Hurricane damage that affects the roof is common in Florida due to the extreme winds that these storms bring.

Of the types of damage experienced during hurricanes, roofers often see blow-offs affecting many older or unprepared homes.

Hurricane ties play critical roles in reducing the need for significant storm damage roofing repairs by adding structural support to the roof.

They are essential roofing components every Florida home needs to safely get through storm season each year.

What Are Hurricane Ties?

Hurricane ties are small metal brackets that are installed on the roof rafters and wall-to-roof connections to prevent blow-offs in high wind conditions.

Made from several different metals for different installations, they are an added line of defense against costly hurricane damage roofing repairs, helping to hold the rafters together and the roof onto the house walls.

When properly installed by an experienced roofer, hurricane ties that are also called hurricane straps or clips can make the difference between getting through the storm with the roof intact or it blowing off, either through uplift or from high winds blowing from beneath.

Florida Building Code Now Mandates Hurricane Ties

Previously, hurricane ties to prevent storm damage were an optional extra that homeowners could have roofers add to their roofs.

With the number of storms increasing over past decades and more hurricanes affecting the state, Florida building and roofing codes were updated in 2002, with hurricane ties added as a mandatory inclusion for new construction homes.

Since then, the Florida building code has mandated the size, type, position, and number of hurricane ties that must be used during home construction for the home to pass its building code inspection.

These ties and straps have been instrumental in reducing the amount of hurricane damage roof repairs homeowners in the state must pay for due to damage during these serious and unpredictable storms.

Should Older Homes Be Upgraded With Hurricane Ties?

Yes, older homes in Florida should definitely be upgraded with hurricane ties to prevent roofing storm damage if homeowners have not already done so.

This can be done by an experienced roofer with a good understanding of the Florida building code as it pertains to hurricane ties, the types required for different roofing systems, and how they must be installed when being retrofitted.

Since no two roof systems are the same, it is essential to work with a contractor who can perform a correct installation for them to be of any benefit.

The roofer must also do a thorough inspection of the existing roof and structural system first and make repairs as needed to ensure the safety of the roof.

Ask About Hurricane Ties To Prevent Storm Damage

Hurricane ties or straps are essential components for reducing hurricane damage to residential roofs in storm-prone regions like Florida at a time when storms are becoming more frequent, and more violent.

They are a mandatory part of the Florida building code, which now requires home builders and roofers to install them on new construction homes or those being modified to provide critical protection against hurricane-force winds.

It is also highly recommended that owners of older homes hoping to evade storm damage have their roofs retrofitted with hurricane ties to provide them with added roofing support.

An experienced Florida roofer can help homeowners make this upgrade for greater storm safety and peace of mind!