Broward County Contractors

Fighting Gravity's Opposite

Wind doesn't push your roof down - it sucks it UP. Like a vacuum cleaner on steroids. Watch what happens when uplift force exceeds your anchor capacity.

Calculate Uplift See Roof Zones

Increase Wind to See Uplift

Anchors Holding

Uplift Force: 0 psf

Dead Weight: -15 psf

Net Force: -15 psf

Wind Speed 0 mph

Roof Pressure Zones

Not all parts of your roof face the same uplift - corners and edges are hit hardest

Interior Zone

Middle of the roof - lowest pressures

Typical: -45 to -55 psf

Edge Zone

Along roof edges - 1.3x interior pressure

Typical: -60 to -75 psf

Corner Zone

Roof corners - 1.7x interior pressure

Typical: -80 to -95 psf

Uplift Force Calculator

See the net uplift your roof connections must resist

Wind Speed (mph)

Roof Zone

Roof Type

Exposure Category

Gross Uplift Pressure

-65

psf (suction)

Net Uplift (after dead weight)

-53

psf to resist

Common Questions

What contractors ask about uplift resistance

What is wind uplift?

Wind uplift is the suction force that tries to lift your roof off the building. When wind flows over a roof, it creates low pressure above the roof - just like an airplane wing. This low pressure sucks the roof upward. In a hurricane, uplift forces can exceed 100 pounds per square foot.

How do I calculate uplift force in Broward County?

Uplift force depends on wind speed, exposure category, building height, and roof shape. For Broward County with 180 mph wind and Exposure D, a typical roof can experience -60 to -90 psf of uplift. Corner and edge zones face even higher pressures, sometimes 1.5x the interior zone pressure.

What holds my roof down against uplift?

Three things resist uplift: 1) The dead weight of your roof (typically 10-20 psf), 2) Hurricane straps and clips connecting roof to walls, 3) The continuous load path down through walls to foundation. In high-wind areas like Broward, the dead weight alone is never enough - you need engineered connections.

Why are roof corners and edges more vulnerable to uplift?

Wind creates vortices at corners and separates from the building at edges. These effects concentrate uplift forces in these zones - often 1.5 to 2 times higher than the middle of the roof. Building codes divide roofs into zones with different pressure requirements for this reason.

Can my existing roof resist Broward County uplift forces?

Homes built before 1994 often lack adequate uplift resistance. A wind mitigation inspection can identify deficiencies. Retrofits include adding hurricane straps from the attic and improving roof deck attachment. These improvements also qualify for insurance discounts.