4.1.2 Minimize Water Entry Through Your Attic Ventilation System If you re-roof, there are opportunities to ensure that attic ventilation elements are properly installed and secured to your roof deck and roof structure. However, even if you don’t re-roof, there are still steps that can be taken to reduce the chances that water will enter through a ridge vent, that off-ridge vents are securely installed, that shutters are prepared to seal gable end vents during the preparation for a storm and that soffit covers are securely attached. Soffits are the horizontal surface on the bottom side of the roof overhang at the eaves or along the gable roof overhang. Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 showed that many elements of the attic ventilation system were vulnerable to damage in high winds and that failure of these covers or elements to keep water out led to significant water entry into homes and subsequent interior damage. Some things that can be done include: a. Make sure that any ridge vents are covered with products that have passed TAS 100 (A) testing and are approved for installation in Florida. The ridge vent is the last thing installed on a shingle roof so it is possible to easily improve its anchorage to the roof or to replace it with a new TAS 100 (A) approved product. b. Make sure that vinyl or aluminum soffit covers are well attached and if the soffit is longer than about 12-inches make sure it has a wood framing support member about midway between the wall and the edge of the roof overhang. You can push up on the soffit material to check for this structural support. c. If you have one or more gable end vents, you should prepare to have them shuttered with flat material that will prevent wind driven water from entering during the storm or if you also have ridge vents see if the gable end vent is still needed for attic ventilation and if not have sealed up. 4.2 PROTECTION FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, AND GARAGE DOORS Protection of your home’s envelope from breaches during a windstorm is critically important, particularly its vulnerable windows and doors which are commonly referred to “openings” since they fill open areas in the wall structure of the house. Some reports indicate that a door or window breach can potentially double the uplift forces on your roof and can significantly increase the chances that your roof will lift off. This is why FEMA indicated in their assessment report, that breach of the building envelope and subsequent internal pressurization led to progressive structural failure for many houses.
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