When we re-roof our homes, we look at roofing materials for style, color and price. Many of us never give much thought to wind resistance.
Shingles have a wind rating of anywhere from 60 miles per hour(mph) to 150mph. These wind ratings are tested in wind tunnels developed by the Asphalt Roofing Manufactures Association (ARMA). Higher wind warranties help consumers choose wisely when buying a new roof. Different regions may require better wind ratings.
For example, if you live in the center of the city surrounded by brick walls or a wall of trees, you many never see hurricane winds in your area. On the other hand, if you live on a big open hill next to a large lake out in the country . . . well, let’s just say . . . I would buy the higher wind warranty product.
Other factors may affect your shingle wind capacity:
- It is best to install the shingles when the weather is warm. Low temperatures may prevent the shingle tar strips from getting warm enough. Without heat your product may not seal down well enough to hold when the winds come.
- Dust can be a problem too. Re-roofing next to an open plowed field or a new construction site, may put enough dust in the air to coat the tar strip and prevent it from sealing.
- Old shingles can lose their sealing power. When shingles age, they lose their elasticity and become brittle. Wind can easily crack the product and damage the seal, causing them to blow off your roof.
- Lower quality shingles may not perform as well as the higher grade products. In lower quality shingles, the tar strips are not high quality and the shingles can have filler that may cause them to crack and break easier.
- Lower mph rated shingles simply are not made to withstand the wind and blow off when exposed to high winds.
- Installing the shingles improperly may lower wind warranties. All shingles manufacturers will post proper installation of the product. Solid proper decking is a must! Always tear off to bare deck and check the sheeting on the home before you apply new shingles. We do not use staples because nails are best for roofing. Nailing correctly is a must; use the right nails, nail into the decking and use more nails for a higher wind warranty.
To withstand the high wind, storms and winter weather choose a new asphalt shingle that will offer a proven performance and not blow off your roof in high wind.
