How much wind can a shingle roof take?

Most modern shingle roofs are rated to withstand 90 mile-per-hour winds, although there are roofing products available for hurricane and tornado-prone areas that can withstand winds up to 150 MPH.

What wind speed can a shingle roof withstand?

Typically, shingle roofing is graded to protect against speeds up to 60 MPH. But if you live in a hurricane or tornado-prone region, you might have a roofing material that can withstand speed up to 150 MPH.

What wind speeds damage shingles?

When winds surpass 55 mph, you can expect a lot more property damage such as downed or uprooted trees, and some more severe structural damage due to winds tearing off shingles or debris hitting your house. As wind speeds climb to 65 and above, homeowners start to see catastrophic damage in their area.

How strong does wind have to be to rip a roof off?

When the winds hit speeds of 58-74 mph, shallow-rooted trees can be torn down or uprooted, and loose shingles will be sure to rip off the roof.

Can 40 mph winds damage a roof?

High winds begin at a sustained 40 mph or 50 mph gusts. Even with hours of howling winds, those gusts do not hit your rooftop at an even rate. The corners, angles, and ridge are all equally susceptible to wind damage, such as curling, ripping, tearing, and lifting shingles away from the roof.

How to check for wind damage on a roof

What does wind damage look like on a shingle roof?

Potential signs of wind damage:

Missing shingles. Thin horizontal lines where granules have been worn off about 1-2 inches beneath the shingle above; this could indicate that the shingle seal was broken and the shingle was flapping in the wind rubbing against the shingle above it.

What wind speed can a house withstand?

An average house can usually withstand wind speeds of about a 100 mph, or 110 mph if located in an area where strong winds are a common event.

Can the wind take my roof off?

Wind storms can do significant damage to your home, including roof damage. In some cases, homeowners can end up losing their roof when heavy gusts blow through.

How much damage can 70 mph winds cause?

What you can expect with 70 mph winds: Spotty damage across affected area. Patches of shingles missing, minor roof covering, window and cladding damage to some wood frame, unreinforced masonry and light metal structures. Significant signage damage.

How do you protect shingles from wind?

Roofing cement should be used to prevent wind from penetrating the underside of shingles and blowing them off and the decking should also be sealed. With older roofs and roofs already installed at the time of purchase, it will pay to conduct a survey to ensure that yours is installed according to the current code.

How do I know if my roof is damaged by wind?

Identifying Wind Damage to Your Roof

Signs of wind damage on a roof include loose or missing shingles, chimney issues, curling or peeling shingles, granule loss, damaged soffit or fascia and indoor leaks. High winds can also cause tree branches to fall and damage a roof.

How do you fix wind damaged shingles?

Curled-back shingles can be reattached with asphalt roof cement or compound in tubes for use with a caulking gun. Curled shingles are easily straightened out in warm weather, whereas shingles become very brittle and must be softened in cold weather.

What damage can 60 mph winds?

- at 39 to 46 mph, branches and limbs can be broken from trees. Cars can also possibly veer on the road, especially high profile vehicles. - at 47 to 54 mph, there will be light structural damage. - at 55 to 63 mph, entire trees can be uprooted and considerable structural damage can occur.

What damage can 50 mph winds?

50-75 mph – At 50+ MPH winds are officially classified as “damaging”. Shingles will be blown off. Tree limbs and other debris will be picked up. Damaged or water-saturated trees will start to fall.

What can 75 mph winds move?

47-54 Mph 75-88 kph 41-47 knots Strong Gale Slight damage occurs to buildings, shingles are blown off of roofs. High waves (6 meters), rolling seas, dense foam, Blowing spray reduces visibility. 55-63 Mph 89-102 kph 48-55 knots Whole Gale or Storm Trees are broken or uprooted, building damage is considerable.

Can 75 mph winds break windows?

A Design Pressure or DP rating measures the strength of a window. Standard residential windows have DP values between 15 and 50. A DP 15 window can reasonably be expected to sustain winds of roughly 77 mph before shattering. A DP 50 window is expected to sustain winds up to 173 mph.

What is considered a strong wind?

"Damaging high wind" with sustained speeds greater than 58 mph, or frequent wind gusts greater than 58 mph. Damaging wind conditions are consistent with a high wind warning. "A High Threat to Life and Property from High Wind." "High wind" with sustained speeds of 40 to 57 mph.

What can 90 mph winds do?

Hurricane Winds 90 to 110 mph gusts 115 to 135 mph: Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage and all mobile homes will be destroyed. Houses of poor to average construction will be severely damaged or destroyed.

What is the best roof type for high winds?

Why roofs are blown away in heavy wind?

The high wind blowing over the roof creates a low pressure in accordance with Bernoulli's principle. The pressure below the roof is equal to the atmospheric pressure which is now larger than pressure above the roof. This difference of pressure causes an upward thrust and the roof is lifted up.

What damage can 65 mph winds do?

Larger tree branches and weak limbs may break and if they are located near a structure can pose a damage risk. 55-65 mph: While rare in our region, wind speeds of 55-65 mph can happen. Entire tress can be uprooted, and significant structural damage can occur. Oftentimes widespread power outages are reported.

Is it normal for house to shake in wind?

Yeah, it's normal for a house to move in the wind. The taller the house, the more it will move. If it didn't flex, it would break instead. A lot of how much it moves depends upon what part of the house faces the wind, construction techniques and quality of construction.

Should you open windows during a wind storm?

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends that you close all interior doors and all windows for major wind storms including hurricanes. That's because wind that enters a home through open windows creates strong upward pressure on the home's roof.

Can you walk 70 mph wind?

Attempting to walk in 60-70mph winds is dangerous, and there is a high risk of being blown over and suffering injury. Stay away from difficult underfoot conditions or exposed edges and get off the hill as soon as possible. You're having a laugh!

What causes roof shingles to curl?

Both curling and buckling are most often caused by moisture of your roof decking or underlayment. Buckling shingles appear as if they are being pushed upward from beneath. It can be the result of a lack of insulation or poor attic ventilation, as well as improper installation.