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If you’ve watched a couple of videos from hurricane events, you’d notice a commonly featured scene of roofs being blown open to their shingles and even carried away by extreme winds. You don’t ever want to be a victim of such an experience. That is why it is important that your roof installation is done with severe weather in mind. While protecting yourself from this begins with opting for roofing materials that are highly wind-resistant, a professional installation is just as important.
In this article, you will learn how to go about severe weather roofing for your Fort Collins home. This information is presented by our team at Fort Collins Roofing Company.
Best roofing materials for severe weather
There are a couple of roofing materials that do well in storms and high winds; here are some of them:
Metal roofing
While some homeowners may not find this material option the most attractive, it remains the safest and most secure roofing material to withstand storms. Because Fort Collins is arguably the windiest city in the State, you want to ensure that you’re prepared for such events. Metal roofing is the most wind-resistant material option, and can withstand hurricane-force winds of up to 160 mph.
Although more expensive than cheap shingles, metal roofing systems are more durable than all other roofing options.
Slate tiles
This material option is a more environmentally friendly roofing option that also holds well as severe weather roofing. Compared to other options, they are usually heavier and more expensive. Their average wind speed resistance is around 110 mph, which is a bit lower. Because of their heavy weight, slate tiles can cause serious damage if they come loose. So, you want to ensure that the installation is done by quality professionals.
Clay and concrete tiles
If you’re looking for a visually appealing roofing option that can do well in the severe weather of Fort Collins, concrete and clay tiles. Tiles are available in many different colors and are even customizable, making them a popular option for upscale homes.
Among the varieties of tiles that are available, curved tiles are considered the most attractive and they do a good job at withstanding wind up to about 130 mph. In cases where the wind speed is higher than that, concrete or clay tiles may not be the safest choice. You should also know that they’re some of the priciest roofing materials you can find on the market.
Wood shakes
These are rustic wooden shingles with more wind-resistant properties than slate, concrete, or clay tiles. Of course, still not as strong as metal roofing. When compared to asphalt shingles, wood shakes are far more expensive, especially if you go for handmade shakes. The general maintenance requirements of wood shake roofs are more than other roofing materials.
Other things to consider
When thinking of severe weather roofing in Fort Collins, the consideration should not be limited to the best roofing material. The following are some of the important factors to consider:
- Building shape and roof design: The high wind resistance of a building can be determined by its shape and the design of the roof. For example, homes with hexagonal or octagonal floor plans are quite safe. A square floor can also be safe.
- The slope of the roof: A roof’s ability to withstand storms and high winds will also be determined by its slope or pitch. Slopes of 30 degrees are considered to offer the best wind resistance.
- Fasteners and straps: Fasteners that are made of stainless or galvanized steel are known to be strong and are able to remain fastened to the walls and the foundations even in the event of strong winds that can cause damage to the property.
- Roof overhangs: The presence of long roof overhangs can increase the possibility of serious damage to your roof when there is a heavy storm or strong wind. It is recommended that overhangs should not be longer than 20 inches.
- Pressure points: Some parts of a roof are more vulnerable to high winds than others. So, extra attention needs to be paid to fastening these points down to withstand high winds. These points include corners, eaves, and the ridge.
- Entry points: Windows, vents, doors, etc., should all be given extra protection because they are considered weak points in severe weather. This can be done by using shutters and other extra features to minimize wind flow at these points.
Final thoughts
It’s nothing strange to experience severe weather in Fort Collins. So, it’s important that you plan your roofing accordingly to ensure that your home is protected during high winds and storms, especially because these happen at short notice.
To make a well-informed decision about the roofing option that is best for you, it’s best that you consult with a reputable roofing contractor in Fort Collins. You can find some of them on Angie.