In stormy weather, certain portions of your home can face specific hazards. Namely, your roof. To secure it in a more stable manner, hurricane clips can be used. These clips help strengthen the bond between the walls and roof of your home so that, during heavy winds or storms, the roof won't blow away. You can install them yourself; they are relatively inexpensive, and minimal attention and care are required by hurricane clips.
The following information will help answer the question: What are hurricane clips? It will also explore hurricane ties for trusses, provide a guide to installing hurricane clips for roof applications, and answer these questions: What are hurricane straps? Aren't clips and straps the same? Let's find out.
What Are Hurricane Clips?
After 2001, any homes built in Florida are required to use hurricane clips. To attach your wall structure and roof, these steel connectors are designed to withstand winds of hurricane strength. Ordinarily, that type of pressure on your roof’s overhang could prove hazardous and highly damaging. To put it simply, hurricane clips help keep the lid on your home.
Hurricane clips go by several names, including the following:
- Hurricane brackets
- Hurricane anchors
- Hurricane strips
- Hurricane ties
Hurricane Ties for Trusses
As just stated, hurricane clips also go by the name of hurricane ties. To reinforce the connection between the wall plate and roof truss, hurricane ties are used by roofers. With an existing roof, if you want to install hurricane ties or clips, you want to consider certain criteria in order to select the proper ties. Some considerations to keep in mind are as follows:
- The dimensions of the beams and trusses
- Demand load of the beams or truss
- Whether or not the walls and roof are aligned
- Whether or not special hurricane ties are required by your municipality or state
Hurricane Clips for Roof Applications
To install hurricane clips for the securing of your home’s roof:
- The spot where beams and trusses will meet must be located
- If you're trying to find outside rafters, you may need to uninstall soffits
- If you are installing strips from your home's interior, remove the drywall
- In the locations where the beams and trusses meet, mark and count the spots
- The length needed to connect beams and trusses will be measured next
- Purchase the hurricane ties that are most appropriate for your needs
- Purchase the nails you will need and that are most appropriate for the job
- Hurricane straps will then be fastened to the wall construction and the wooden roof
- When the project is finished, double-check everything
- If need be, repair drywall and/or reinstall soffit panels
What Are Hurricane Straps?
For the most part, it's not exactly inappropriate to use the terms "hurricane strap" and "hurricane clip" interchangeably. For most people, using one for the other is accurate enough.
That said, compared to a hurricane clip, hurricane straps are going to be straight, long strips of nylon or metal. (Whereas clips connect the supporting wall trusses of your home to the roof using a small bent plate of steel.)
Though both can be instrumental in protecting your home against wind damage, it's important to remember that "clips" are specifically mentioned in the case of Florida wind mitigation.
Working on Your Roof? Factory Direct Supply Has Hurricane Clips and More
Factory Direct Supply carries a vast array of building and construction tools and accessories. Take, for example, our Simpson Strong-tie max finish hurricane tie. Use it to provide a positive connection between a rafter/truss and your structure’s wall to resist seismic and wind forces. Visit our website and get in touch with us today for all your roofing needs.
