Wind uplift is a critical factor that must be taken into account when designing roofing for a building, no matter what its size or type.

An important element that roofers must consider to properly calculate wind uplift and its influence on a roofing system is exposure or how much wind can reach the structure.

In doing so, there are multiple variables that roofing companies must analyze to design a durable, wind-resistant roofing installation for an individual home or building.

How Does Wind Uplift Affect Roofing?

Wind uplift is recognized by the ASCE 7 as a damaging effect that wind can cause to roofing as it blows over a home or building.

By creating an upward sucking force, uplift can lift shingles and panels up and off of a roof, damaging the materials or even completely pulling them off the support structure.

To avoid these possibilities, roofers must always consider wind uplift when designing a roofing system for any building.

The first step in addressing damage caused by uplift and what is required to prevent it is analyzing the degree of exposure a building has.

What Wind Exposure Factors Must Roofers?

When the wind blows, it affects stationary objects in different ways based on physical factors like wind speed, the position of the object, and its shape.

Although every installation done by a roofing company is exposed to the forces of uplift to some degree, the amount of uplift acting on a roof will vary depending on its amount of exposure or which physical aspects are affecting it.

Taller buildings can protect shorter ones from wind uplift.

Buildings built in open areas or with certain architecture may experience higher uplifts.

Based on these and many other factors, three exposure categories must be considered when designing safe and durable roofing, including building location, shape and size, and the varying definitions of surface roughness of the land surrounding the building.

What Are The Different Wind Exposure Categories?

To design a durable roofing installation that can withstand wind uplift, roofers and roofing materials manufacturing companies will evaluate uplift exposure according to the three categories outlined by the ASCE 7:

Exposure Category B - Addresses wind exposure in regions classified as Surface roughness Category B, which are urban and suburban areas where buildings are closer together, the terrain has many obstructions within smaller spaces, and there are wooded areas.
Exposure Category C - Addresses wind exposure in regions classified as Surface roughness Category C, which are open areas like grasslands and open country with scattered obstructions of less than 30 feet in height.
Exposure Category D - Addresses wind exposure in regions classified as Surface roughness Category D, which are flat, open, and unwooded areas that are open to air flow blowing off water surfaces of at least a mile in distance; coastal areas.

As each of these different surface roughness categories experiences winds and wind uplifts differently, roofing companies must classify each building according to these uplift exposure estimations to design a resilient roof.

A Roofer Can Safely Address The Complexities of Wind Uplift

As simple as it may seem to have new roofing installed on a home or building, wind uplift exposure is a significant factor that must be addressed for best results.

Roofers must be knowledgeable on proper materials choice and installation based on the wind uplift risk present to ensure a durable installation that will not be damaged by wind uplift.

A certified local roofing company experienced with roofing systems and designs that are appropriate for the region is recommended.