It is evident that homes in certain Midwest cities are more prone to wind damage. Not only can high winds blow off roofing shingles and damage the home’s components, but they can also gather debris and drop it on the roof’s surface. This can make life in these areas troublesome, as homeowners have to pay for the repairs. If you also live in gusty and stormy areas, then you might be concerned about the negative impacts of high winds on your roof and other home exterior components. But there is a solution that can limit the forceful effects of wind on your home: wind mitigation.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about wind mitigation, including wind mitigation inspections and the various methods used to reduce the impact of high winds. So, read on to learn more about how you can upgrade your home to meet the standards for wind mitigation and protect it from damage.
What Is Wind Mitigation?
Wind mitigation is a technique used to upgrade the home’s interior and exterior components to reduce the impact of wind and storms. First, a professional wind mitigation inspector measures your home’s ability to withstand high winds and intense storms. Second, it incorporates methods to windproof your home. Wind mitigation includes installing wind-resistant shingles and upgrading siding, doors, and windows to withstand the negative effects of storms and tornadoes. This creates a windproof home that is resistant to the impacts of high winds and prevents damage.
The Importance of Wind Mitigation For Your Property
For homeowners living in hurricane, tornado, and storm-prone areas, wind mitigation is important to safeguard their residences and investments. Here are some key reasons wind mitigation is important for your property:
1. Protect Your Investment
As you know, high winds and intense storms can wreak havoc on your property. They can blow away roof shingles, remove siding panels, shatter skylights and windows, and more. All of these damages require costly repairs or even replacements down the line. Moreover, the blown away shingles or shattered window and door glass not only lead to disturbed functionality but also reduce the overall aesthetics of your home. That is why wind mitigation is essential to protect your investment in your property.
2. Enhance Your Safety
By upgrading your windows and doors and investing in impact-resistant shingles, you not only protect your investment but also safeguard your loved ones. Wind mitigation measures can help you achieve the optimum level of protection for your home. Additionally, a sturdy roof minimizes the risk of debris penetration and structural collapse, reducing the chances of injuries in the course of a severe storm.
3. Save on Insurance Premium
Many insurance companies provide insurance for storm damage repairs, which can cost between $2,000 and $20,000, a significant cost for both property owners and insurance companies. Therefore, these companies offer discounts on insurance premiums for homeowners installing wind mitigation features on their homes. By demonstrating that your property is less susceptible to wind damage, you may qualify for lower insurance premiums, resulting in long-term cost savings.
How To Determine If Your Home Is Windproof: Wind Mitigation Inspection
A wind mitigation inspection involves examining various components of the home. This wind mitigation inspection checklist can help you assess your roof.
1. Type and Age of the Roofing Materials
The roofing materials are one of the primary components checked during a wind mitigation inspection. The roof mitigation inspectors assess the type, age, and condition of the roofing material, such as asphalt shingles, metal panels, or tiles, to determine its resistance to wind uplift and impact.
2. Roof Deck Attachment Method
Is your roof decking up to code? The wind mitigation inspectors assess this first. A roof deck that is up to code is well-protected and properly installed, and will withstand all weather conditions in your local area. Moreover, in windy areas, the roofing materials are installed on the roof deck especially keeping in mind the effects of strong gusts. This includes proper nailing techniques and adding more nails to each roofing shingle. Inspectors examine the method of attachment, such as nails or screws, and verify that they are correctly installed and meet local building code requirements.
3. Assess Roof-to-Wall Connections
Strong connections between the roof structure and the walls are important to prevent roof uplift and failure in the event of a storm. During the inspection, inspectors assess the type of connectors, such as hurricane straps or clips, and ensure they are fastened properly and provide adequate resistance to wind uplift.
4. Roof Design and Shape
Some roof shapes are more naturally resistant to wind uplift, while some are more prone to it. For example, hip roofs are inherently more wind-resistant than gable roofs due to their aerodynamic shape, while gable roofs have a higher susceptibility to wind uplift.
5. Roof Water-Resistance
Wind uplift can blow the shingles off the roof, exposing the roof deck and the underlayment to rain and nature’s wrath.
It is essential to determine the condition and the water-resistance of your roof underlayment because an already damaged underlayment, including self-adhering or peel-and-stick underlayment, can allow water penetration and cause roof damage. Inspectors verify the presence and effectiveness of these measures to minimize water damage risks.
6. Opening Protection
Windows, doors, skylights, and other openings are potential weak points in a home’s exterior. Inspectors assess the type of protection, such as impact-resistant glass, storm shutters, or reinforced doors, to mitigate the risk of wind-driven debris.
7. Garage Door Strength
Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to wind damage due to their size and relatively lightweight construction. Inspectors assess the structural integrity of the garage door and its ability to withstand wind pressure and impacts.
8. Wall Construction
The construction of exterior walls, including the type of materials used and the method of attachment, can impact a home’s resistance to wind loads. Wind mitigation inspectors assess the integrity of the wall construction and verify that it meets or exceeds local building code requirements.
3 Effective Strategies For Wind Mitigation
After the inspection is completed, the inspector will provide a report of their findings, which may include suggestions for wind mitigation measures you can implement.
1. Roof Reinforcement
To safeguard your property from wind-related harm, it is crucial to strengthen the roof. One way to do this is by using hurricane straps or clips to reinforce the roof-to-wall connections and anchor the roof framing firmly to the walls. Additionally, make sure that the roof decking is fastened securely.
Using impact-resistant roofing materials can also help decrease the possibility of windborne debris causing damage. Moreover, by enhancing the roof’s structural integrity, you can improve its ability to withstand high winds and reduce the chance of roof failure during storms.
2. Window and Door Protection
As windows and doors are susceptible to damage, it’s important to remember their safety during severe weather events. To provide an extra layer of protection against wind-driven debris, you can install impact-resistant windows and doors or use storm shutters and panels.
Moreover, in order to maintain the integrity of your property and prevent structural damage, reinforcing window and door openings with impact-resistant materials can be an effective solution.
3. Siding and Exterior Wall Anchoring
As the wind speeds up, it can grab hold of debris and other objects, which can hit the exterior of your home and cause damage. In addition, if the siding is not properly anchored, it can crack or even blow away during storms, leaving your walls exposed.
That’s why homeowners in storm-prone areas must ensure that their siding is installed correctly. You can consider using highly durable siding materials, like fiber cement, or adding more fasteners to strengthen your exterior walls against wind loads.
Contact The Full-Service Roofing & Home Exterior Improvement Company In Tulsa, OK
Now that you know the importance of wind mitigation, its effective techniques, and what steps to follow during a wind mitigation inspection, you can take the necessary steps to limit the impact made by winds and storms. However, for first-time DIYers, the home inspection and wind mitigation efforts can be tedious and time-consuming. That is where we come in.
A. Fricker Roofing & Waterproofing in Tulsa, OK, is a full-service roofing and home exterior improvement company dealing in roof replacement, siding, gutters, and waterproofing. If you want to schedule a roof and home exterior inspection, then it’s time to call our team of professionals. Contact us today at (918) 402-7167.
