Hip roofs generally hold up better than gable roofs in hurricanes. Wind tunnel studies cited by PNNL found peak pressures up to 50 percent lower on hip roofs, and IBHS found hip roofs damaged less often after Hurricane Harvey. A braced gable roof can still perform well, and roof age matters too.
You are looking at a house or a roof and wondering how the shape will handle the next storm. Here is what the research says, and what you can do about it.
Hip roofs generally do better. They slope on all four sides, so wind has no flat end wall to push on. A braced gable roof can still perform well.
A hip roof slopes down on all four sides. A gable roof has two sloping sides and a triangle of wall at each end, called the gable end. That end wall is a big flat surface for wind to hit.
The best numbers come from wind tunnel tests. PNNL, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's building science guide, cites studies by Meecham (1992) and Shao and others (2018) that found peak wind pressures can be as much as 50 percent lower on a hip roof than on a gable roof. In the field, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) studied 213 houses after Hurricane Harvey and found that hip roofs, which are more aerodynamic than gable end roofs, were damaged less often.
Shape is only part of the story. A 2026 NIST study of asphalt shingle damage found that older hip roofs sustained notably more damage than gable or more complex roofs of the same age, and said age should be separated from construction quality, upkeep and shape in future work. A newer, well built gable roof can beat an old hip roof.
| Feature | Hip roof | Gable roof |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Four sloping sides | Two sloping sides and two end walls |
| Peak wind pressure | Wind tunnel studies found up to 50 percent lower | Higher; gable roofs catch more wind and are prone to uplift and racking |
| Weak point | Valleys on complex hip roofs, and the age of the roof cover | Gable end wall and overhang, where bracing matters most |
| Bracing | Less dependent on end wall bracing | Not inherently stable in hurricane winds; the roof-to-gable-end connection must be braced |
| Wind mitigation form | Counts as a hip roof only if other roof shapes are no more than 10 percent of the roof perimeter | Falls in the "other roof" answer |
This is general information. Every house is different, and a licensed professional can look at yours.
Coastline inspects roofs and gives you a written photo report. We repair and replace shingle, tile, metal and low-slope roofs. For the wind mitigation form, we can coordinate a licensed inspector.
Hip roofs are not immune and gable roofs are not doomed. These are the weak spots the sources describe.
PNNL says the connection between the roof and the gable end wall is the most vulnerable point and must be braced. PNNL shows a FEMA photo of an end wall that failed because it was not braced well, and notes that FEMA's Hurricane Andrew study recommended bracing roofs and gable end walls.
PNNL says the overhang at a gable end can be strengthened with outrigger or lookout framing and metal connectors.
In hurricane regions, PNNL says metal connectors are often needed because nails alone may not hold under the pull and repeated loading of strong winds.
A roof with cross hips, valleys and exposed vertical walls adds places where wind driven rain and leaks are more likely, according to PNNL. See why roof valleys leak.
NIST found older hip roofs took notably more shingle damage than gable or complex roofs of the same age. The age and condition of the roof cover matter as much as the shape.
IBHS found more than half of the 213 Harvey homes it studied lost shingles, and many then had underlayment or structural damage. Shape does not save a shingle that was not nailed or sealed well.
The form has one roof shape question. Hip roof is answer A, flat is B, and everything else is C.
The Florida wind mitigation form is the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802. The current version, revised 04/26, has been required since April 1, 2026. Its roof geometry question asks what the roof shape is. Answer A is a hip roof with no other roof shapes greater than 10 percent of the total roof system perimeter, and the inspector records the feet of non-hip features against the total perimeter. Answer B is a flat roof on a building with five or more units where at least 90 percent of the main roof area has a slope under 2:12. Anything else is answer C, other roof. Porch and carport roofs attached only to the wall or fascia over open space are left out of the count.
Insurers use that answer to decide on wind credits, and the form notes that some items listed may not qualify for a discount. A form is valid for up to five years if nothing material changes.
Roof shape is the one answer you cannot change with a re-roof. Deck nailing, the secondary water barrier and roof-to-wall connections are things you can improve, and they show up on the same form. See roof deck, roof-to-wall and SWR on the 1802 form and wind mitigation inspection savings.
Who fills it out? A qualified inspector signs the form. The form lists home inspectors with hurricane mitigation training, building code inspectors, general, building and residential contractors, engineers and architects. Coastline's license is not on that list, so a licensed inspector does the form. Coastline can coordinate one for you. Our guide to reading your wind mitigation report explains each answer.
Yes. Brace the gable ends, connect the roof to the walls, re-nail the deck, and add a secondary water barrier.
You cannot turn a gable into a hip without rebuilding the roof, but you can close most of the gap.
This is framing and engineering work. PNNL says the required strength depends on the peak wind loads for the building, calculated under ASCE 7, and that a braced gable end must resist roof uplift and push, wind pressure on the wall, and racking forces. Florida's Division of Emergency Management says blocking along ridge vent edges generally has to be added before the roofer arrives, and it matters most for gable ends taller than about 8 feet where design winds top about 130 mph.
Metal connectors do this better than toenails. When a roof is replaced on a building in the wind-borne debris region that is insured for $300,000 or more, Section 706.8 of the Existing Building volume can require roof-to-wall connections to be improved, with the added cost capped at 15 percent of the reroofing cost.
Section 706.7.1 requires added fasteners on an existing wood deck at re-roof. See roof nailing requirements in Florida.
Section 706.7.2 requires it when a roof covering is replaced on a wood deck. IBHS recommends sealing the gaps between deck panels, because when shingles tear off in a storm, a roof with open gaps lets rain pour in.
Our default shingle, Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, is warranted by Atlas to 130 mph with its standard 4 nail installation. See shingle wind ratings in Florida.
Grants may help with some of this. Read My Safe Florida Home roof grants for what qualifies.
No. You replace a roof in kind. The shape stays, so put the effort into the parts you can control: the deck, the barrier, the nails and the cover.
If your house has a gable roof, it stays a gable roof. What you decide is the roof cover and the details under it. A roofer can look at the cover, the edges and the overhangs and tell you what shape they are in.
Coastline replaces and repairs shingle, tile, metal and low-slope roofs. Josh reviews every job. For storm damage, see storm damage repair. For the right material for coastal Florida, read best roofing for coastal Florida homes. For what insurers see in a roof after a storm, see does a new roof lower insurance in Florida. And for prep before a storm arrives, hurricane season roof prep in Manatee County is a good checklist.
"Josh was especially amazing. He was professional, patient, and took the time to explain everything clearly so I felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his customers and takes pride in his work."Madison T.Roofing customer
"Good communication and did a great job."Rick R.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
"Highly recommend. Great communication. Great quality of work and very personable. Easy to work with. Will use again for home renovations."Justin S.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
The wind mitigation form records roof shape, and insurers use the form to decide wind credits. The form says some items listed may not qualify for a discount, so ask your insurer what it credits. A hip roof counts only if other roof shapes are no more than 10 percent of the roof perimeter.
Not by itself. PNNL says gable roofs are not inherently stable against hurricane forces and need proper bracing at the gable ends. A braced gable roof on a sound frame with a well nailed deck can do well. The risk climbs when the end wall is not braced.
A Dutch gable is a small gable set on top of a hip roof. PNNL lists Dutch gable and cross gable roofs among the more complex shapes that add valleys and exposed vertical walls, where leaks and wind driven rain are more likely. On the wind form, such a roof may fall into the other roof answer.
The roof cover and the roof shape are separate questions. Shape affects how wind loads the roof, and the cover is the surface that has to hold on. This page covers shape. Our metal and shingle guides cover the material.
No. Coastline's license cannot sign the form, and the form lists who may sign it. We can coordinate a licensed inspector for you. Our wind mitigation guides explain what each answer means before the inspector arrives.
Coastline gives you a written photo report and a straight answer on whether your roof needs a repair or a replacement. We work all over Florida, from our base in Palmetto.
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