When extreme weather hits, your roof is your best protection. Knowing what type of roof you have, and which type of roofing material is best in extreme weather is important to protect your biggest asset. In the Seattle area we rarely get extreme weather like hurricane-force winds, snow loads, and extreme heat, but once in a while we do, and it’s nice to know what your specific roofing material is rated for. With the water-saturated ground, and a bit of wind, downed trees are common in the Pacific Northwest. Having a roof that can withstand impact becomes an important factor. Orca Roofing is a roofing company built on quality, service, and professionalism, and we install only the highest-rated roofing materials that not only withstand the test of time, but withstand the Pacific Northwest’s occasional extreme weather.
Roofing Weather Ratings
It’s important to know which roofing material is best for extreme weather. Though generally the weather in Seattle is mild, having the peace of mind that your roofing material will hold up under high winds or snow load is important. Roofing materials are rated for fires, which is extremely important, but we’ll look at wind and impact ratings, and address fire ratings in a different post.
How Wind Affects A Roof
Strong winds can cause significant damage to a roof because of its unpredictability. It doesn’t strike in a steady blast, but the variation of speed, force, and direction can wreak havoc on a roof. Wind hits the side of the home and travels up and over the roof with a varying degree of uplift pressure. This type of pressure is the highest at the corners and edges making those spots the most vulnerable to wind. As the wind moves over the surface of the roof, negative pressure may create a suction-like pressure lifting shingles off the roof deck. Several factors affect how strong your roof is against wind. Where your home is located, and the shape of the roof affect its vulnerability against wind. It’s age and condition, as well as the quality of installation affect how well a roof can withstand wind pressure. Roofs can sustain damage from wind itself as well as from falling branches, trees and debris.
Wind Ratings for Roofing Materials
All roofing materials are tested and rated for wind. There are different ratings for slopes and materials, so becoming familiar with the ratings of the the specific materials you are considering for your roof is a factor to discuss with your Orca Roofing representative. ASTM D3161 is the Standard Test Method for Wind Resistance of Steep Slope Roofing Products, using a fan-induced method. It includes three classifications: Class A for roof shingles that passed winds up to 60 mph, Class D for shingles that passed winds up to 90 mph, and Class F for shingles that passed winds up to 110 mph. Let’s hope we never see that force of wind in Seattle, but if we do, Orca Homes offers a roof that is rated for those winds.
Types of Roofing
Orca Roofing specializes in quality, which is why we’ve carefully selected the roofing materials we offer.
Brava Roof Tiles
Brava Roof Tiles are a composite, cedar-shingle alternative made with a natural look, and environmentally friendly features. Orca Roofing is the only certified provider of Brava Roof Tiles in the Pacific Northwest. They are light weight, and come in three widths for ease of installation. Brava Roof Tiles are varied in thickness and create the classic “split texture” closely mimicking natural wood. We love Brava Roof Tile 50 year limited warranty giving this composite roofing material a longer life expectancy than cedar roofs and siding. Brava Roof Tiles also come in an Old World Slate variety. These fabulous tiles give the classic French slate look without the cost, sheer weight, and strain on the environment. No special roofing substructure is required with Brava Roof Tile slate tiles, and they don’t break when you walk on them. Both the cedar shake and slate tile varieties of Brava Roof Tiles come in a variety of natural colors, and feature a Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest rating in the industry, They are also available in Class A and Class C fire rating. We appreciate that these roof tiles don’t break, split, or require special tools during installation. If you haven’t considered Brava Roof Tiles as a strong, virtually maintenance-free solution for your roof, we would be happy to take a look at your current roof, explain the benefits of a Brava Roof Tile roof, and give you an estimate.
Owens Corning Roofing
Orca Roofing installs Owens Corning roofing. This traditional composition roofing is designed with quality in mind. All composition roofing comes in different levels of quality, usually offered in a “good, better, best” quality and price structure, but Orca Roofing only offers the best materials because we believe that the investment of quality over your head prevents roof issues down the line. We offer Owens Corning Duration®, Duration Flex@ and Woodcrest® lines. We think the subtle variation between those three lines provides our customers with excellent options visually, while providing the best quality roofing material on the market. Owens Corning features their Total Protection Roofing System®, and Orca Roofing not only believes in it, but installs it to their specifications. This roofing system allows for a roof not only to protect a home from extreme weather, but creates the correct protection from ice with specifically designed under layers that seal the roof from moisture, shingles then defend the roof, and proper ventilation allows the roof to breathe and release moisture. All three layers working together creates an ideal roof condition for any roof. Owens Corning composition shingles are wind rated at 130 mph.
Nu-Ray Metal Roofing
Orca Roofing installs standing seam Nu-Ray Metal Roofing. Nu-Ray is a local, Pacific Northwest company with a wide variety of options in color and look. They are rated for extreme temperatures—both heat and cold—and for snow load. These metal roofs are made with 24 or 26-gauge steel, feature two different widths, and a snap-lock design. These architectural roofs allow for thermal movement as panels expand and contract with changing temperatures. Nu-Ray Metals come with a 40-year non-prorated warranty. Orca Roofing installs metal roofing as a long-term roofing solution, protecting your home from the worst Mother Nature has to offer. Metal roofing has the highest wind rating, and can withstand near hurricane-force winds.
Though the rain is the Pacific Northwest’s most constant weather threat, understanding the wind ratings helps you make the right decision when selecting roofing material. Orca Roofing provides the best materials for your roof, and we hope you reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
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