Simpson Strong-Tie Offers Homeowners Tips for a Safer, Stronger Home PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With the increasing number of tornadoes this year and hurricane season underway, there's no better time to prepare homes for high wind storms. Simpson Strong-Tie, a leader in structural building products for hurricane safety, is encouraging homeowners to take a few simple steps to help ensure their homes are storm ready. "Almost all parts of the country are subject to high winds. Knowing if a home is storm ready requires a few simple steps," said Randy Shackelford, P.E., engineer and code specialist for Simpson Strong-Tie. Shackelford says one of the first things to consider is where you live. "Coastal areas, for example, are more susceptible to powerful winds, like those from hurricanes. Building codes for these areas typically require homes to resist much higher wind speeds than inland homes. You'll want to check with your local building department to learn about the codes that govern your area." Another indicator of a storm-ready house is when it was built. Older homes may not have been built to resist high winds. The most important indicator, however, is how the house is built. "You need to look at the critical areas of your home. How your roof, walls and foundation are attached, as well as window and garage door protection are key to protecting your home from wind damage," explained Shackelford. He added, "In high wind storms, we often see homes that have lost their roofs. Typically, these roofs were only nailed to the home's walls-not attached using metal connectors. Nails alone can pull out, especially during a powerful wind storm." If homeowners are not experienced in home construction or uncomfortable inspecting their homes, Simpson Strong-Tie recommends hiring a qualified, licensed home inspector or structural engineer to perform the inspection and identify areas in need of retrofit. Simpson Strong-Tie offers a tip sheet, titled "5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home," to help homeowners understand how wind can affect their homes and provide steps to make their homes more storm resistant. The tip sheet and additional information about high wind safety are available at http://www.strongtie.com/highwind.
