The Best Roof Shapes for High Wind in Florida 

Florida is a state which encounters strong storms and hurricanes frequently. The warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico flows along the coast of Florida to merge in the Atlantic Ocean. This merging of waters often churns out powerful hurricanes and the windy weather in St. Petersburg, Florida. So, while building a home here, you will have to pay attention to several factors. The shape of your roof, perhaps, is the most important among them.

Aerodynamics is extremely relevant here. It is about how a solid structure manages to escape the full force of the wind, allowing it to flow around it instead of at it. So, the shape of your roof should be built considering the principles of aerodynamics. The usual gabled roof stands in the way of the wind bearing its brutal force. It is detrimental to the stability of the roof. 

Aspects worthy of a second thought

There are a few aspects you can consider for avoiding the viciousness of the wind. A multisided roof will facilitate the flow of the air current around it, thus reducing its force. If the eaves are broad enough to catch the force of the wind, your roof can be moved or even lifted. Maximum reduction in the breadth of the eaves will reduce the upward thrust of the wind. The roof pitch is another factor that makes a difference in the wind-resisting capacity of the roof. The right strategy will be to keep the roof pitch in Florida low.

Roof shapes recommended for St. Petersburg, Florida homes

Multi-sided roofs are the best suited to Florida homes.

Hipped roof

This roof shape involves slopes on four sides of equal dimensions that come together at the top. Usually, two sides of such a roof are triangles, and the other two are trapezoids. If the house is large, a combination of multiple hips will be better. The pitch of the hipped roof is often kept low. It reduces the wind’s impact on the roof.  The air flows around the different hips of the roof. Such roofs are termed cross-hipped roofs.

Jerkinhead roof 

It is a roof shape that looks complicated and fascinating. It is also called a “clipped gable.” This shape is a combination of a hipped roof and a gabled roof. The two sides of the roof come up to meet at the top, resembling a gable roof but instead of meeting at the top, the top part flattens into a platform-like structure.  This roof shape gives aesthetically pleasing architecture to your home. At the same time, it reduces the wind-induced shock on your roof.

The subtropical weather of Florida, rife with unexpected thunderstorms, and hurricanes makes it necessary for the homeowners to choose their roof shape carefully. A discussion with the experienced roofer on the matter will help you to make informed decisions.