Tornadoes are powerful hazards but you can improve the chances of your home surviving high winds, and reduce the risk of damage.
Inside your home:
The safest doors to withstand strong winds have three or more hinges, and a dead-bolt security lock with a bolt at least 2.5 centimetres long. Door frames should be securely anchored to wall framing. Double doors should be secured with head and foot bolts.
Window glass covered with protective film will not shatter if it breaks.
The home itself:
Install impact resistant windows and/or storm shutters.
Garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage because of their size. A qualified inspector can determine if the door and the track system can resist high winds. Permanent wood or metal stiffeners can be installed to strengthen the door. Alternatively, the door manufacturer may recommend temporary supports that can be attached when severe weather threatens.
If you are replacing your roof, take steps to ensure that the new roof covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds.
Your roofing contractor should: Remove old coverings down to the bare wood sheathing. Confirm that rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls. Replace damaged sheathing. Refasten existing sheathing according to the proper fastening schedule outlined in the building code. Install a roof covering that is designed to resist high winds. Consider using a double-layer application of heavier felt roofing paper, secured with sufficient sheet metal tabs, to avoid water damage. Seal all roof-sheathing joints with self-stick rubberized asphalt tape to provide a secondary moisture barrier. If it is not time to replace your roof, you can give your roof sheathing added protection by gluing the sheathing to the rafters and trusses. The end wall of a gable roof should be braced properly to resist high winds. Check your building code for appropriate guidance, or consult a qualified engineer or architect. The points where the roof and the foundation meet the walls of your house are extremely important if your house is to resist high winds and the pressures they place on the entire structure. Anchor the roof to the walls with metal clips and straps (most easily added when you replace your roof).
Walls need to be properly anchored to the foundation. A design professional can determine if these joints need retrofitting, and a qualified contractor should perform this work, if needed.
If your house has more than one storey it is important that the upper storey wall framing is firmly connected to the lower framing. The best time to do this is when you remodel.
Outside your home:
Shredded bark is a safer landscaping material than gravel or rock.
Trees and shrubbery should be kept trimmed.
Remove weak branches and trees that could fall on your house.
The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
Toronto Office 20 Richmond Street East, Suite 210, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2R9, Tel: (416) 364-8677
