Roof strength

[WorryWart]

What would be the comparative strength of a roof of a home built in the '60s vs. one built post Andrew? I thought boarding up would greatly help my chances of keeping my home intact but I heard tonight on one of the WPB stations scared me. We aren't all lucky enough to live in a new million $ home---mine was built in 1960. What are the odds the roof will hold together? ( I realy could use some positive news but don't lie to me just to make me feel good). Having someone tell you you just wasted your time boarding up because your roof will fail is frightening.

[KeyLargoDave]

The experts say saving windows can save the roof. If the storm gets inside the house after blowing out windows, it has much more chance of blowing the roof off too.

Hard to say about a 1960 florida house. Probably a lot stronger than the 80s crap in places like South Dade that just fell apart in Andrew.

One thing that matters is how to roof trusses are tied to the walls. If you have an attic, look for metal plates or some sort of strapping at the ends of the trusses nailed to the top plates or wall studs. I had a 1964 house in Fort Lauderdale that seemed very sturdy and did have hurricane (or what they call "seismic") ties attaching the roof trusses to the walls.

This is something that can be retrofit -- maybe after this storm misses (we hope) and before the next one.

[Patrick99]

The experts say saving windows can save the roof. If the storm gets inside the house after blowing out windows, it has much more chance of blowing the roof off too.

Hard to say about a 1960 florida house. Probably a lot stronger than the 80s crap in places like South Dade that just fell apart in Andrew.

One thing that matters is how to roof trusses are tied to the walls. If you have an attic, look for metal plates or some sort of strapping at the ends of the trusses nailed to the top plates or wall studs. I had a 1964 house in Fort Lauderdale that seemed very sturdy and did have hurricane (or what they call "seismic") ties attaching the roof trusses to the walls.

This is something that can be retrofit -- maybe after this storm misses (we hope) and before the next one.

THe older homes in S. Pinecrest and Cutler Ridge actually fared quite well in Andrew. If I had an older house, I'd say put up the shutters to keep the windows from breaking, and you're probably good to go.

[jlauderdal]

What would be the comparative strength of a roof of a home built in the '60s vs. one built post Andrew? I thought boarding up would greatly help my chances of keeping my home intact but I heard tonight on one of the WPB stations scared me. We aren't all lucky enough to live in a new million $ home---mine was built in 1960. What are the odds the roof will hold together? ( I realy could use some positive news but don't lie to me just to make me feel good). Having someone tell you you just wasted your time boarding up because your roof will fail is frightening.

i have ahouse built in 1966, single story, concrete reinforced with steel and roof straps. had the inspector come out for the wind insurance discount program, i said if you lived how much wind would feel comftorable..he said easily 140...if i lived in 80's house maybe 100. he said these florida houses built in the 1960's if shuttered properly will do just fine just like the structures in the carribean are built. aim 1/2 mile west of the intracoastel and i feel safer than any shelter in broward county anywhere...you see the construnction on some of those newer municipal buildings..no thanks.

[dolphinslady]

We aren't all lucky enough to live in a new million $ home.

Neither are we, lol. However, many of those 'million dollar homes' didn't survive Charley at all.

I'm in Vero too, well actually, Lakewood Park. Pretty much all of my family lives here too. My sister has a newer frame house in Vero, everyone else is here in LWP. My dad is on a lake in a 1960 block house, in laws 1960 block, mom has 1990 block and we have the 'newest' (1996) block. Only have shutters for in laws. Everyone else is getting boarded up. Our decision is to stay in our house and my sister is coming here too.

I agree that some older homes were built better than today's homes, however the building codes changed after Andrew and I feel safer here in my house than anywhere. So...go with what makes YOU comfortable. But definitely BOARD UP. Please.

Take care,
Cheryl

[jlauderdal]

We aren't all lucky enough to live in a new million $ home.

Neither are we, lol. However, many of those 'million dollar homes' didn't survive Charley at all.

I'm in Vero too, well actually, Lakewood Park. Pretty much all of my family lives here too. My sister has a newer frame house in Vero, everyone else is here in LWP. My dad is on a lake in a 1960 block house, in laws 1960 block, mom has 1990 block and we have the 'newest' (1996) block. Only have shutters for in laws. Everyone else is getting boarded up. Our decision is to stay in our house and my sister is coming here too.

I agree that some older homes were built better than today's homes, however the building codes changed after Andrew and I feel safer here in my house than anywhere. So...go with what makes YOU comfortable. But definitely BOARD UP. Please.

Take care,
Cheryl

boarding up is key..i was over in port chralotte the day after chuck and hosues with full protection had minimal if any damage...the ones that didnt have protection were the ones you saw on tv with no roofs

[ColdWaterConch]

I survived Andrew in a 1960's ranch in Perrine (just north of Homestead).

We lost all of our windows, but only about 3 square feet of roof. Fortunately it was a concrete block house. The ones built in the 80's out of plywood were the ones that fared poorly.