Florida’s Best Roofs to Protect aginst High Winds
Florida experiences hurricanes and strong storms quite often. The warm ocean current from the Gulf of Mexico flows north along Florida’s coast to merge into the Atlantic Ocean. This merging of water often creates powerful hurricanes and windy weather in St. Petersburg. When building a home in Florida, there are many factors to consider. Perhaps the most important factor is the shape of your roof.
Aerodynamics is a very relevant topic. Aerodynamics is the study of how a solid structure can withstand the wind’s full force and allow it to flow around it rather than at it. Aerodynamic principles should guide the design of your roof. A gabled roof is a barrier to the wind’s destructive force. It can cause damage to the roof’s stability.
Two Aspects That Merit a Second Thought
You can take steps to avoid the destructive force of the wind. Multisided roofs will allow air to flow around them, reducing wind force. Your roof can be lifted or moved if the eaves are large enough to capture the force of the wind. The wind’s upward thrust will be reduced if the eaves are as narrow as possible. Roof pitch also plays a role in wind resistance. In Florida, it is best to keep the pitch of your roof low.
Florida homes are best served by multi-sided roofs.
Hipped Roof
The roof has four sides with equal slopes that meet at the top. Two sides of this roof form are usually triangles and two sides are trapezoids. A combination of multiple hips is better if the house is very large. Low-pitched roofs are often preferred. This reduces wind impact on the roof. Air flows around the roof’s hips. These roofs are called cross-hipped roofs.
Jerkinhead Roof
This roof shape is both fascinating and complex. The “clipped Gable” is also known as a “hipped roof”. This roof shape is a mix of a gabled roof and a hipped roof. It is shaped like a gable roof, but the two sides meet at the top. The top portion flattens to a platform-like structure. This roof shape adds beauty to your home. It also reduces wind-induced shock to your roof.
Florida’s subtropical weather is unpredictable and can cause hurricanes. It is important that homeowners choose the right roof shape. Talking with a skilled roofer about the matter will help to make informed decisions.
This post was written by Reggie Reed! Reggie is a state-certified roofing contractor and co-owner of Reggie Reed Roofing, the best Clearwater roofing. He is a 4th generation roofing contractor. RR Roofing offers a wide variety of roofing services for residential homes, apartment complexes, condos, commercial buildings, churches, and more. Reggie enjoys dedicating his spare time to helping underprivileged youth in his community and traveling with his family and friends.
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