Storm-Resistant Home Design

Home Shapes And Roofs That Hold Up Best In Hurricanes (ScienceDaily, Jun. 21, 2007) reports on a research report from New Jersey Institute of Technology identifying design strategies for homes resistant to high winds and storm-driven funding. Among the findings:

• Hipped roofs with a 30-degree slope are the most resistant to wind uplift.
• Homes thats are roughly square in plan are more wind-resistant that those that are more rectangular.
• Roof overhangs should be limited to 20 inches deep.
• An elevated structure is less at risk from storm-driven flooding.