Any idea which roof is stronger in a hurricane? standing seam metal versus asphalt shingle?
Any data I could look at or tests?
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Replies
I build here in NC and had seven trees on my roof in hurricane Fran and been through many others. The issue isn't which roof is going to resist the impact of a 40 foot pine tree better, it's which roof is gonna let you get up there with a chainsaw and remove and repair faster to minimize water damage to the interior of the house.
The winner HANDS DOWN is the asphalt roof. I had my roof cleared and tight in three hours, my friend who had a metal roof was still waiting for a crane three days later and no telling how long he had the blue tarp on before he got a new roof panel.
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care to comment, I think it's more complicated than the last post.
I believe you can get metal roofs that out perform asphalt roofs but the key in both cases is the installation.
I don't typically work in hurricane prone areas, so I don't have any personal experience. I've had one roof come off and another one damaged by tornados. In both cases the asphalt shingle roofs nearby sustained similar damage.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
I totally agree. Asphalt roofing on modest pitches is very safe to navigate and easy to repair. Metal roofs are beautiful, but asphalt is so many ways practical.Bill
I thought the issue is which one is going to get torn off by the wind
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I don't have test data but based on our experiences through 5 hurricanes or bad storms I'd want metal on my house. In all those storms I've seen one metal roof that had blown off and it was screwed to 1 X 4's that were nailed with sixes to the trusses. It came off when the 1 X 4's detached from the trusses. In the same storms the damage to shingles was amazing. Ridge and hip caps blown off in the minor cases to large sections of the field gone on the worst houses. The worst shingle damage was to older homes with old roofs, the least damaged roofs were newer homes with dimensional shingles.
In some neighborhoods were all the houses had shingles virtually every house had blue tarps while in neighborhoods with metal decks there were no blue tarps.
I think I read something in JLC a year or so ago about Florida moving forward with metal roofing approval in thier residential code. Apparently it wasn't approved except on case by case permits. Hurricane damge assement by insurance companies and code authorities over the last several seasons seemed to indicate that metal roofs out preform shingle roofs. Prior to this latest round of storm damage assement the insurance companies were the biggest hindrance to metal roof approval in residential construction ( replacement cost being higher than traditional shingle roofs).
You might find more information on your state web site. I'm just working from memory, and that is not so good anymore.
The question means nothing really.
You can design either roof to meet the high wind standards.
where the problem comes in is the crew installing it. Way too many guys cut corners on how many fasteners. Probably one reason for this is that more crews get paid piecework instead of hourly. More so that with shingles than metal, while metal offers a smooth uplift surface for the wind to suck on. Si xo f one and half a dozen the other.
The thing to do is make sure it is designed and installed to standards.
Personally I would rather my neighbor have a shingle roof in a big storm. I'd rather have several shingles flying at me than a chunk of metal that could slice me in half.
But then I might prefer to look at a nicely done standing seam the other four hundred days of the year.
;)
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
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<But then I might prefer to look at a nicely done standing seam the other four hundred days of the year.>
Thought y'all just had long days in the summer - had no idea the actual years were longer.
Forrest
Suprised it took so long for anyone to comment on that one!, LOLI was thinking it must be about that long between high wind events
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here is a related article
http://www.floridadisaster.org/mitigation/rcmp/HRG/content/roofs/eval_metal.asp
And another search turned up this
Reconsidering Old Roofing Materials
With many high-tech materials still not quite cost-effective for home builders, and resourceful inventions still years away from practicality, architects can continue to incorporate some low-tech traditional materials without sacrificing the strength of their building designs.
For instance, metal roofing systems have a 120 mph (190 km/hr) wind rating and uplift resistance above that required by new building codes. Metal roofs are able to withstand wind gusts up to 157 mph (250 km/hr) — "F2" on the Fujita Scale.
"Most metal roofing materials interlock, forming a protective barrier that other roofing materials do not provide," says Bill Hippard, president of the Metal Roofing Alliance. "This interlocking makes the roof stronger," Hippard says, "and more resistant to Mother Nature's wind and hail."
The Tile Roofing Institute makes a similar claim. The organization sent technical experts to southwestern Florida to assess damage after Hurricane Charlie and reports that, despite sustained wind speeds of 145 mph (230 km/hr) and peak gusts reaching 173 mph (280 km/hr), the majority of tile roofs that were in compliance with current building codes and that had implemented improved fastening systems experienced relatively minor damage.
"With proper installation, tile roofing systems remain one of the most durable and cost-effective options in high-wind climates around the world," says Rick Olson, technical director of the Tile Roofing Institute. "The institute and its members will continue to work diligently with research organizations and local code bodies to improve performance and safety of tile roofing systems."
Indeed, research is the key to successful development of hurricane-resistant building materials. Clemson University wind engineer David Prevatt, Ph.D., says it's a question of understanding that hurricane damage is not inevitable. "If we can improve our prediction of the wind forces and failure mechanisms occurring in buildings," he says, "we can develop construction materials and building codes that will help produce safer homes and minimize the fear factor."
Edited 3/24/2009 7:07 am ET by DaveRicheson
I did not read that whole thing, but the quotes show gross over-generalization.yes there ARE some metal roofs that CAN provide that 120MPH wind rating.There are also many that can only give your 40-60
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Couldn't agree more.
Look at the source. I don't think an industry group will give you unbiased info!
How about clay/ cement tile or slate? How well do they hold up in hurricanes?
I live in the Panhandle of Florida, and work on the beach frequently. I see both types in use. Within a 1/2 mile or so, the galvalume metal roofs will rust in afew years. It might take a while for the water to enter, but you will see the rust develope. Look into Aluminum if you want a warranty and are close to the water.
I just had to have some standing seam panels replaced on a beachfront house. The houses on either side have shingles.
Check with your insurance company, they might give you a discount with metal, I know mine does.