Hurricane Retrofits

Is Your Home Protected From Hurricane Disaster?A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

Prepared by the Institute for Business & Home Safety. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses, and human suffering caused by natural disasters. IBHS is a not-for-profit research and communicationsorganization committed to institutionalizing natural disaster protection as a public value.

disclaimer

The purpose of this document is to provide homeowners with guidance on ways to retrofit one and two-family homes in order to reduce losses from hurricane winds. It contains suggestions and recommen-dations based on professional judgment, experience and research and is intended to serve only as a guide.The authors, contributors, and publisher disclaim all warranties and guarantees with respect to the information in the document and assume no liability or responsibility with respect to the information.

© 2002 Institute for Business & Home SafetyAll rights reserved.

ISBN-1-885312-14-8

acknowledgments

The staff of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) wishes to acknowledge the valuable input ofall those involved in the preparation of this brochure. In particular, we extend our thanks to:

W. Lawrence Schwab State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Bloomington, Illinois

Ronald J. HeinCNA Insurance Companies, Chicago, Illinois

Thomas J. Frost, AIABuilding Officials and Code Administrators International, Country Club Hills, Illinois

J.R. McDonald, PhDTexas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Photo from Hurricane Iniki. This photo was reprinted by permission of KHON-TV, channel 2, Honolulu, Hawaii.


Photo of Hurricane Fran courtesy of NOAA.

table of contents

introduction .......................................................................1Take the Right Precautions ...............................................2

surrounding environment ...............................................3home inspection ..............................................................3roofs ..................................................................................4

Do You Need a New Asphalt Roof? .................................4Will Retrofitting Your Asphalt Shingle Roof Be Enough? .....6Other Roof Covering Products .........................................7

Wood Shakes and Shingles .................................................7Clay or Concrete Tile ........................................................7Metal Shingles ................................................................7Standing Seam Metal Roofs ................................................7

roof structure ..................................................................8Attach Roof Sheathing with Adhesive ................................8Gable End Walls ..............................................................9Roof to Top of Wall Connection........................................11

wall openings .................................................................12Bracing Your Garage Door .............................................12Doors ............................................................................14Window and Patio Door Protection ..................................15

Window/Patio Door Shutters .............................................15Impact-Resistant Windows/Patio Doors ................................17Impact-Resistant Standards ...............................................18Window Film ................................................................19

wall to foundation connection .....................................20home improvement project list ....................................2 1be completely prepared before a disaster strikes ....23references .....................................................................24appendix I: additional sources of information ...........25checklist .........................................................................29

table of contents


introduction

urricanes are well known forcausing damage to homes andproperty, for destroying

family keepsakes, and for disrupt-ing family life. But, as thisbrochure explains, you can takeaction to protect your home. First,though, it helps to learn a little more about the nature of hurricanes. These large, slow moving storms are often accompa-nied by rain as well as flooding,storm surges, and wind that cancome from different directionswhile circling the eye of the storm.As a result, the wind affects different homes in profoundly dif-ferent ways, depending on theirdesign, location, and neighboringstructures.

Among other things, the wind cancollapse windows and doors, ripoff roof sheathing (decking) anddestroy gable end walls. Over-hanging eaves and rakes, extendedawnings, open porches, and otherfeatures that tend to trap air beneath them are particularlysusceptible to damage. Wind-bornedebris can break windows anddamage roof coverings and walls.With or without the help of wind blown objects, the wind canbreak through a garage door, window, or door on the windwardside of the house and move inside,causing uplift forces to more thandouble. In fact, these powerfulforces, which are illustrated below,can literally lift the roof right off of the house.

introduction

H

Loss of opening protection allows wind

entry and increases internal exposure.

1Drawings courtesy of FEMA.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit2

Take the RightPrecautions

The most important precautionyou can take to reduce damage toyour home and property is to protect the areas where wind canenter. According to recent windtechnology research, it’s importantto strengthen the exterior of yourhouse so wind and debris do nottear large openings in it. You cando this by protecting and reinforc-ing these four critical areas:

● roof

● windows

● doors

● garage doors

A great time to start securing — orretrofitting — your house is whenyou are making other improve-ments or adding an addition. Inboth cases, your local buildingcode will require that your workconform to certain requirements.And, although you may not needto comply with current coderequirements on the rest of yourhouse, this may be a good opportu-nity to do so. Remember: buildingcodes reflect the lessons expertshave learned from past catastrophes.Contact your local building codeofficial to find out what require-ments are necessary for your homeimprovement projects.

Final Note

This brochure contains a check listof home improvement projects. Ifyou do them correctly, you maygreatly reduce the chance of hurri-cane damage. However, nothingcan guarantee total protection.Please follow the instructions of your local authorities if told to evacuate, even if you have completed these projects.

Also, remember that these guide-lines are broad and you shouldconsult with a registered designprofessional about specializeditems. In addition, while you or abuilding contractor can performsome of the procedures in this guide, someone with an engineering background shouldoversee others. For example, onlysomeone with engineering expertisecan design a roof sheathing fastening schedule and determinethe correct way to connect the roofto the wall.

surrounding environment • home inspection3

If your house is in an unobstructedlocation or within 1500 feet of open water, you are more susceptible to damages caused byhigh winds and should considerthis when planning your homeimprovement project. Also remember that mobile homes, outbuildings, barns, fences, screen enclosures, carports, awnings andcanopies can produce wind-bornedebris that can tear openings intoyour house, letting in damagingrain and wind. In addition, objectssuch as garbage cans, bicycles,lawn furniture, tree limbs, landscaping pebbles and smallrocks can become wind-borne,damaging roofs, walls and windows. By properly protectingand maintaining your home and

property, you can minimize potential damage to your neigh-bors’ and your property.

You can inspect your house to seeif retrofitting is necessary. If youare uncertain whether your houseneeds certain changes, or have anyquestions about your ability toinspect your house, call a qualifiedprofessional architect, engineer,building contractor, or your localbuilding department.

Either you or a buildingcontractor can build andinstall temporary shutterson windows and coveringsfor patio and entry doors,strengthen and stiffengarage doors, and installheavy-duty door hardware.However, an experiencedinstaller should installimpact resistant doors andwindows or approved hur-ricane shutters in accor-dance with manufacturer’srecommendations. And aroofing professional canbest determine when youshould replace an agedroof. You will also need a

surroundingenvironment

Example of

failure of the

house envelope.

homeinspection

4

professional to determine how wella door or window frame isanchored to the exterior walls.

Your local building department canbe a good source to get informa-tion about retrofitting projects.And remember, although many ofthe retrofitting projects shown inthis brochure do not require build-ing permits, you should contactyour local building official to makesure the retrofitting measures youare intending to undertake do notrequire a building permit. Yourlocal building official can help youwith the permit process if yourequire one.

Do You Need a NewAsphalt Roof?

Sooner or later, all roofing needs tobe replaced. If a roof covering isold and worn, patching or limitedrepairs won’t help. A roof tends towear uniformly in most parts ofthe country, and even the best roof-ing materials will eventually succumb to weathering. Roofing in extreme wind and heat stateslike Florida will tend to have shorterlife-spans than in other places.

How can you recognize when your roof has problems? Twice ayear, do the following:

● On a sunny day, go up to yourattic and use a flashlight toinspect for stains caused byleaks.

● Indoors, look for cracked paint,discolored gypsum board, andpeeling wallpaper as signs ofdamaged roof areas.

● Check downspouts for signs ofexcessive granule loss. Althoughmost shingle manufacturers guar-antee their products to last 20years, many roofs with standardasphalt shingles over 15 years oldneed reroofing, especially inextreme weather climates.


roofs

Example of typical

roofing failure. Roof

covering, underlay-

ment, and sheathing

blown-off. Especially

along roof eaves

and rakes where

wind forces are

most severe.

5

● Use binoculars toinspect the rooffrom the ground,looking for cracked,curled or missingshingles, excessiveloss of protectivemineral granules,loose seams or dete-riorated flashing,

and other visible signs of roofproblems.

BEWARE: Do not walk on theroof. It is dangerous and may damage the shingles.

Local ordinances allow homeownersto place asphalt shingles over oldshingles. However, for a moresecure roof during hurricanes andother high winds, we recommendremoving the old shingles beforeinstalling the new ones.

If you decide to remove all the oldshingles, also remove the underly-ing building paper to expose the

roof sheathing. Inspectthe old roof sheathing todetermine whether it isrotted, warped, orunsound. If so, replacethese sections withsheathing material of thesame thickness.

Reroofing is also a greatopportunity to inexpen-sively secure the entireroof. Here’s what you do:

1. Remove the bottom row of roofsheathing at the eave lines.

2. Check to see if the roof is fas-tened to the top of the exteriorwall with metal hurricane strapsor clips that provide the propermeasure of strength and safety.(The common practice of toe-nailing the trusses or raftersoften is not sufficient to hold aroof in place in high winds.)These clips or straps are usuallyvery difficult to see from theattic because of insulation.

3. If not properly fastened, install ahurricane clip/strap where each roof rafter meets the exterior wall.

4. Refasten the roof sheathingremoved in step #1, and fastenroof sheathing along the roofcorners, ridges, and eaves, wherewind pressure has a tendency togrow more intense, by installingadditional eight-penny ringshank nails or #8 screws fourinches apart. Be careful not touse too many nails or screws,which can split the plywood andweaken your roof. Sheathingwhich is not located on the edgesor ridges of the roof should haveeight-penny nails or #8 screws atevery six inches.

roofs

hurricane strap

hurricane clip

toe nail

6

5. Install roofing felt paper usingthe double layer applicationmethod with tin type fastenersand new shingles with six nailsper shingle. For additionalstrength, secure the tabs of theshingles with quick-settingasphalt cement.

Will Retrofitting YourAsphalt Shingle RoofBe Enough?

Shingles are usually not designedto resist hurricane force winds.

They come with integral lock-ing tabs or factory-appliedadhesives that on occasion donot adhere properly to theunderlying shingle because ofcold weather installation,uneven surfaces or any num-ber of other reasons. Forincreased wind resistance,have a qualified personinspect several shingle tabs to see ifthe adhesive has engaged. If not,use a quick-setting asphalt cementto bond them together.


ARMA’s

recommended

asphalt

shingle

installation

in high wind

regions

Photos from Hurricane Iniki. These photos were reprinted by permission of KHON-TV, channel 2, Honolulu, Hawaii.

roofs

To cement the shingle tabs to theunderlying shingles, place twospots of quick-setting asphaltcement about the size of a quarterunder each tab with a putty knifeor caulking gun. Press the tab intothe adhesive. Be sure to cement alltabs throughout the roof, beingcareful not to bend them fartherthan necessary when applying theadhesive. Replace any damagedshingles immediately.

You can get additional informationon asphalt roof shingles by con-tacting the Asphalt RoofingManufacturers Association.

Other Roof CoveringProducts

● Wood Shakes and Shingles

● Clay or Concrete Tile

● Metal Shingles

● Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Clay tiles are brittle, and can easilybe chipped or broken by wind-borne debris. In fact, the tiles them-selves can become wind-borne.

You can have a more secure roof bymaking sure that all shingles/tiles/panels are fastened down tightlyand by replacing the ones that aremissing or loose. Hiring a roofingprofessional to evaluate your roofcovering is a good option for thenovice homeowner.

At this time, thereare no cost-effectiveretrofit measureswhich we can recom-mend if you havethese types of roofcoverings. Pleasecontact the roof covering manufac-turers listed in theAppendix that areassociated with yourtype of roof for addi-tional information.

7

double layer

underlayment

application

NOTE: NAIL WITH 1-IN. DIA TIN TYPE FASTENERS


Attach Roof Sheathingwith Adhesive

You can also improve the upliftresistance of the roof deck from theattic — without removing the roofcovering. This is how:

● Using a caulking gun, apply a 1/4 -inch bead of wood adhesivealong the intersection of the roofdeck and the roof support element(rafter or truss chord) on bothsides. Make sure that the adhesiveis in contact with both the deckand roof support elements.

● At places where you have limitedaccess to either side of the roofsupport, such as the gable end ofthe house, use quarter-round

pieces of wood which run thefull length of the roof support.Apply the adhesive along thetwo adjacent sides of the woodblock. Press the wood piecesonto the intersection makingsure the adhesive is in contactwith the deck and roof supportelements. The wood pieces canbe tack-nailed or clamped inplace to ensure good contactbetween the surfaces.

● Attics are typically tight,enclosed areas with poor ventila-tion. When applying the adhe-sive, be sure to follow the direc-tions for proper application andventilation.

8

P l a n V i e w

1

Quarter round wood piece

1 SECTION

Application ofAdhesive to

Improve Roof Deck UpliftResistance

roof structure

9

According to static pressure tests1,using the wood adhesive canincrease the wind uplift resistanceof the plywood roof sheathing byas much as three times the conven-tional method of securing thesheathing with nails. A variety ofwood adhesives are available atlocal hardware and building supplystores. In particular, look for prod-ucts which are certified as AFG-01.Please ask your local hardwareexpert if other products are avail-able that could provide the samestrength and properties as a woodadhesive.

Gable End Walls

Does your home have a gabledroof? If so, the end wall of yourhome takes a tremendous beatingduring a hurricane. If not properlybraced, it can collapse, causing significant damage. However, gableend walls are easy to strengthenand deserve to be a high priorityon your retrofit list.

Typically, gable end trusses aredirectly attached to the top of gable end walls. The bottom of the truss must be securely nailedto the top of the wall and braced toadjacent trusses. This preventswind from pushing or pulling the gable end at its critical point, where the gable truss is connected along the gable wall.

roof structure

1Reinhold, Timothy A., “Use of Adhesives to Strengthen the Attachment of Roof Sheathing to Trusses orRafters for Improved Uplift Resistance in High Winds”, a Question and Answer Format Report prepared forThe Institute for Business & Home Safety, January, 1998.

Photos from Hurricane Iniki. These photoswere reprinted by permission of KHON-TV,channel 2, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Strengthen your

gable end wall

Section View

Detail

10

Without adequate bracing, the end wall may be destroyed during hurricane winds.

To secure your gable end wall, fasten eight-foot long braces to thebottom chord of the gable trussand the adjacent trusses with sixteen-penny (16d) nails. Thebraces should be perpendicular to the truss, spaced at a maximumof four feet on center. In addition,be sure to tie back the gable trusswith at least one eight-foot longbrace, along the ridge of the roof,to several of the interior trusses as shown in the detail.


▲

▲

New 7/16” spacer

roof structure11

Typical hurricane clips

for wood frame and

masonry construction.

Roof to Top of WallConnection

Areas where the roof framing meetsthe top of stud walls are normallycovered by dry wall on the insideand by wall cladding and soffitboard on the outside. To installstraps or hurricane clips, removethe roof sheathing around theperimeter of the roof to reveal thetop of the wall. You may also needto remove the soffit and exteriorcladding to reveal the top 12 to 18inches of the wall. In addition, ifthe exterior cladding is brick

veneer, you may need to removesmall sections of brick as needed.

If your roof has trusses, make sureyou tie them to the wall by eitheranchoring to the top plate and thenthe top plate to the wall stud, orstrapping the truss directly to the wallstud. The figures shown illustrateways you can anchor the roof to thetop of the wall of wood or masonryhomes with straps or connectors.

Details courtesy of Simpson Strong-Tie.

12

Bracing Your Garage Door

Because of their width, double-wide garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage thansingle doors. Unless you have atested hurricane resistant door, thewind may force it out of the roller track — especially if thetrack is light weight or some of theanchor bolts are not in place. Thisoccurs because the door deflectstoo much under excessive windpressure and fails.

To secure your garage door:

● Check with your local govern-ment building official to see ifthere are code requirements forgarage doors in your area.

● Check with your local buildingsupplier or garage door retailerto see if a retrofit kit is availablefor your garage door.

You should proba-bly reinforce yourdouble-wide garagedoor at their weak-est points. Thisinvolves installinghorizontal and/orvertical bracingonto each panel,using wood orlight gauge metalgirts bolted to thedoor millions. Youmay also needheavier hinges andstronger end andvertical center sup-ports for yourdoor.

If you decide to retrofit yourgarage door with a kit that allowsyou to operate the door after it isinstalled, make sure the door is balanced by lowering it about

halfway and lettinggo. If the door goesup or down, thesprings will needadjusting. Note:Since the springs aredangerous, only aprofessional shouldadjust them.


wall openings

Gable End Wall and Garage

Door Failure. Examples of

inadequate bracing to provide

proper load transfer.

If you are unable to retrofit your garagedoor with a kit specifically designed foryour door, you can purchase garagedoor retrofit kits to withstand hurri-cane winds at your local building supply store. Also, check to see if thesupplier can do the installation.

13wall openings

Drawings courtesy of Garage Safety Inc.

14A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

Doors

Your home has either doubleor single entry doors. If theyare solid wood or hollowmetal they probably can resistwind pressures and hurricanedebris. However, if you arenot sure whether they arestrong enough, take these pre-cautions:

● Install head and foot boltson the inactive door ofdouble entry doors.

● Make sure your doors haveat least three hinges and adead bolt security lockwhich has a minimum oneinch bolt throw length.

● Since double entry doors failwhen their surface bolts break atthe header trim or threshold,check the connections at bothplaces. Be sure the surface boltextends into the door header andthrough the threshold into thesubfloor.

15

Windows and PatioDoor Protection

In the following section, we presentseveral viable ways to protect yourwindows and doors against damageduring a hurricane. We are oftenasked whether masking tape or anyother type of tape placed across theglass will provide protection againststorm debris — the unequivocalanswer is NO. Hurricanes are devas-tating forces of nature and more sub-stantial protection is required towithstand their wrath.

● Window/Patio Door Shutters

One way to protect a home fromdamage in windstorms is to installimpact-resistant shutters over alllarge windows and glass doors. Notonly do they protect doors andwindows from wind-borne objects,but they can reduce damage causedby sudden pressure changes when awindow or door is broken.

The easiest designs are those thatsimply cover the opening with astructural panel such as plywood.In past hurricanes, many home-owners, upon returning, havenoticed their temporary plywoodshutters blew off because they werenot adequately fastened. If youhave a wood-frame house, use ade-quate fasteners to attach the panelsover the openings when a hurri-cane approaches. Have these tem-porary shutters stored and ready touse since building supply storesgenerally sell out of these materialsquickly during a hurricane warn-ing. If your home is made with con-crete blocks, however, you will haveto install anchoring devices well inadvance.

The APA - The Engineered WoodAssociation offers a series ofHurricane Shutter Designs. Theyinclude:

● DESIGN 1: Shutters for Wood-FrameBuildings

● DESIGN 2: Shutters for Masonry BlockStructures, Barrel Bolt LatchSupports

● DESIGN 3: Shutters for Masonry BlockStructures, Steel or AluminumAngle and Screw Supports

wall openings


Plywood Hurricane Shutter Design 1

Courtesy of APA - The Engineered Wood Association

17

● DESIGN 4: Shutters for Masonry BlockStructures, Shutters Attached toOutside Wall with PermanentlyMounted Brackets

● DESIGN 5: Shutters for Masonry BlockStructures, For Openings Widerthan 8 Feet

The detail illustrations show howyou can install shutters into awood-frame home (APA Design 1).

Each design is available from APA - The Engineered WoodAssociation.

If your residence has permanentshutters, evaluate their effectiveness.Manufacturers are responsible fortesting their shutters up to the standards necessary to resist windforces and wind-borne debris.Some shutters are very flexible,especially those that roll up.

If struck by a rigid piece of debris,shutters may bend and break thewindow. To determine whetheryour shutter can resist this impact,gently lean against it and see if ityields. You can also inspect yourshutters to see if they are properlyattached to the house and will notfly off during a storm by inspectingthe shutter connectors for obviousexcessive wear or missing connec-tors. Ask the shutter manufacturerfor proper installation criteria.

● Impact-Resistant Windows/Patio Doors

Another way to protect your homefrom damage in windstorms isthrough the installation of impact -resistant windows and doors.Although these products look nodifferent than standard windowsand doors, they offer significantlymore protection from wind-bornedebris. In fact, these systems arecapable of resisting impacts fromlarge objects. For this reason, temporary shutters do not need tobe installed before a storm strikes.

In general, the frame and glazingwork together to protect yourhome from both the elements andthe significant internal pressurechanges which lead to structuraldamage. While large wind-bornedebris may crack the impact resistant glass during the course of the storm, the window isdesigned to retain its integrity andnot break apart. Should either theframe or glass be damaged, it canbe repaired at your convenienceafter the storm has passed.

Consider installing impact-resistantwindows and doors when yourexisting windows and doorsrequire replacement or when youare planning new construction.

wall openings

18

You can purchase certified windows and doors through qualified manufacturers at localbuilding supply stores. There are a variety of different systems; however, the best impact -resistantwindows and doors typically consist of either laminated glass,plastic glazing, or combinationplastic and glass systems. Be surethat the installation guidelines arefollowed carefully.

● Impact-Resistant Standards

Currently, several different organi-zations have missile impact test standards. Permanent and temporary shutters, in addition to impact-resistant window anddoor systems, should meet one orall of these standards:

● SSTD-12Southern Building CodeCongress International TestStandard for DeterminingImpact Resistance From Wind-borne Debris

● Impact Test Procedures forMetropolitan Dade CountyBuilding Code ComplianceOffice:

● PA-201-94: Impact TestProcedures

● PA-202-94: Criteria forTesting Impact and Non-Impact-Resistant BuildingEnvelope Components UsingUniform Static Air Pressure

● PA-203-94: Criteria forTesting Products Subject toCyclic Wind Pressure Loading

● ASTM E 1886:Standard Test Method for Performance of ExteriorWindows, Curtain Walls, Doors and Storm ShuttersImpacted by Wind-borne Debris in Hurricanes.


Impact-Resistant

Window After

Direct Blow

From Debris

Photo Courtesy of Solutia©

19

● Window Film

Some homeowners have consideredwindow film as an alternative toother window protection systems.The most common method ofinstalling window film is known as“daylight installation.” Theprocess involves pre-cutting theadhesive-backed film to a sizeslightly larger than the window-pane to which it will be applied.Then, at the time of installation,the film is trimmed back to the sizeof the windowpane.

One of the most common types of window film is known as “safety film.” This type of filmshould never be less than 4 mils inthickness. Typically, safety filmproducts meet the same break-safe

requirements as tempered safetyglass. This means that the safetyfilm should hold the glass shardstogether, thus preventing a poten-tial hazard from sharp, brokenglass. Safety film may also offer a degree of protection in the caseof high winds, but should not beconsidered adequate protection forwindows in hurricane-prone areas.

As a homeowner in a hurricane-prone area, you should always purchase a product or systemwhich has been tested and certifiedas passing one of the previouslymentioned impact-resistant stan-dards. To date, no daylightinstalled window film, regardlessof its thickness, has passed anyimpact-resistant standard.

wall openings

Normal

Window After

Hurricane

Photo Courtesy of P. Beers

20

To complete your home strength-ening process, make sure the exterior walls are anchored to the foundation. Although this isnot as critical as some of the othertasks on your list, an inadequateconnection between the wall andfoundation could weaken yourentire home. This is especially trueif you live in a one-story homewith large roof truss spans and a low-sloped roof.

Make sure the wall studs are ade-quately connected to the sill plate,which sits directly on top of thefoundation wall. Metal clips areavailable at your building supplystore for this task. Then drill holesthrough the existing sill plate intothe concrete foundation to installthe anchor bolts. Place the holes asclose to the center of the sill plateas possible using epoxy anchorswhich you can find at your local

building supply store.

An engineer should determine theminimum bolt spacing for the forceanalysis of the shear and upliftloads. But placing 5/8-inch diame-ter anchor bolts no more than sixfeet apart, with an anchor bolt atthe end of each wall, provides anextra measure of safety for yourhome. Unfortunately, if you have a concrete masonry block home, verifying that the exterior wall is connected to the foundation isextremely difficult. In that case, thebest method to make sure that allrequired reinforcing is present andinstalled correctly is to inspect forit while the home is being built.


Detail of proper

wall stud to sill

plate to foundation

connections.

wall to foundation connection

21home improvement project list

● Gather outdoor furniture,garbage cans, potential debris,etc., and move them inside.Encourage your neighbors to dothe same.

● Replace gravel/rock landscapingmaterial with shredded bark.

● Keep trees and shrubberytrimmed. Cut weak branchesand trees that could fall or bumpagainst the house. When trim-ming, try to create a channelthrough the foliage to the centerof the tree to allow for air flow.Keep climbing roses and vinestrimmed back.

● Screened porches and other similar areas are usually first tosuffer damage, so make sure theporch is properly attached. (Theindustry has no standards yet foradequate performance of porchscreens in hurricane winds).

● Reinforce the double-entry doorswith heavy duty foot and headbolts, and use a security deadbolt lock with one inch mini-mum bolt throw length.

● Reinforce the double garagedoor and tracks.

● If you find that the roof sheath-ing is not adequately attached:

- use adhesive to attach thesheathing to the rafters

- use extra 8d (8 penny) nails or#8 screws if you need to reroof

● Brace the gable end walls androof trusses.

home improvementproject list

his list of home improvements is divided into cost categories. You can tackle these projects one at a time, but remember, the more youdo, the stronger your home will be against hurricane winds. T

✁✁

✁

Category $ (<$300)


● Install hurricane clips/straps connecting roof rafters/trusses to the side walls.

● Install tested/manufactured hurricane shutters.

● Check to see if the exterior wallsare connected to the foundationproperly if you have a wood-frame house. If your house has masonry type construction,you will need professional assistance which will increasethe costs considerably.

● Replace roof covering and during reroofing:

1. Strip off the old roof coveringsto expose existing sheathing.

2. Inspect existing sheathing tomake sure it is properly attachedand refasten as necessary.

3. Remove bottom row ofsheathing to inspect wall-roofframing connection and installhurricane clips/straps as neces-sary (adds only a slight extracost to a reroofing project).

4. Replace the sheathing.

5. Apply a double layer of feltpaper underlayment or a singlelayer of adhesive backed rub-berized asphalt sheet water-proofing underlayment.

6. Install roof covering shinglesthat are rated for hurricane-force winds based on the man-ufacturer’s recommendations.Apply additional adhesives asneeded.

● Cover all large windows andpatio doors with securely fas-tened storm shutters made fromplywood.

● Replace double garage door withhurricane wind load testedgarage door.

Category $$ ($300 - $1000)

Category $$$ (>$1000)

✁✁

✁

23be completely prepared before a disaster strikes

Implementing the techniques rec-ommended in this brochure givesyou and your family a better chanceof surviving a natural disaster. Butthese steps are only the beginning.To protect yourself as fully as possible you should also:

● Become familiar with your community’s disaster prepared-ness plans and create a familyplan. Plan an escape route fromyour home and neighborhoodand designate an emergencymeeting place for the family toreunite if you leave in separatevehicles. Also establish a contactpoint to communicate with concerned relatives.

● Periodically review your home-owners insurance policy withyour insurance agent or companyto make sure you have sufficientcoverage to enable you torebuild your home and life.Remember, your homeownersinsurance policy does not coverdamage caused by floods. Floodinsurance is provided by the federal government through theNational Flood InsuranceProgram. If you are in a flood-prone area, you should purchaseflood insurance. Contact youragent or company representa-tive, or call 1-800-427-4661.

● Put together an emergency kitthat includes a three-day supplyof drinking water and foodrequiring no refrigeration and,generally, no cooking; first aidsupplies; a portable NOAAweather radio; a flashlight;emergency cooking equipment;portable lanterns and batteries.

● If a weather-related disasterthreatens, follow weather andnews reports so you know howmuch danger you’re facing. Andobey evacuation orders fromlocal authorities. No materialpossession is worth risking yourhealth, let alone your life.

be completely preparedbefore a disaster strikes


American Plywood Association.Hurricane Andrew: StructuralPerformance of Buildings inSouthern Florida. Report T92-21. Tacoma, WA: APA, 1992.

American Plywood Association.Hurricane Shutter Designs.Form Nos. T451B, T452B,T453B, and T455B. Tacoma,WA: APA, 1995.

American Red Cross, et. al.Against the Wind: ProtectingYour Home From HurricaneWind Damage. Washington,DC: American Red Cross;Federal Emergency ManagementAgency, 1993.

Asphalt Roof ManufacturingAssociation. Residential AsphaltRoofing Manual. ARMA FormNo. 421-RR-84. Rockville,MD: ARMA, 1993.

Federal Emergency ManagementAgency. Hurricane Andrew:Building PerformanceAssessment: Observations,Conclusions, andRecommendations. Washington,DC: FEMA, 1993.

Haag Engineering Company.Hurricane Andrew SurveyDamage Assessment CodeCompliance. Carrollton, TX:Haag Engineering, 1992.

McDonald, J.R. and Yu Feng.Hurricane Retrofit Guidelinesfor One and Two FamilyHomes. DRAFT Report for theInsurance Institute for PropertyLoss Reduction. Lubbock, TX:Texas Tech University, 1997.

Southern Building Code CongressInternational, Inc. Standard forHurricane Resistant ResidentialConstruction SSTD 10-97.Birmingham, AL: SBCCI, 1996.

The Weather Channel and HomeDepot. Hurricane. Atlanta: TheWeather Channel; Home Depot.

references

Photo from Hurricane Iniki. This photo was reprinted bypermission of KHON-TV, channel 2, Honolulu, Hawaii.

APA - The EngineeredWood Association (APA)

P.O. Box 11700Tacoma, WA 98411-0700Tel: 253-565-6600 Fax: 253-565-7265http://www.apawood.org/

American Society of CivilEngineers (ASCE)

1801 Alexander Bell DriveReston, VA 20191-4400Tel: 703-295-6300 Fax: 703-295-6333http://www.asce.org/

American Society of HomeInspectors (ASHI)

932 Lee Street, Suite 101Des Plaines, IL 60016Tel: 800-743-2744http://www.ashi.com/Fax: 847-759-1620

Asphalt Roofing ManufacturersAssociation (ARMA)

6000 Executive Blvd., Suite 201Rockville, MD 20852Tel: 301-231-9050 Fax: 301-881-6572

Building Officials & CodeAdministrators International,Inc. (BOCA)

4051 West Flossmoor RoadCountry Club Hills, IL 60478-5795Tel: 708-799-2300 Fax: 708-799-4981http://www.bocai.org/

Cedar Shake & ShingleBureau (CSSB)

P.O. Box 1178Sumas, WA 98004Tel: 604-462-8961 Fax: 604-462-9386http://www.cedarbureau.org

Door & Access SystemsManufacturersAssociations International(DASMA)

1300 Sumner AvenueCleveland, OH 44115-2851Tel: 216-241-7333 Fax: 216-241-0105

appendix I: additionalsources of information

25appendix I

Federal EmergencyManagement Agency(FEMA)

500 C Street, SWWashington, DC 20472Tel: 202-646-3923 Fax: 202-646-3930 www.fema.gov

Institute for Business &Home Safety (IBHS)

4775 E. Fowler Ave.Tampa, FL 33617Tel: 813-286-3400 Fax: 813-286-9960www.ibhs.org

International Code Council(ICC)

5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 708Falls Church, VATel: 703-931-4533 Fax: 703-379-1546www.intlcode.org

International Conference ofBuilding Officials (ICBO)

5360 South Workman Mill RoadWhittier, CA 90601-2298Tel: 310-699-0541 Fax: 310-692-3853www.icbo.org

A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit26

27

International Window FilmAssociation

318-A Brown StreetP.O. Box 3871Martinsville, VA 24115-3871Tel: 540-666-4932Fax: 540-666-4933www.iwfa.com

Metal Roofing SystemsAssociation

1300 Summer Ave.Cleveland, OH 44115-2851Tel: 216-241-7333 Fax: 216-241-0105www.mbma.com/welcome.htm

Metropolitan Dade County

Building Code Compliance Office140 W. Flagler Street, Suite 1603 Miami, FL 33130 Tel: 305-375-2901 Fax: 305-375-2908www.buildingcodeonline.com

National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB)

1201 15th Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20005Tel: 202-822-0200 Fax: 703-243-3465www.nahb.com

National Association of theRemodeling Industry

4900 Seminary Rd., Suite 320Alexandria, VA 22311Tel: 703-276-7600 Fax: 703-243-3465www.nari.org

National Roofing ContractorsAssociation (NRCA)

10255 West Higgins Road, Suite 600Rosemont, IL 60018-5607Tel: 847-299-9070 Fax: 847-299-1183www.roofonline.org

National Tile RoofingManufacturers Association(NTRMA)

P.O. Box 40337Eugene, OR 974404-0049Tel: 503-689-0366 Fax: 503-689-5530

Southern Building CodeCongress International, Inc.(SBCCI)

900 Montclair RoadBirmingham, AL 35213-1206Tel: 205-591-1853 Fax: 205-592-7001www.sbcci.org

appendix I


4775 E. Fowler Ave. • Tampa, FL 336171(866) 657-4247(IBHS) • Fax: (813) 286-9960 • www.ibhs.org

Date post:	10-Feb-2017
Category:	Documents
Upload:	dodiep
View:	218 times
Download:	2 times

Hurricane Retrofits

Documents