Home Improvement News Bureau

Building And Repairing To Withstand Hurricanes

Newer building materials can minimize damage

MONEY PIT NEWS BUREAU – August 12, 2004:  As the second hurricane within four weeks is expected to pummel Florida’s coast and continue on toward South Carolina, residents know all too well that their homes are vulnerable to storms and the destruction of hurricane force winds.  Hurricane Charley and its 145 mph winds was responsible for damaging and destroying more than 30,000 homes  and taking 27 lives in Florida.  With a price tag estimated at $7.4 billion in insured damage, it was the worst natural disaster to hit Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Now, Frances, currently a Category 4 storm – could hit any of the eastern coast from South Florida to South Carolina.  And according to the NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), it’s not over.  The NOAA says the conditions are right for significant hurricane activity for the remainder of the season, which runs June 1 through November 30.  The peak of the season is usually mid-August through mid-October.

Home improvement expert, home inspector and Money Pit Radio show host Tom Kraeutler notes that homes in America are more vulnerable than their owners might think.  “The excessive and unrelenting wind of a hurricane can cause a great deal of damage,” says Kraeutler.  “What’s even more dangerous are projectiles, objects picked up and virtually thrown by the wind with great force into, and often through the walls of homes.  This is true not only of hurricanes on the coasts, but the high winds of tornados.”

Debby Robinson, Kraeutler’s co-host on the program says the best defense in this case is a good offense.  “Taking precautions and being prepared is vitally important.  Fortunately, there are a number of building products on the market that can substantially reduce the damage incurred from hurricanes like Charley and Frances,” she says.

Concrete Homes Make Solid Investments
Concrete homes offer low maintenance, high energy-efficiency and stand up to the rain and wind – even in the extreme as experienced in hurricanes and tornadoes. Often the exterior is a brick or stucco façade.  “There are several types of concrete homes,” explains Kraeutler,  “including insulating concrete forms, concrete masonry, aerated concrete, tilt-up concrete and precast concrete.  It’s a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to wood-frame home construction.”

Researchers at the Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University found that concrete walls are strong enough to withstand flying debris from both hurricanes and tornadoes.  They duplicated hurricane type winds in a lab, shooting 15-pound lumber missiles at speeds up to 100 mph to simulate projectiles in a 250 mph wind – conditions that cover everything but the very worst tornadoes.  All the concrete wall systems emerged from the tests without any structural damage, while lightweight steel and wood stud walls offered little or no protection or resistance to the flying debris.

Concrete forms a solid, continuous airtight wall.  This eliminates air leaks and often allows for a smaller heating and cooling system to be installed since the home naturally stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer.  Other benefits, it’s more resistant to fire more resistant to fire and is very easy to maintain the exterior.  For more information, visit www.concretehomes.com.

Solid Siding
Another good option that proved itself during Hurricane Isabel in ’03 is Fiber-Cement Siding.  The James Hardie Company developed fiber-cement formulation for exterior siding more than 20 years ago and the material is known for its performance in extreme conditions such as fire and hurricanes.  “For homeowners who are concerned with maintenance costs over time, a durable siding is important regardless of the climate,” says Robinson.  “It’s a very heavy siding that offers a great deal more protection.” 

The cost of Hardiplank siding is comparable to that of hardboard siding, more expensive than vinyl and less expensive than brick.  The homeowner can paint it or order it in pre-painted colors.  The company maintains that James Hardie siding is designed to withstand hurricane-force winds up to 130 miles per hour.  For more information go to www.jameshardie.com.

Wind-Resistant Shingles
The extreme winds of hurricanes aren’t the only force of nature that can damage shingles.  Tornadoes and hail can cause a great deal of damage, too.  New shingle products are designed specifically to resist damage from both impact and high winds and meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance established by Underwriters Laboratory. 

One brand that the Money Pit team likes is WeatherGuard® HP Shingles by Owens Corning.  “They have a patented composite construction to ensure severe weather resistance and superior granule retention on the face of the shingle to extend its lifespan,” says Kraeutler.  “They also meet the Class 4 standards for impact resistance and may even qualify homeowners for a premium discount from many insurance companies.”  The WeatherGuard HP Shingles are available in 6 color blends and carry a 130 mph wind resistance warranty when installed along with WeatherGuard HP Hip & Ridge shingles.  For more information visit www.owenscorning.com.
 
National Hurricane Center records from the last century show that no two Category 4 storms, having winds from 131 – 155 mph, have hit a state within weeks of each other.   While there’s no way of predicting how many severe storms or hurricanes will hit in a season, or where, homeowners can be prepared and informed of their building and re-building options.

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