What's the best choice of roofing material for a home that is situated in a high wind location? Maybe we should define a high wind location for those of you who are not sure of what a high wind location is. A high wind location would be quantified by winds that are potentially at 35 miles per hour or higher. Many regions qualify as high wind areas. Coastal homes, whether on the ocean or by a lake, and high elevation homes, whether on a mountain or hill top, are prone to high winds. Therefore, when one is considering a new roof in any of these types of places, wind resistance of the product should be a major factor in the decision.
What are the options? The most common choice is asphalt shingles. However, it is not uncommon to find asphalt shingles blowing around the neighborhood after a typical Nor'easter blows through here in New England. Why don't they hold up? One of the problems is that they are only fastened at the top of the shingle, which is a problem when the wind is blowing and lifting them.
They literally rip right off the roof. Another problem is that they are made of materials that are not conducive to holding up in high winds. The amount of asphalt used in their production has dropped significantly in the past decade or so. They are, for the most part, installed by the least of the skilled work force and typically nailed with pneumatic guns, which have a tendency to damage the product during the installation. What about wood roofs? Wood, usually in the form of cedar, holds up pretty well in the wind.
The challenge with cedar is that it needs to be treated on an annual basis, which most homeowners object to. It also does not do particularly well in the long haul. Most of the cedar we replace is in the 15 year range, not a great choice when one considers the price of a cedar roof. Then, there is the heavy stuff, slate, cement, and tile. Most homes do not have the structural integrity to support these types of roofs. Even if they did, the price of these roofs is prohibitive for most people.
So what is the best choice for high wind areas? Well, let's take a look at Florida a few years ago when it got hit with all those hurricanes in one short season. When flying over the region, one could observe a sea of blue tarps covering roofs that had blown off, mostly asphalt, for a few years after the hurricanes hit. What were these folks doing with tarps covering their houses so long after the storms? Many of them were waiting to have their new metal roofs installed.
It was obvious when one looked around that the only roofs left standing after the storms were the metal ones. Some of the metal roofing contractors went out to 24 -36 month lead times once the storms were over, and people were willing to wait. Metal roofing, especially aluminum, is ideal in areas of salt air or high moisture, with some having wind ratings of 237 miles per hour wind uplift. Look for Dade County, Florida tested metal roofing, the toughest building standard in the country when it comes to wind.
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