Is Your Metal Roof Ready for Hurricane Season?
Hurricanes are just something we have to live with here in Florida. The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June to November, producing intense weather events that can see 100-mile-per-hour winds and even stronger. If you’ve got a sturdy metal roof on your home, you’re likely prepared for whatever Nature can dish out. But it never hurts to have your roof inspected periodically, just to make sure.
Along with scheduling a roof inspection, there are a few measures you can take to further protect your metal roof in the event of a hurricane.
Professional inspection
Heavy-duty metal roofs can withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour. These roofs are safe and resilient with lifespans of 40 or 50 or more years. Still, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so it’s a good idea to have a licensed metal roofing professional check out your roof before the strong winds arrive.
An inspector will be looking for any signs that indicate your roof has been compromised. He or she can advise on necessary repairs and make appropriate hurricane-preparedness recommendations.
What a metal roof inspector will look for
Key things an inspector will be on the lookout for include loose panel screws, gaps in panels, rusted areas and flaking paint. Newer metal roofs rarely have problems in these areas, but as roofs age, periodic maintenance or repair may become necessary. The bottom line of a metal roof inspection is to ensure that the entire structure and all its components will maintain their strength and provide protection in heavy winds and other extreme weather events.
Hurricane straps
You can further protect your metal roof during a violent hurricane with hurricane straps, also called tie-downs. These devices securely connect load-bearing walls to rafters and keep the roof from detaching while protecting the structure below the roof. Hurricane straps should be installed and inspected only by a licensed professional.
Further reinforcing your metal roof
If where you live often is in the path of hurricanes, a metal roof technician can lay overlapping materials on the top of your existing roof. Heavier metal panels and wood beams are two ways to add a significant amount of protection to a metal roof. If your roof is gabled, gable ends can be braced to keep these vulnerable areas from being damaged by high winds.
Keep nearby trees trimmed
Heavy overhanging tree branches can cause damage to any kind of roof when they break off and fall on it. With a heavy enough branch, severe water damage or damage to the home’s electrical system can occur and put those who live in the home in danger.
If you already have a sturdy metal roof, you’ve taken the first important step in safeguarding your home from the effects of a hurricane. Now take the next steps by scheduling a professional inspection and performing any recommended tasks.
If you don’t have a metal roof and would like to know more about the many benefits in owning one, contact the experts, Advanced Aluminum of Lakeland, FL. We manufacture outstanding metal roofing materials used by leading contractors across the entire Lakeland region. Call us today at (863) 648-5787.