New Products Help Prevent Hurricane Damage

The devastating hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 have spawned innovations in protecting homes from wind and water damage.

By Craig Guillot

Roof failure is one of the most threatening types of damage from a hurricane. Galvanized hurricane straps are critical in keeping roofs from blowing off of homes. They secure the roof to the walls of the home and come in many types and sizes that can be used at wall intersections, upper and lower wall studs and window sills. Because hurricane straps are part of the natural framework of a home, they can be difficult and expensive to retrofit. After construction, they are usually installed between the roof and the walls and between the walls and the foundation.

Thomas Osborne, senior estimator and engineer for Savannah Trims, says that window-protection systems have also become very popular in hurricane zones. One unique product the company offers is a mesh screen that can be placed around patios and open areas to block the wind and help prevent storm-debris damage.

"[The screen] will only allow three percent of the wind and water through. If the winds are blowing at 100 miles per hour, you're only going to get three miles per hour [behind it]," Osborne says. "The screens can be folded up and placed in a closet then hung when a hurricane is coming."

While they are more practical and affordable for commercial buildings, Osborne says that in conjunction with a wall around their homes, homeowners can use aluminum, watertight flood barriers to create their own flood protection.

"If they can keep that water on the other side of the wall, their house is basically flood-proof," Osborne says. "Some homeowners in the Florida Keys use them."

Beyond plywood

While many resort to placing plywood on windows when hurricane season comes around, more people are looking into permanently fixed storm shutters and window screens. Sherri Meier of Centurion Security Screen Company Ltd. says that the company's screens are designed for winds of up to 140 miles per hour. The aluminum screens have a large- missile impact rating and are approximately $275 installed for a 30x50 window.

"There isn't much that could get through [these screens]. Basically what it would take is a Sawsall," says Meier. "It's the ultimate 24/7 protection."

Loose siding is another of the first things to be ripped from a home in high winds. New manufacturers are engineering siding that includes double-staggered nail holes to increase rigidity against the home. CraneBoard Solid Core Siding is designed to withstand a 160-mile-per-hour wind load.

"It's great for the rebuilding [of the Gulf Coast] because it gives you a low or no-maintenance material, yet it offers you insulation and impact-resistance," says Joel Davidson of Crain Siding.

Other products on the market include impact-resistant glass skylights, wind-driven-rain louvers and clear films that can create safety glass on any window. Inexpensive Plylox window clips also allow boards to be secured to windows easily and quickly.

When it comes to new construction, steel and concrete structures may be the future for the region, according to Dean Grant, president of Steel Framing Inc.

"You need to design [homes in the region] with a Category 5 in mind, and that's exactly what we do. The hurricanes have created a demand for products that will stand up to high winds," Grant says.

Going with the flow

Pre-Katrina, most homes in New Orleans sat on slab foundations, but flood maps and insurance requirements may dictate that more homes be elevated. Existing homes can now also be elevated in place using hydraulic jacks and concrete or steel supports.

For homeowners who anticipate flooding within a crawlspace or first-floor garage used for storage, Smart Vent allows water to flow in and out of the home without damaging the foundation. Providing relief from the pressure of rising and falling floodwaters, the automatically operated vents equalize the water levels and minimize structural damage.

Wooden homes being built in flood-prone areas also have the option of new products that can help fight mold. Frame Guard, a coating that can be applied to any wood materials, is a water-based combination of proprietary, EPA-registered active components that penetrates wood and provides solid protection from mold, humidity and termites. The coating can be used on framing, truss lumber and plywood panels to create a water-resistant barrier.

As a resident of New Orleans, freelance writer Craig Guillot has seen plenty of hurricane-related damage.