Each hurricane that hits Florida reinforces a critical lesson for both experts and residents: modern, robust building codes are effective. Time and again, newer homes, built in accordance with Florida’s increasingly stringent building codes & new roof technologies, have shown superior resilience to powerful hurricanes compared to their older counterparts. However, a pivotal FEMA report analyzing Hurricane Ian’s 2022 impact in Southwest Florida revealed an intriguing insight: a house doesn’t need to be entirely new to offer substantially better protection. The report highlighted that newer roofs, even on older homes, were the most crucial factor in reducing damage.
This significant finding emerged around 2015, a year when Florida’s building code underwent major revisions, particularly in roof construction and waterproofing standards. One notable update was the requirement for a sealed roof deck, which effectively prevents rainwater intrusion when shingles are torn off by strong winds. Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), noted, “Homes from the 1970s with sealed roof decks outperformed some built after 2002 under the new building code. This relatively inexpensive and straightforward modification made a substantial difference.”
FEMA Research
In their post-Ian analysis, FEMA researchers focused on approximately 200 homes in neighborhoods where older structures with both old and new roof technologies faced the same intense winds. In Placida, Florida, for instance, homes with post-2015 roofs withstood winds of 126 mph far better than those with older roofs. The study found that while 90% of pre-2015 roofs sustained damage, only 28% of those installed after 2015 were affected. This trend was particularly evident with asphalt shingle roofs, the most common type, though metal panel roofs, less prone to damage, did not follow this pattern.
Since Hurricane Andrew‘s devastation in 1992, Florida has been at the forefront of building code innovation, with updates every three years. Many improvements post-Andrew, implemented statewide in 2002, focused on roof strength and attachment methods. Recently, as insurance premiums have soared, insurers are increasingly emphasizing the replacement of older roofs. Homeowners are faced with a dilemma: replace their roofs at their own expense or risk steep insurance cost hikes or loss of coverage. Despite new Florida laws prohibiting insurance denial based solely on a roof’s age, homeowners with roofs over 15 years old often struggle to find coverage. Additionally, roof replacement has become a hotbed for scams and fraudulent lawsuits, contributing to higher insurance rates.
Chapman-Henderson emphasized the significance of ongoing updates to Florida’s building codes, especially regarding roofing. She pointed out, “When assessing a home’s hurricane resilience, the condition of the roof is paramount. Not only does it enhance performance during a hurricane, but in the current climate, it can also lead to insurance savings.”
This report underscores the critical role of roof integrity in both protecting homes during hurricanes and in financial considerations for homeowners.
