Roof damage can begin in winds as low as 75 to 95 mph on older roofs, and IBHS found roof covering loss at every wind speed in Hurricane Michael. Decking damage appeared above about 130 mph and structural damage above 140 mph. Age, sealing and attachment decide where a roof fails.
Shingle boxes say 110, 130 or 150 mph, but storms and roofs do not follow the label. Here is how the numbers really relate.
Damage can start around 75 mph for older or weak roofs. IBHS saw roof covering loss at every wind speed in Hurricane Michael, and decking damage above about 130 mph.
There is no single number, because the answer depends on the roof's age, its materials, how it was nailed and sealed, and whether wind gets under an edge. Two sources help. The Florida Division of Emergency Management's Hurricane Retrofit Guide reports that at gusts of 75 to 95 mph, roofs over about 10 years old failed about 1 to 2 in 10 times, while roofs under 5 years old failed about 1 in 20 or less. At gusts above about 120 mph, it says 3 to 5 in 10 shingle roofs needed re-roofing regardless of age.
IBHS studied 186 homes after Hurricane Michael in 2018 and found roof cover loss in every wind speed band. It saw damage grow in steps as the wind rose, as the table shows.
| Wind speed | What IBHS observed |
|---|---|
| Over 110 mph | Roof cover, wall, soffit and fascia damage |
| Over 130 mph | Roof decking damage |
| Over 140 mph | Roof structural damage |
| Over 150 mph | Total collapse |
IBHS also found that most homes with asphalt shingles were damaged, less than half of homes with metal roofs were, and every 3-tab shingle roof it looked at was damaged. Newer asphalt shingle roofs generally did better than older ones in the same neighborhood, and hip roofs did better than gable roofs.
Coastline inspects the roof surface and edges and sends a written photo report, so you know where wind may have loosened things. Coastline Roofing works all over Florida (license CCC1331076).
A Category 1 can already cause roof damage. Category 3 and up can remove decking and gable ends.
The National Hurricane Center rates hurricanes by sustained wind only. Gusts, the short bursts that tear at a roof, can be higher than the sustained speed.
| Category | Sustained winds | Typical damage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74 to 95 mph | Some damage to roofs, siding and gutters; large tree branches break |
| 2 | 96 to 110 mph | Extensive damage including major roof and siding loss; many trees uprooted |
| 3 (major) | 111 to 129 mph | Devastating damage including roof decking and gable ends removed |
| 4 (major) | 130 to 156 mph | Catastrophic damage; most of the roof structure lost |
| 5 (major) | 157 mph or higher | Catastrophic damage; a high percentage of framed homes destroyed |
Hurricane Michael came ashore with sustained winds of about 160 mph, according to IBHS, and produced more than $25 billion in damage with over 54,000 structures damaged or destroyed. A storm at that strength is far beyond what a normal roof is built to handle. If a storm already passed, our after Hurricane Milton guide and hidden storm damage page help you check.
A rating describes a new product in a test. Real roofs have age, heat, weak edges and loose nails.
IBHS says shingle wind resistance depends on the sealant bond. Sealing can take one to two weeks in warm summer weather, and one to two months or more in poor conditions. It also says asphalt sealant weakens after roughly 7 to 10 years.
IBHS says the ASTM D3161 and D7158 wind ratings test new products and do not account for weathering, temperature or aging. A 130 mph rating on the box is not a promise for a 15-year-old roof.
FORTIFIED says roof damage often starts when wind gets under the roof edge and pulls it away from the home. A wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip are used to fight that.
FORTIFIED cites IBHS testing that found switching to 8D ring-shank nails and tighter spacing can double the uplift a roof deck can withstand.
FORTIFIED names attic vents, unbraced gable ends and failed garage doors as weak links in high winds.
The Florida hurricane retrofit guide says mortar-set tile performs worst in hurricane investigations, hip and ridge tiles are the most vulnerable, and tiles can become airborne at roughly 120 to 130 mph. See wind-lifted roof tiles.
The Florida Building Code sets a design wind speed for the location. The shingle must carry a rating that meets or beats it.
The code uses an ultimate design wind speed, written as Vult, for each location. It also uses a lower number, Vasd, which is the same wind expressed for allowable-stress design. Shingle packaging uses ASTM test classes, so the code ties the two together in a table.
The Florida Building Code, Residential, 2010 edition, had a table that paired Vult with Vasd and the shingle classes allowed. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) reproduced it. The table below comes from ARMA's explanation of the 2010 table. The current Florida Building Code uses newer maps and editions, so treat it as a guide to how the pieces relate, and check your own permit for the design speed.
| Vult (design wind speed) | Vasd | ASTM D7158 class | ASTM D3161 class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 mph | 85 mph | D, G or H | A, D or F |
| 129 mph | 100 mph | G or H | A, D or F |
| 142 mph | 110 mph | G or H | F |
| 155 mph | 120 mph | G or H | F |
| 168 mph | 130 mph | H | F |
| 194 mph | 150 mph | H | F |
The classes themselves, per the Florida Hurricane Retrofit Guide, are: D3161 Class A is 60 mph, Class D is 90 mph, Class F is 110 mph; D7158 Class D is 90 mph, Class G is 120 mph, and Class H is 150 mph, measured as 3-second gust design speeds. ARMA's example of a 140 mph design zone requires a shingle that meets D7158 Class G or H, or D3161 Class F.
For Coastline, the default shingle is Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, which Atlas warrants to 130 mph. Read more in our Atlas Pinnacle Pristine guide and shingle wind ratings in Florida. For the repair and replacement side, see storm damage repair, shingle roofing and best shingles for Florida. Wind mitigation forms are separate: Coastline can coordinate a licensed inspector, and our wind mitigation guide explains the form.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Check from the ground, cover any opening, and get a photographed inspection before the next storm.
Look at the roof from the yard for missing, lifted or creased shingles, shifted tile and bent metal. Look at the attic for stains and daylight. Our missing shingles after a storm and my roof is leaking guides help. The FDEM guide says to look for cracks, broken tabs, curling and worn granules, which are signs a roof will lose shingles in a hurricane, and to inspect shingles at least yearly.
If something is open, a tarp keeps rain out. Coastline does tarps and temporary repairs, and sends a written photo report. See emergency tarping. For planning ahead, hurricane season roof prep in Manatee County covers what to check before a storm.
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It can on a worn roof. The Florida Hurricane Retrofit Guide reports failures starting at gusts of 75 to 95 mph on roofs over about 10 years old. Loose or unsealed shingles, weak edges and old nails make gusts more harmful.
Not necessarily. IBHS says the ASTM wind tests apply to new products and do not account for aging, temperature or weathering. Installation, sealing, deck nailing and roof edges also matter. The rating is a minimum for a new, correctly installed roof.
The National Hurricane Center's categories use sustained winds. Gusts are short bursts that can run higher. Shingle ratings use 3-second gust speeds. That is why a Category 1 storm can still tear shingles off.
IBHS found in Hurricane Michael that less than half of metal roofs it studied were damaged, versus most asphalt shingle roofs, and that hip roofs did better than gable roofs. Installation and age still matter for every roof type. See our metal and shingle guides for the details.
The Florida guide shows roofs over about 10 years old failed more often than roofs under 5. IBHS says shingle sealant weakens after roughly 7 to 10 years. Age is a factor, not a deadline. A written inspection shows how your own roof is holding up.
Coastline sends a written photo report that shows the roof's edges, sealing and weak spots, with a straight answer on repair or replacement.
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