Roofing Lessons Learned from Hurricanes

The devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has once again brought the issue of structural safety to the forefront of discussion within the building industry and among homeowners. Focus is not only on the monumental rebuilding effort, but also on lessons learned—improvements that can be made in terms of storm-resistant materials and building codes.

Research following past hurricanes, such as Andrew and Charley, supports that one of the best measures homeowners can take to protect their homes is to install high-wind-resistant roofing, such as concrete and clay roof tiles. Wind tunnel tests conducted by the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) demonstrated that with proper installation, tile roofing is one of only a select few roofing materials that can withstand sustained winds in excess of 150 miles per hour.

Evaluating damage following the 2004 hurricane season has led to more insights and new installation guidelines for tile roofing in 2005. Following last year’s Hurricane Charley, a delegation from TRI found that tile roof homes in compliance with current building codes, and using improved fastening systems, experienced relatively minor damage. This was true even in areas with sustained wind speeds of 145 miles per hour and reported gusts reaching more than 170 miles per hour. Hardest hit areas, such as in Punta Gorda, where many homes were built prior to the 1997 building code revisions, experienced more extensive damage throughout the entire building structure.

The homes that experienced tile roof damage typically had a prevalent failing in common. “Hip and ridge” tiles, those tiles that trim the edges of the roof, were likely to be missing or damaged, even on homes built to current code standards and on homes that were located further inland where wind speeds were considerably less. Improper installation was primarily to blame.

In response, TRI and the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) worked together to create an extensive set of guidelines for hip and ridge tile attachment. The new instructions, intended to strengthen and clarify current installation procedures, will be officially adopted into the Florida Building Code on November 1.

“We realized more had to be done to address hip and ridge tile attachments,” explains Rick Olson, technical director for TRI. “In the past, trim tiles have been treated as decorative accessories. As a result, they were not adequately secured and were susceptible to uplift forces from high winds.”

Instructions for attaching hip and ridge tiles have always been a part of the industry’s installation manual, but not to the degree of these latest guidelines. “Most of the procedures we are recommending are not new, they have just now been put into a tremendously detailed document,” says Steve Munnell, executive director for FRSA.  “It gives contractors step-by-step instructions and diagrams for doing proper hip and ridge tile installation.”

For more information about these new guidelines and the performance of tile roofing in harsh weather conditions, visit www.tileroofing.org. The Web site also features a FAQ for homeowners who have experienced damage to their tile roof. [ return to top ]