Roofing Shingles & Wind Ratings

How do roofing shingle wind ratings affect you and your home?

This is a very important question for every home owner. Roofing shingle wind ratings are a critical factor in determining the warranty value and protection of your home. The first question we should ask is what is a wind rating. Simply explained a roofing manufacturer guarantees their shingle will stay on your roof (if installed correctly) up to certain specific wind speeds.



What determines a roofing shingles wind rating?

Shingles can be blown off if not fastened properly

There are a few key factors that determine a roofing shingles wind rating. The number of nails that are used to fasten the shingle to the sub-deck is one of them. For instance a standard architectural laminate shingle carries up to a 110 mph wind rating when fastened to a solid wood deck with a minimum of 4 nails. The same shingle installed with 6 nails carries a 130 mph wind rating which is a category 5 hurricane. One factor to take note of is that a wind warranty can be voided if your installer uses staples and not nails. Make sure when your contract is being written up the contractor is using nails so your warranty is valid.

Another factor to your shingle operating at its wind rating potential is making sure the nails go into the designated nailing section. There is a small section on the shingle where the different layers of the laminate overlap, this is where you want to install your fasteners. This nailing section is only about an inch tall so it is common for a roofer that is not trained or being a little careless to fasten nails either above or below. If this happens a lot on a roof or a section of the roof it can easily be blown off in a wind storm or with strong gusts of wind.

Roofing types and wind ratings

The type of roofing shingle you select determines the kind of wind rating you will receive. Reference the warranty chart below to see the wind rating the most commonly used shingles carry. Make sure you consult a professional roofing contractor in your area that knows the correct shingle for your regions weather patters. 

Roofing types and their wind ratings

3 tab roofing shingles 60-70 mph

Architectural laminate shingles 110-130 mph

Presidential/Tri-laminate shingles 130 mph