles. When it comes to impact damage, keep in mind that metal vastly outperforms traditional asphalt roofs, which can crack, dislodge and break, resulting in the need for premature replacement and increasing the potential for leaks and costly interior damage.

About the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA)
Representing the residential metal roofing industry in the United States and Canada, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) was formed to help educate consumers about the many benefits of metal roofing. For more information about MRA membership, residential metal roofing resources and tools, visit MRA at www.metalroofing.com.

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Contact:
Darcie Meihoff
Metal Roofing Alliance
Tel: 971.998.3782