- Noticed the same thing after storms—trusses plus hurricane straps seem to hold up better around here.
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That’s been my experience too. My neighbor’s old gable roof with rafters always loses shingles, while my hip roof (with trusses) barely gets a scratch.“rafters plus minimal bracing didn’t fare so well—lost a few sections of sheathing.”
- Shape matters, but I think build quality is just as important. Seen some steep roofs take a beating if they’re not tied down right.
- Don’t let it get you down—sounds like you’re paying attention to what works. That’s half the battle.
- Totally get what you’re saying—trusses with hurricane straps have saved a lot of headaches after storms in my area too.
- Still, I’ve seen some old rafter roofs hang tough if they’re well-braced and the sheathing’s solid. Not always about new vs old.
- It’s easy to get discouraged after losing shingles or sheathing, but figuring out what didn’t work is the best way to fix it next time.
- You’re definitely on the right track paying attention to the details. That’s usually what separates the roofs that last from the ones that don’t.
I hear you on the details making all the difference. After a bad windstorm last year, I realized my old rafter roof held up better than some newer truss roofs nearby—probably because I’d spent way too much time fussing over hurricane ties and extra bracing. Sometimes it’s not just about the system but how carefully it’s put together. Have you noticed if certain fasteners or sheathing types seem to hold up better in your area? I’m always curious what actually works in real-world storms, not just on paper.
That lines up with what I’ve seen after big storms—older roofs with solid rafter framing and a bunch of extra ties or blocking often come through better than newer truss jobs where the crew rushed things. Around here (coastal Carolina), I’ve noticed ring-shank nails hold sheathing better than staples, especially when the wind really gets under the eaves. Plywood seems to outlast OSB, too, at least when rain gets driven in. It’s wild how those little choices add up when the weather turns nasty.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen some newer truss systems hold up really well too, especially when they’re properly engineered and installed. The big difference seems to be attention to detail, not just the method. About this:
Plywood seems to outlast OSB, too, at least when rain gets driven in.
I’ve had a few jobs where high-grade OSB did fine, but yeah, once it gets soaked repeatedly, it’s not as forgiving as plywood. Still, for budget builds, people keep choosing OSB. It’s always a trade-off between cost and long-term durability.
