Billions of dollars in insurance payouts are made each year because of damage to roofs from hurricanes and the high winds associated with storms like these.

You can prevent such losses by ensuring that the roof on your home is hurricane resistant along standards outlined by engineers and others in the construction industry.

For example, shingle products are designed to resist damage from impact and high winds. These meet the most stringent standards for impact and wind resistance set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in developed countries and organisations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International).

One manufacturing standard, the UL 2218, classifies the resistance of roofing products to impact damage.

Your best defence is to fasten the roof securely to the house and include multiple layers of moisture protection.

Here are some other tips which will assist you in your research on what it will take to construct roofing which can withstand hurricane winds and other weather hazards:

Install underlayment (area immediately beneath shingles) correctly. Install underlayment per manufacturer's specifications with approved fasteners.

Use proper flashing and starter strip techniques for areas on the roof where there is a change in surface.

Use plane or cladding material which serve the dual purpose of channelling water run-off during storm events and providing a second level of water intrusion protection.

Install a wind and impact resistant covering. Select appropriate wind and impact resistant roof coverings and install per the manufacturer's instructions. Rated wind and impact resistant asphalt shingles, and standing-seam metal roofs are good choices for storm resistance.

Use proper fastener/nailing schedules for your wind zone. Fastener/nailing schedules tend to change with the product and wind zone, so pay specific attention to these details.

Build a moderately pitched hip roof. Because mid-range slope roofs withstand strong winds better than steep roofs, keep the roof pitch below 6/12 and greater than 4/12. Flat roofs increase uplift forces on the overhang and are more prone to leaks.

Securely attach roof decking. Use roof sheathing with a minimum thickness of 19/32 inches for added strength in high-risk, high-wind zones.

Use membranes. Roof coverings and underlayment can blow off in high winds, in which case the roof decking can act as a water and wind barrier. Consider applying a peel and stick roof membrane product over the entire roof deck.

Partial information source: www.housingzone.com and www.toolbase.org