Technology Highlights
This project included the following PATH-profiled technologies:
Avoiding Wind Damage
The following recommendations from PATH will help improve any home's ability to resist wind-related damage:
- Build fewer floors. A lower-profile house is inherently less vulnerable.
- Favor a hip roof over a gabled roof, which is inherently more vulnerable to wind damage.
- Avoid building very low and steep-sloped roofs, which generally create increased uplift and lateral wind loads.
- Install roof sheathing with 8d (eight-penny weight) nails spaced no more than six inches on center in roof framing members. Ring shank nails may be added for greater wind resistance.
- Install roof shingles, siding, and other exterior finish materials with adequate fastening to prevent tear-off and water entry. For roof shingles, this may simply involve using six nails per shingle rather than four. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Ensure that adequate connections, brackets, anchors, or tie-straps are provided to transmit wind uplift loads adequately to the foundation.
- For homes in severe hurricane regions, protect the home from wind-borne debris with impact-resistant glazing, permanent shutters or temporary shutters. Plywood panels are less costly but do not meet code in most jurisdictions.
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This article is provided by the Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing.
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