Typhoon Proof Roof Design

Design guidelines for hurricane resistant buildings.

Typhoon proof roof design.

Many shed roofs of traditional design have survived the storm. Hip roofs with four slopes will perform better than gabled roofs with only two slopes. For example you might find that the roofs in hurricane prone areas are multi sloped. This can be illustrated in the diagram below from the whole building design guide organisation.

Wall logs in such construction have to be made of circular reference glued laminated timber and all other components of the house have to be hurricane resistant. Hurricane hugo has proven the strength of the shed roof. That is to say that conceptually the shed roof would be blown away and the main roof would stay intact. A gable end roof is generally cheaper to build but less wind resistant than a hip style roof.

The outer siding of your home also needs to be an approved hurricane resistant material. In addition to stronger materials below the roof hurricane prone areas design the roofing system differently than buildings which are not in high risk areas. In the design of the hurricane resistant home the length of these overhangs should be limited to 20 inches. Roof overhangs are subject to wind uplift forces which could trigger a roof failure.

The pressures above show the upward wind pressure on the 3 main types of roof. Hurricane resistant houses should use stronger plywood. A round or multiple sided home is more resistant to hurricane strength winds. The breakaway theory has therefore become less applicable to shed.

Probably the most important part of a hurricane house is a reinforced roof.