A well-built roof with quality materials can save you from long term stress and having to carry out lengthy repairs. When purchasing a house, the roof may not be your main focus of attention, however it is important to know the different roof styles so you know what you’re in for when purchasing a house or looking to renovate.
Here we will have a look at the common roof styles available and which are best suited to the South Florida elements. In addition to this, we will have a look at additional safety installations you can make to ensure your roof is safe for hurricane season.
Gable Roof
A gable roof is one of the more common roof types. It consists of two sloping sides that meet in the middle. In some designs, there may be more than one gable roof line due to more complex house designs. Gable roofs are more affordable; however, you want to make sure the roof slope is at least 30-degrees in order for it to withstand wind and hurricane resistance. You might then consider a hip roof instead.
Hip Roof
Hip roofs are more expensive and complex to construct but they have proven more hurricane-resistant in wind tunneling tests than the gable roof. Hip roofs are constructed by four sloping sides that meet along one middle line, therefore providing more stability for the roof structure.
A-Frame Roof
These types are roofs look like their name – an ‘A’. They usually contain two sloping sides that touch on the ground. They are unpopular in South Florida because they give the hurricane easy access at sweeping in from under their edges.
If we compare the three most common roof styles mentioned above, it is safe to assume that the Hip Roof is the most sturdy, well-built roof structure, however this type of roof may not be in your budget. At Aabco Roofing we want to ensure that you are safe no matter what roof style you have over your head and suggest a few safety installations that one of our qualified residential roofing contractors can assist you with.
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Hurricane Straps
These straps help to keep your trusses firmly attached to your wall studs, keeping your roof secure when the upward pressure from a hurricane starts to develop.
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The Roof Overhangs
Due to the nature of an overhang, they are most often the subject of the uplifting of hurricane wind. If you want to avoid your home being damaged by hurricane winds, ensure that your overhangs are limited to a length of 20 inches.
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Aerodynamic Features
The ridges, corners and eaves of a roof are most often the areas where the most wind pressure is experienced. There is an aerodynamic feature called roof shafting that could significantly help secure your roof structure. It works by creating a connection between the internal space and the roof ridge, where the most pressure is said to take place. This connection helps to balance the pressure resulting in the reduction of the roof’s wind loads.
It is important for you to be informed about all the options available to you when it comes to roof styles and which is best suited to your geographical area and budget. Aabco Roofing have been serving the South Florida area since 1988 and will be happy to help you with what type of roof is best suited for you and also help you with a roof inspection so you can assess any potential threats to the structure of your current roof now that we are entering hurricane season.
