Residential Construction and Wind Loads Building on the coast in high wind zones requires adhering to a more robust set of building codes. Trust me when I say that they can make a big difference when it comes to how well your home weathers the next monster storm. You’ll rarely find exterior storm windows in the south because it just never gets cold enough to warrant the expense, but cold weather is not the only reason for storm windows. Nice article.When houses are exposed to hurricane forces, roofs are most susceptible to damage. Screw every 16-24″ for a secure hold. The folks up north know this one well. These straps attach to the home’s frame rails. Hurricane clips are metal straps that connect the roof truss to the top of a wall. At this point, your friend started to discuss the trendy idea of building your individual house. The house was built in 1995 and is roughly 2000 square feet. These straps greatly increase the holding power of your rafters and help keep the roof structure tied down to the rest of the structure so the roof doesn’t blow away. Moreover, your entire home will get extra uplift protection from high winds. I added some screws to hold down some aluminum siding cladding replacing some small 1″ nails with #12 1 3/4″ with 5/8″ washers. They attach to your trusses and wall plates. My company and other window restorers can make traditional wood storm windows with laminated impact glass to not only protect your windows against flying debris, but make them more energy efficient. I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! When the storm is approaching, this should be your list of things to do in the week or days of an impending hurricane. Mobile home straps will help prevent high winds from lifting or moving your mobile home during storms. The straps would connect the roof to the support beams, to prevent the roof from flying off during a hurricane… 99 These straps are usually done after the home is completely framed. Add the high waves and rough surf to that and you have potential devastation. Install hurricane straps to a roof on new construction. Hurricanes are devastating. The standards have changed dramatically over the past twenty years. Some states may require you to do this if you are planning to sell your home. Not that we don’t take appropriate precautions, but it’s a comfort to know this. Most of the major manufacturers now offer asphalt shingles rated for 135 mph winds and some even offer shingles that will withstand 150 mph winds! Some states may require you to do this if you are planning to sell your home. Now would be a good time to make sure you have ample propane as well. There is little you can do to protect against big storm surges other than to evacuate the area. Many newer manufactured homes, as they are structurally superior to older … Take the initiative and have your storm plan in place. Dig the foundation area around the base of the home to a depth of two feet. If your home was built before the updated building codes took place, there may be retrofit upgrades available to install and save you money on your insurance bill. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Good luck. You may not have access to expensive spring water, but tap water will work just fine. Secure the straps properly when you install hurricane straps to a roof. The easiest way to install hurricane straps is during the construction of the home. Having just finished the storm clean up from Hurricane Matthew here in Orlando, my mind can’t help but focus on ways to keep us all safer. The Simpson H2.5A (a conventional hurricane tie) and H8 (a twist strap) connectors or the UPS RT7A (a conventional hurricane tie) and RT8A connectors are good choices for connecting the top plates to the wall studs if you have access to the sides of the wall studs. Living in inland Florida: Every time a hurricane comes through I tell myself that my house has survived every hurricane since 1881, so it ought to handle one more . Hurricane preparedness is no joke here in hurricane country. This is not just high waves, it is an actual rise in the sea level from a couple inches to 10 or even 20 feet in the most extreme conditions. If you have old rusty, corroded pre-1995 attachments whether clips or single wraps they may no longer qualify for the insurance discount … Storm surge is the ocean water that is pushed ashore and up rivers and streams from the massive power of these hurricanes. Answer. You can, but you need to have know the local building codes to use the correct correct strap, put it in the proper location, and use the proper size nails. Canned food and a hand crank can opener (sorry, the electric can opener may not be working!) Make sure that your truss and rafter are also toe-nailed in place before you install your hurricane straps. But don’t cook indoors because of the smoke and risk of fire. This is an old wive’s tale. Prior to 1976, the homes were built to a patchwork of state, local and voluntary codes. Age of the Home: Know what wind level the home is designed to withstand.Most of the wind damage viewers see on television involves older homes. Attach the metal strap anchors to the home. If you live in a low lying area, then sandbags are absolutely your best defense. Here there are, you can see one of our mobile home hurricane straps collection, there are many picture that you can surf, remember to see them too. – Metzger Terry, Friday Roundup: PHW Office News and Hurricane Preparedness – Preservation of Historic Winchester. Hurricane straps are made from galvanized steel. The cost of shingles is so minimal compared to the labor to install them that you should always upgrade to the more expensive, wind-rated shingles. It helps to keep the broken glass contained in the vicinity of the window as much as possible. Instead of replacing your windows, install storm windows. First, cut your roof back to expose the framed walls where the rafters or trusses are set. 1/2″ plywood will stop a 2×4 traveling at 35 mph (standard speed for hurricane test labs). Older structures also benefit from using technologies to retrofit homes and buildings to become more hurricane resistant. This may be time-consuming and costly. A hurricane strap or clip with four nails into the truss or rafter will meet code minimums, and you won’t have to expose the wall plate. Hurricane preparedness should not be something we do at the last minute when supplies and options are low. The next time your home is due for a re-roof, step up and get the best shingles you can and you’ll sleep better at night. Hurricane straps and clips really do help to keep roofs on during high wind events, but they are extremely difficult to retrofit. Mobile home straps help to prevent high winds from dislocating your mobile home, which can cause damage, injury and loss of life. Especially in older homes, the sill plate (or sole plate), which is the bottom-most part of the frame, is often inadequately fastened to the home’s foundation. Read more…. The Simpson company makes metal straps that can be retrofit to the framing on almost any house with attic access. Tie-downs refer to the systems of heavy-duty straps and anchors that are used to keep your home stable during storms. If all else fails and you haven’t been able to do anything to protect your windows, then the best thing you can do is to close your curtains or hang big towels on the inside of your windows. Updating your home with Hurricane Straps, Hurricane Clips and fasteners could help you cut your insurance bill substantially. We live in a hurricane zone in a 15-year-old stucco house. Take all your patio furniture and either bring it inside, or if it is water proof, throw it in the pool to keep it from blowing around and becoming a projectile. You may need to cut some sheetrock out of your interior walls also. This helps secure the nails so they don't work loose in high winds. HURRICANE MITIGATION RETROFITS FOR EXISTING SITE-BUILT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES 101 Retrofits Required. These straps greatly increase the holding power of your rafters and help keep the roof structure tied down to the rest of the structure so the roof doesn’t blow away. Reinforcing gabled roofs, making secondary water barriers, and installing hurricane straps/clips to secure a roof are some of the technologies in renovation and construction. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Then you just have to worry about whether you’ll have enough peanut butter and jelly to last until the lights come back on. When 16-penny nails drive through the rafters or trusses, the nail protrudes on the other side. Move back the insulation to expose your walls and rafters. You may need to cut some sheetrock out of your interior walls also. If you own a residential structure with hurricane straps embedded in the foundations in the Ewa by Gentry housing development in Honolulu, your rights may be affected by the hurricane straps class action lawsuit. Cut to fit as best you can to cover the opening and screw in place using 1 1/2″ or longer screws for wood and 2″ or longer Tapcons or anchors for masonry buildings. Access to your roof trusses or roof system is easy at this point. More than any other element in your house, your roof protects you from storms. Required fields are marked *. Do you have a gas grill? The Simpson company makes metal straps that can be retrofit to the framing on almost any house with attic access. The 2×4 will go straight through the OSB and into your house. That way, the roof system won't blow off during a hurricane. Underhome Armor will install mobile home tie down straps to specially designed anchors as shown in the picture above. Even of there isn’t a mandatory evacuation, consider leaving low lying areas to stay safe. How to Brick a Manufactured Home Remove the skirting around the home, and check the blocks underneath the home for stability. This post may be coming a bit late to do much good for Matthew, but there will always be another storm, With this hurricane fresh on our minds, now is the best time to make those changes that you put off after the last storm. UnderHome Armor will determine which type of mobile home tie down and straps are required in your area. Follow these steps to learn how to build a hurricane proof house. Aside from the inadequacy of toe nails, one of the greater risks is the inadequacy of the attachment of the plate to the top of the wall. Important testing and guidance comes from a variety of government agencies including the Department of Energy, FEMA and even the Department of Defense. OSB doesn’t not stand up to serious debris like plywood. This ensures that your trusses or rafters won't move during the installation of your straps. Bend these nails over with a hammer. Not only do properly attached hurricane straps, hurricane clips, and roof-to-wall attachments strengthen your home, they also save you money. Hurricane straps provide extra security for your home's roof. Can we retrofit hurricane clips to stop our roof from blowing off in a storm? Everyone rushes to the grocery store and cleans out the water shelves so if you’ve missed the rush and can’t find water, try searching the office supply stores, which usually have tons of bottled water. Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance. In engineering, there's an idea referred to as prefabricated housing. There are many windows on the market today that can provide wind protection. Nail each hurricane strap to your truss or rafter with 16-penny framing nails when you install hurricane straps to a roof. Thanks for sharing! Taping window glass does not do anything to keep you safe or to keep your windows from breaking. Get free shipping on qualified Hurricane Tie Metal Straps or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Building Materials Department. As for hurricane straps, we had these installed in our Galveston house by a contractor last year and alas, my insurance agent said, “Good job!” but none of his house or wind storm carriers offered discounts. Always take caution when using a step-ladder and make sure you have someone there to hold the ladder still. After the home is built, you run into major issues. Doors with low thresholds, garage doors, basement doors, crawlspace vents. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. When installed correctly, hurricane straps increase the strength of construction significantly. Install Hurricane Straps Simspon hurricane strap. If, on the other hand, there are not enough nails holding the clip to the truss, it’s up to the engineer to decide whether the wall plate must be exposed. Do your best to keep these items protected against rising waters. It is inevitable when a hurricane or tropical storm is nearby, so you need to know how to protect yourself against it. In more wind resistant construction, metal straps were used. Mobile Home Tie Downs and Straps. A carpenter measuring a window for hurricane shutters. Things to Note for Storm Safety in manufactured homes. Mobile home straps are secured to specially designed anchors, which are driven into the ground, thereby anchoring the mobile home to the spot on which it rests. If the power goes out, you can still boil water and cook food on the grill if the storm hasn’t carried it away. BE PREPARED FOR HURRICANE DORIAN - PROTECT YOUR HISTORIC PROPERTY - Christine Dalton, OSB vs. Plywood: Which is Better? Generalizations about old and new homes should not be construed as proof that all older dwellings are rock solid, or that all newer ones will blow over during another hurricane. Retrofitting these straps is an easy project for any contractor who knows the building code and is willing. Anything that doesn’t need refrigeration or heating up is great! The simple addition of third nail into hurricane clips can help homeowners save 25-30% on their home insurance premium and provide added security to protect your home if disaster strikes. You want to use 1/2″ plywood NOT OSB. If the covering blows off, then everything else is quickly damaged. One thing we have heard from a lot of builders and owners is that tiny house trailers should have dee rings so the trailers can be tied down. Yes, the coast has to deal with storm surge, but inland areas have to deal with localized flooding from the heavy rains associate with hurricanes too. So, choosing the right roof covering is imperative to keeping your home safe. Simply add these storm windows to your existing windows and you get double-paned efficiency and protection from that debris that too easily damages most everyone else’s windows. I’m a general contractor working in historic restoration, a #1 Amazon best selling author, and I’m here to show you how you can do-it-yourself! The hip ridge board and any exposed rafters that are not anchored with a strap having at least four fasteners on each end, shall be connected to the concrete masonry wall below using approved straps or right angle gusset brackets with a minimum uplift capacity of 500 lbs. Make sure you have enough sandbags to build up a hedge of protection around any openings. Look at another method to install hurricane straps to a roof on an older home. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you own a home, you cannot put a … A Safer, More Fortified Home Wind mitigation retrofit features, such as hurricane straps, clips, and fortified roof deck attachments, greatly decrease the amount of damage that may occur during a windstorm or hurricane. Prep for the worst, but hope for the best. There are several different types of anchors depending on what type of ground you are on. Pursuant to Section 553.844 553.884, Florida Statutes, strengthening of existing ... existing straps shall be allowed in lieu of adding a new strap provided the strap is Hurricane straps are versatile and can be attached to window sills, wall intersections, and upper and lower floor wall studs. Once the storm has passed and everyone has stopped acting crazy, start thinking long term about getting your old house ready for the next storm, because there will be a next storm. Don’t waste your time taping windows, it only makes a mess and doesn’t help. We dodged a bullet in Central Florida, but the coast and islands like the Bahamas and Haiti were not so fortunate. Listen to the authorities and follow any evacuations called for. 2 Tie-Down Ratchet Straps J Hooks, 2 Heavy Duty 2" x 27' Tie-Down Ratcheting Cargo Truck Straps Wire Hook Ends, J-Hook Ratchet Strap TieDowns 4.8 out of 5 stars 666 $36.99 $ 36 . Use the metal or copper bristled brush to wipe any excess mortar from the brick. Sandbags at the ready, storm windows installed, and roof adequately prepared. If you can’t get plywood, then OSB is better than nothing, but try for the right stuff. Hurricane straps resist the natural structural movement of your home in major storms. Single-wide manufactured homes, as they are lightweight, generally require over-the-top tie-downs as well as frame anchors; and; frame anchors. Now, you may install your hurricane straps. Tip: When the local home stores are sold out with an approaching storm, try the local lumberyards. Tie Downs for older mobile homes. Should help permanently. They almost always have more plywood because homeowners never think to go here. Save money on insurance by calling thirdnail.us and having us upgrade your hurricane straps by adding nails to your old attachments. How to Install Hurricane Straps to a Roof. Our service is … Choosing the cheapest asphalt shingles to save a few bucks is not worth the money. In addition to the peace of mind it provides, almost every homeowner’s insurance agency will give a significant discount to your policy for this add on. If you’re currently house-hunting for a beach house, I recommend adding these 5 hurricane-proof improvements to your home buying checklist as well. The anchors are driven into the ground, anchoring your mobile home and preventing movement during high wind events. 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