How to Strengthen a Roof

If you live in an area frequently victimized by high winds, such as tornadoes or hurricanes, it is a good idea to strengthen your home's roof. By strengthening your roof, you lessen the chances of severe damage occurring. Though there are plenty of roofing contractors who will do this for you, you can do it yourself if you wish to save some money and don't mind spending some time in the attic.

Construction adhesive
2-by-4 inch boards -- length depends on rafter length
Wood screws
Drill
1 inch wide galvanized steel hurricane strips

Instructions

- 1
  Go into the attic. Find where each rafter meets the plywood sheathing above it. Squirt a 1/2 inch wide bead of construction adhesive into the groove where each rafter meets the plywood. The adhesive triples the strength of the bond between the rafters and plywood, which will make it far less likely that a roof gets torn off by high winds.
- 2
  Brace the rafters with long 2-by-4 inch boards. Screw a long 2-by-4 inch board across each pair of roof rafters, three-quarters of the way up the slope of the roof. Attach the 2-by-4 inch board to each rafter with at minimum, 3 inch long wood screws.
- 3
  Find all of the roof-to-wall connection points. These are the spots where the rafters attach to the frame of the building. Wrap and tie a 1 inch wide galvanized steel hurricane strip around the spot where each rafter attaches to the building's frame, such as its top plate or a stud beneath it. This strengthens the roof by essentially tying the roof and walls together tightly.

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