Roofing Considerations for the Tornado Season

For Georgia and other residents of the southeast, hurricane season isn't the only season that one has to prepare for. Tornado season is just around the corner, frequently lasting between the months of March, April, and May -- the peak being in April. Then it's only one month off before hurricane season begins in June! As such, now is a great time for home and property owners to start thinking about improving their buildings and ensuring they are properly protected against the damages that can be caused by high winds. Roofing materials are one great place to start due to the big risks of wind uplift and the ways in which better roofing materials like standing seam metal panels can drastically reduce those risks.

The Basics of Wind Uplift

Both hurricanes and tornados are rated by their wind speeds, with the lowest rated tornado having wind speeds between 40 and 72 miles per hour and the highest rated (though also least likely and aptly named an 'inconceivable tornado) having wind speeds between 319 and 379. Such wind force can easily grab items and send them flying towards homes and people, making it important for those who live in tornado and hurricane areas to have walls and windows well-built to secure against such objects. Additionally, home and property owners should consider what the wind uplift can do to a home.

Wind uplift occurs when the air pressure beneath a roofing system is higher than the air pressure above it. As high winds whip across a roof, the air pressure naturally drops and the pressure below increases via holes and small intrusions and that increasing change of air pressure will, much like how an airplane wing acts upon take-off, will draw the roofing panels upward. Sometimes, this will cause minor damages to the building's structure and shingles but other times the pressure is such that the wind uplift can tear off a building's roof.

How Metal Roofs Help Protect Against Wind Damage & Wind Uplift

Metal roofing may be more expensive upfront than competing materials like, but the benefits are well worth that initial investment. Metal roofing materials are lower maintenance, have a longer lifespan, and, importantly here, offer better wind protection. This is due to the metal roofing having a standing-seam construction in which metal sheets are folded or otherwise crimped together at the edges while metal shingles will interlock with each other.

This design of metal roofing creates a strengthened connection that does two things: First, it reduces the risk of wind uplift as because there are less gaps, holes, and similar intrusions between the air above the roof and the air below, there is less of a risk of creating that great air pressure discrepancy that causes wind uplift. Second, the strengthened and buttressed construction of metal roofing along with metal's durability by design helps to prevent damages caused by wind-blown debris smacking against the roof.

See the Difference of AMSI Metal Roofing Components

Here at AMSI Supply in Douglasville, Georgia, our experts have been manufacturing standing seam metal roof clips for the local, regional, national and international roofing industry since 1993. These are high-quality standing seam clips comprised of a variety of styles and shapes with the purpose of further securing metal roofing materials down to prevent those risks associated with high wind conditions. For more information about our products, about some of the manufacturing and installation groups we work with, or to speak with one of our representatives about questions pertaining to your specific metal roofing installation and best product recommendations, visit our website at AMSI Supply.