Although we are close to the
coast, we tend to feel secure in Victoria against the risk of a
hurricane causing direct damage to our home. The many years since we've
last experienced a storm has certainly resulted in this complacency.
Those who are concerned tend to choose sturdier homes, such as brick or
reinforced construction. They also provide themselves with wood covering
to protect their windows, but what about the roof? If that goes, the
rest doesn't matter.
Even if a home is insured against hurricane damage, the outcome would
be much brighter if major damage could be avoided in the first place.
Losing the roof to high winds exposes the home to severe damage, even
possible destruction if the roof sheathing is stripped away.
A single missing nail or a nail that has missed its mark when
hammered into the rafters or trusses can reduce the ability of a panel
of sheathing to resist wind by 20 to 25 percent. Once a piece rips off,
the amount of damage to your home and personal property increases
dramatically.
Even if every nail is in place, your roof may not survive the uplift
pressure of a category III or better storm, which can generate uplift
pressure in excess of 70 pounds per square foot. Applying a common
construction-grade adhesive to the joint where the roof sheathing sits
on the rafters or trusses in your attic will increase your roof's
ability to stand up to the wind by a factor of three, according to a
report from the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
If the roof is being replaced, it could be re-nailed with a
prevailing high wind nailing pattern, or even better, screwed down to
add to the strength. But if you are not planning to re-roof soon, the
alternative - gluing it - is an excellent method of improving the
ability of your home to withstand and survive a major storm hitting our
coast.
All you need is access in your attic to the underside of your roof.
Having a contractor do the job could cost $1,000 to $2,000, but if you
applied glue yourself, the adhesive material and caulking hardware
should cost no more than $100. If you have difficulty reaching areas of
the roof, such as near the eaves, it might be worth it to hire a
contractor. It is important to apply the caulking all the way to the
edges of the sheathing to obtain the full adhering strength benefit.
The adhesive should be a product labeled "APA AFG-01." This
performance specification assures that the adhesive meets a stringent
requirement of strength in adverse conditions such as heat, humidity,
freezing temperature and moisture. This type product is commonly used to
glue sub-flooring in place.
Other materials needed: caulking gun (you might consider renting an
air powered caulking gun for a large roof area); paint thinner for
cleanup; wood to lay across the beams as a work platform; lights; gloves
and rags.
Now is a good time of year to do the work, as the temperatures should
be between 60 and 75 degrees. Make sure the work area is ventilated.
Dispensing a 1/4-inch bead of glue, start at the peak and work your way
down to the bottom of the roof. Apply the adhesive to both sides of each
rafter. Clean up and you're done.
As an added strengthener, you should use quarter-round wood pieces
with adhesive on pieces where you can only get glue on one side of the
roof support.
Russell Janecka is a Certified Insurance Counselor. He is the owner of Janecka Insurance Agency in Victoria, and serves on the board of directors with Germania Insurance Companies. (361) 573-4475 e-mail: info@jiavic.com
