Making An Asphalt Shingle Roof More Hurricane-Resistant
Asphalt shingles are not usually the preferred material for roofs in hurricane-prone areas. You'd usually want something a bit stronger, such as a metal or tile roof. However, if you're in a home that already has an asphalt shingle roof in place, you might as well make the most of it. There are a few ways to make such a roof more durable against hurricanes—including the following.
Schedule Yearly Maintenance Appointments
For the average home, yearly roofing maintenance appointments might be a little overkill. But in a hurricane zone, they are worth it. If the roof has even one lifted shingle, wind can grab hold of it during a storm. Once that shingle is gone, the wind has an easier time working its way under other shingles. Yearly maintenance ensures that any lifted shingles are caught and replaced ASAP, reducing your risk of major shingle loss during a hurricane.
Install Baffled Vents
The type of vents usually used with shingle roofs do not always offer the best protection during hurricanes. Wind-blown rain can get blown up and then through the vent into your attic. If your home's shingle roof has vents with bottoms that are flush with the roof, call a roofer and ask them to replace your vents with ones that have baffles. This isn't a lot of work for a roofer, and it will prevent water from blowing into your attic during a storm. Even a small amount of water that gets blown in through a vent can cause damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair.
Check for Hurricane Straps
Shingle roofs are not as heavy as some other types of roofs, so they are more likely to lift off a home if the hurricane hits it in just the right way. Hurricane straps can help prevent this. They are straps that anchor the roof to the home's frame. If you're not sure whether your home has them, have a roofer come check. Older building codes did not always require them, so they could be missing from your home. A roofer can add hurricane straps to an existing roof, which makes it more secure during a big storm.
While a shingle roof may not be ideal in a hurricane zone, you can make it work. Follow the tips above, and reach out to a residential roofing company nearby if you have any other questions about your roof, its condition, or workable upgrades.