Adhesive Hurricane Prevention for Roof Construction

Building Materials and Roof Design

• Hurricanes pose a water and wind danger to buildings and their roofs. Flat roofs are more likely to withstand damage than sloped roofs. The greater the slope the greater the risk that wind will manage to rip the edge tiles, shingles or other roofing material from a roof. Self-adhesive membranes are placed over the entire roof with extra materials placed in at-risk roof areas to provide greater resistance against high-speed wind and water damage. The membrane is usually placed while the roof is being installed.

About Self-Adhesive Membrane Underlayment

• Asphalt and tar roofs are economical and durable. They feature gritty shingles capable of withstanding water damage. The shingles adhere to the roof frame with nails and roofing cement. Roofing cement and tar create a tight seal and withstand high winds. Other types of roofing shingles, such as tile, slate and wood are more expensive and adhere to roofs with mortar, nails or clips. Self-adhesive membranes take the form of roofing paper, which is a heavy paper or felt that has been coated with tar or asphalt on one side and a sticky substance on the other. When the backing is peeled from the paper, the paper adheres to any surface. During roof construction this paper is placed as an underlayment for tile, slate, wood and asphalt shingles. The water-resistant membrane provides protection against water damage when shingles are lost or damaged by wind.

Additional Protection

• Shingles and other roof coverings are not placed directly above the trusses and beams that constitute the roof frame. Instead sheathing is laid above the beams and a waterproof membrane is placed above the sheathing. The weatherproof membrane helps provide a seal between the tile and wood sheathing or decking. Another layer of additional moisture protection can be applied by sealing joints between the roof sheathing boards underneath the weatherproof membrane with self-adhesive asphalt tape.

Repair

• Hurricane kits contain first aid materials, food and other necessary items intended for protection and survival. Self-adhesive roofing material is also an essential item for a hurricane kit. The easily applied material is placed in areas where shingles have been lost or where underlayment has been torn or damaged. The tar-coated material sheds water and helps restore compromised waterproof membranes.