Can My Roof Survive a Tornado?

If you live in a part of the country that sees frequent severe weather patterns during the spring and fall, your roof will likely be under constant attack from hail, debris and high winds. While it’s unlikely that there’s anything you can do to make your roof withstand a direct hit by a tornado, you do have options to make your roof strong enough to withstand a nearby tornado.

Roof Inspection

Before you can determine what needs to be done to your roof, it’s critical that you bring in a professional to help you evaluate the current quality of your roof. While you might have a good idea of its condition if your home is fairly new, an older home’s roof can have damage that you don’t even realize exists until it’s too late.

When you’re bringing in a professional for a roof inspection, you generally have two options: an insurance adjuster and a roofing professional. If you’ve recently had strong storm activity in your area, calling in an adjuster can help get the claims process started if you hope to have your insurance company pay to replace your roof. If, however, you don’t have any reason to believe there’s significant damage to your roof already, it’s often better to start with a roofing professional.

Roofing Shingles

While your existing roof may not have signs of damage, a roofing company at website can still inspect the quality of the shingles you have on your roof. In most cases, your builder probably used a type of roofing shingle that’s designed to withstand basic storm activity, but may not always fare well against the high winds, hail and flying debris that are common in the wake of a tornado. Although hail-resistant shingles can cost more upfront, they may spare you from replacing your roof quite as often when you live in Tornado Alley.

Of course, your roofing material options may be limited by a city ordinances or homeowner association bylaws regarding roofs within the community. Always remember to check that the type of roofing shingles you want to use are acceptable in your area.

Roof Installation

Although selecting a higher quality roofing shingle is a powerful step toward making your roof more tornado-resistant, installation is of equal importance. Even if you and a friend have the time and tools to climb up on the roof to install the new shingles yourself, you won’t always be able to get the professional results necessary to adequately protect your home. Also, many manufacturer’s warranties on roofing shingles are contingent on professional installation. If you’re serious about giving your roof a better chance of staying intact through severe storms and nearby tornados, working with a professional roofer is the only way to go.