Hurricane Rated Vinyl Siding

Measured in squares of siding.

Hurricane rated vinyl siding.

Install vinyl siding in accordance with manufacturer s installation. Wood siding which is common on older homes is too easily damaged by hurricanes or severe storms not to mention sea salt damage to be recommended. Purchasing new vinyl siding with a high wind rating is one way to potentially reduce the amount of damage caused by high wind events such as hurricanes. Hurricane irma quick facts about the storm beginning as a category 5 storm in the open atlantic the hurricane broke many records in size intensity and duration.

Siding panels directly beneath a window figure 6. In fact you can find specialty vinyl siding that can withstand winds up to 240 mph. Winds from recent storms may have exceeded the rating specified by your local building code and damaged your siding to the point where it should be replaced. Also when properly installed your james hardie siding is rated for the wind resistance specified by your local building code.

Most vinyl siding is rated to withstand winds up to 110 mph. Some siding is far less resistant to cracking from impacts in warm and cold weather and some is less likely to stay put in a windstorm based on the simulated 150 mph winds in our testing. You ll want the plywood panels to overlap the window four inches to ensure your windows won t get blown out. Vinyl siding institute team visited neighborhoods built with polymeric claddings to observe the impact and determine how the exterior cladding held up against the category 2 storm.

Properly specified vinyl siding for high wind areas higher than the code required 110 mph means product that was manufactured and rated for high velocity winds generally labeled with a wind velocity statement in the manufacturer s literature or the icc es report. Each high performance panel features luxurious color through and through so it won t chip flake or blister like painted surfaces. Make sure to drill holes into the studs of your home. Vinyl siding is an option too but not as durable.

Durable and dent resistant preservation ultra premium vinyl siding also delivers an easy care finish that beautifully withstands harsh weather. At gable end walls it is recommended that vinyl siding be installed over wood sheathing rather than over plastic foam sheathing as was done at the house shown in figure 7. For homes with vinyl siding make sure to measure the space you need to cover. A good contractor can recommend quality siding options that meet hurricane resistant standards.

That will do the job in most areas unless a serious hurricane hits your home. The trim won t be stable enough to withstand storms.