3 Repairs To Make Your Roof More Tornado-Resistant
The high winds and heavy precipitation that define a tornado can be extremely dangerous. Homes surrounding the path of a tornado often experience roof damage as a result of these natural storms.
While there is no way to guarantee that your roof won't get blown away if a tornado comes too close to your home, there are some simple repairs that you can invest in to help make your roof as tornado-resistant as possible.
1. Change Your Roofing Materials
The materials that you choose for your roof can determine how well the roofing system withstands a tornado. Metal panels interlock and overlap during installation. This reduces the number of gaps in a roofing system, preventing the high winds of a tornado from getting under the metal panels and blowing them loose.
Concrete tiles can also be a great roofing choice for homes in tornado-prone areas. Concrete tiles are porous, so the high winds of a tornado simply pass through them. This porous design prevents a tornado from uplifting concrete tiles.
Certain types of asphalt shingles can also be used to make your roof more tornado-resistant. Your roofing contractor can help you identify the asphalt shingles with the highest wind rating.
2. Redesign Your Roof
The architectural design of your roof can also play a role in determining how well it holds up when exposed to a tornado. High-force winds can cause gabled or flat roofs to collapse in on themselves or blow off your home completely.
Redesigning the roof of your home to add more slopes can make your residence more aerodynamic. Multiple slopes allow strong winds to move across and around your roof without causing any serious damage.
Your roofing contractor will be able to help you identify a multi-slope roof design that will work best with your home's existing architecture.
3. Improve Your Sheathing
The quality of your roof sheathing matters when it comes to your home's ability to withstand a tornado.
You should have your contractor install a thicker piece of plywood decking when replacing your roof. This decking should be held in place with sturdy nails, not the more common staples used in the roofing industry.
Combine the thick and secure decking with multiple layers of waterproof underlayment, and you will have roof sheathing that is capable of withstanding both wind and moisture damage during a tornado.
Work with an experienced roofing contractor to improve your roof's ability to withstand serious damage in a tornado. You can also contact a local roofer to get more roofing protection tips.