Roof Types - The style of your roof can have a huge impact on how well your home withstands the weather in your area. Different roof styles have their own strengths, but not all are suited for all areas - or all buildings. That being said, here in North Texas, we get a lot of weather extremes. One of the major threats to our roofs is high wind - and rain, and hail. This blog is going to address those concerns.
Choosing the best type of roof for your home will greatly improve the likelihood of avoiding costly roof repairs due to extreme and harsh weather conditions. The picture below shows the basic, different types of roofs. A very common roof type is a 2-slope gable roof. This type of roof is often cheaper to build than a hip roof, but allows the wind to catch the roof making it much more likely to be blown away.
Hip style roofs, on the other hand, have been proven in wind tunnel tests to be significantly more hurricane - resistant than gable roofs. Consequently, some insurance companies give discounts to homeowners that have a roof shape that is at least 90% hip. Because of this, it is quite popular to have the main mass of the house topped with a hip roof, with smaller gables added as a sort of embellishment for entry porches, dormers, and garages.
High Winds - The wind is not able to catch the edge of the roof as easily as it can with a gabled roof. Usually, when a roof is blown off of a house, it is because the wind is able to push the roof up and away, separating it from the rest of the house. With the roof gone or displaced, the rest of the house is in jeopardy of more and further damage. Having the right roof style for your area can greatly diminish the likelihood of having your roof blown off. Additionally, when designing your roof, it's a good idea to limit the overhanging around your roof to no more than 20 inches. These overhangs also allow the wind to catch the roof making them more vulnerable to being blown off.
Heavy Rain - Hip roofs are also the best choice for areas with heavy rain. Due to the roof having four sides, there is nowhere for the rain to settle on the roof, it has to go down. Also, the four slopes provide some overhang on each side of the home, thereby protecting the siding from rain/hail damage. You won't have a whole side of your house that is basically just at the mercy of the rain/hail.
The style of roof on your home will make a huge difference in its ability to stand up to harsh weather extremes - including really high winds. Choosing the right roof style will also help protect your home's interior as well as exterior. Having the right roof can bring peace of mind knowing you've done all you can do to protect your home - and your precious family - to the best of your ability, and that you will also likely have limited roof repairs.
If you need a roof inspection/estimate, call Lowry Roofing Co.
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