Agency Coastal Job Aid Knowledge Exchange 2006

Homeowner Coastal Risk Reduction Tools Hip Roof Gable Roof Hip: the external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Gable: a triangular-shaped portion of the endwall of a building directly under the sloping roof and above the eave line.

Homeowner Coastal Risk Reduction Tools Roof Bracing for Gable Ends: Homes with gabled roofs are more likely to suffer damage than homes with hip roofs because winds push into the flat ends of gabled roofs but pass over the steep pitch of hip roofs. Roof bracing for gable ends greatly increases the structural integrity of the gable end and supporting trusses. Roof Hurricane Straps: Hurricane straps help hold the roof to the walls. High winds experienced in a typical storm can blow the roof off of the house. Metal hurricane straps or clips provide the proper measure of strength and safety for the roof-to-wall connection.

Homeowner Coastal Risk Reduction Tools Garage and Other Door Bracings: Horizontal braces make garage doors stronger. Garage door tracks can also be reinforced. Entry doors should also be strong and secure enough to resist wind pressures and storm debris. Hurricane Storm Shutters: Hurricane shutters are used to prevent windows from being broken by flying objects during a storm. When a window is broken, the air pressure may rise inside a building, causing the roof to break apart, especially in lightweight timberframe construction typical in North America. This, in turn, weakens the walls of the structure, causing the walls to fall and the entire building to collapse. Hurricane shutters stop this chain reaction from happening by shuttering the openings with a strong, durable, waterproof material.