By Cara Clinton
As the roofing industry braces for this year's hurricane season, it's important to reflect on the supply and labor problems that resulted from last year, especially what can be learned from them. (See Raising the Roofing Issue in Florida.)
To begin with, contractors can benefit from information available through organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has issued three advisories aimed at improving the wind resistance of asphalt-shingle and tile roof systems. The advisories address recommended options for installing underlayments; materials and installation for high-wind regions; and practices for designing and installing extruded concrete and clay tiles to enhance wind resistance. (To see the advisory on underlayment, click here. For the advisory on materials in high-wind areas, click here.)
The 2004 hurricane season—the worst in U.S. history—coincided with the acceptance of new high-wind performance standards for asphalt shingles under the International Building Code. Published in the 2004 IBS Supplement, these standards were developed to help architects, builders, and homeowners choose asphalt shingles for homes in designated high-wind zones, including storm-prone areas such as southern Florida.
"The asphalt shingle manufacturers have spent significant dollars as an industry and nearly 15 years promoting research and development of new test methods for asphalt shingle performance in real-world high-wind situations," explains Russ Snyder, executive vice president of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association. "It may be a coincidence that the new standards were approved during Florida's worst hurricane season in years, but the timing could not be better for the rebuilding process in Florida."
A second ARMA proposal, which calls for revisions to current International Residential Code language to reflect the new standards, is currently before the International Code Council for final approval.
Study: newer shingles did well in storms
In addition, ARMA tapped HAAG Engineering Co. to perform a roof-damage survey along Florida's central Atlantic coast after it was slammed by Hurricane Frances. The study looked at 375 structures that had a mixture of roof types, including three-tab and laminated asphalt shingles, concrete tile and metal.
The results revealed that newer materials—including laminated shingles—performed well. Some 67 percent of the laminated shingle roofs surveyed sustained no damage. Despite reports to the contrary, asphalt shingles "didn't do badly, considering the nature of this storm," according to David Roodvoets, an independent consultant to the roofing industry.
The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association continues to investigate roof-system performance during hurricanes. So far, FRSA studies confirm that newer, heavier three-tab and dimensional asphalt shingles held up well in the storms.
Product innovations, such as asphalt-saturated organic felts with self-adhering underlayment, will also play important roles in high-wind areas going forward. This particular product may prove to be especially valuable during clean-up and repair, since it is durable enough that it allows for unlimited exposure—ideal in situations where a primary weather barrier is needed immediately.
Other new and improved materials should help to reduce the extent of storm damage to homes and other structures in the future. Meanwhile, repairs to the widespread damage from 2004 continue ... slowly but surely.
"It is moving along, but it takes time to get all of this done," says Steve Munnell, FRSA's executive director. "Just knock on wood that we don't have another hurricane season like last year."
Cara Clinton is an account executive with Kellen Communications (New York), which handles public relations for the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association.
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