I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve spent a lot on upgrades—impact shingles, extra strapping, you name it—but I still hold my breath every time the wind picks up. I do think prep matters more than luck in the long run, though. My neighbor skipped the hurricane clips to save a few bucks and his roof was a mess after the last storm, while mine held up. There’s always going to be that random flying branch or weird gust, but I’d rather stack the odds in my favor than just hope for the best.
I hear you on the prep vs. luck debate. I’ve seen roofs with all the bells and whistles still lose a few shingles, and then there’s that one old house down the street with original everything that somehow survives every storm. Out of curiosity, did you notice any small leaks or loose flashing after the last hurricane, or was it all solid? Sometimes the real issues show up a week later...
I’ve seen roofs with all the bells and whistles still lose a few shingles, and then there’s that one old house down the street with original everything that somehow survives every storm.
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I’ve crawled around plenty of attics after storms—sometimes the “overbuilt” roofs are the first to show issues, and the 60-year-old ones just keep trucking. It’s wild.
About leaks and flashing, did you get up in the attic or just check ceilings and walls? Sometimes a leak won’t show up as a stain for days or even weeks, especially if it’s a slow drip. I’ve seen cases where folks thought they were in the clear, then suddenly there’s a brown spot on the drywall two weeks later. Flashing is sneaky too. Even if it looks tight from the ground, a little wind-driven rain can find its way in if there’s any gap or old caulk.
What kind of roof are we talking about—shingles, metal, tile? I’ve noticed architectural shingles tend to hold up better than the basic 3-tabs, but even then, installation seems to matter more than the actual material. I inspected a house last year with “hurricane-rated” shingles that still lost a bunch because the nails were too high up. Meanwhile, a neighbor’s 30-year-old roof didn’t lose a single tab.
Also, any trees nearby? Overhanging branches can mess up flashing or even lift shingles during high winds. And gutters—did you check for granules or shingle bits in there? Sometimes that’s the first sign things aren’t as solid as they look.
Luck definitely plays a part, but I’d say small details (like properly nailed starter strips or sealed vents) make a bigger difference than most people think. Still, sometimes you do everything right and Mother Nature just has other plans...
I get what you’re saying about the details making or breaking a roof, but I honestly think luck is a bigger factor than most folks want to admit. My house has a 25-year-old 3-tab shingle roof—nothing fancy, just standard install—and it’s outlasted two neighbors’ “hurricane-proof” roofs. Both of theirs were replaced after the last big storm, and mine barely lost a granule. The only thing I do differently is keep up with minor repairs and clear the gutters, but nothing special.
I’m not convinced that overbuilding always helps either. Sometimes those “extra” features just give water more places to sneak in or for wind to catch an edge. And yeah, installation matters, but even the best job can’t account for every weird gust or flying branch.
As for leaks, I’ve had one show up months after a storm—turned out to be a tiny nail pop under some flashing. No way I would’ve caught it unless I was tearing things apart.
At the end of the day, you can prep all you want, but sometimes it’s just the roll of the dice.
At the end of the day, you can prep all you want, but sometimes it’s just the roll of the dice.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue it’s more like stacking the deck than pure luck. My neighbor’s “hurricane-proof” roof peeled up last year, but when I checked it out, the starter strip was barely tacked down and the ridge vent was half blocked by insulation. Meanwhile, my 20-year-old architectural shingles are still hanging on because I’m a stickler for flashing and sealant. Sure, a freak branch can take out any roof, but most of the time it’s those little details that decide if you’re patching or replacing.
