Watch as protective layers wrap around your building. Each layer works together to keep the Florida Keys weather outside where it belongs.
The building envelope is your first and last line of defense against 175 mph winds.
Each layer plays a critical role in keeping your home safe
The skeleton of your building. In the Keys, this means concrete block, reinforced poured concrete, or engineered wood frame with hurricane straps at every connection.
Plywood or OSB panels that cover the frame. They must be nailed in a specific pattern - closer at edges, every 6 inches at panel perimeters in high-wind zones.
House wrap, building paper, or fluid-applied membrane. This layer stops water but lets vapor escape. In salt air, fluid-applied barriers last longer than stapled wraps.
Stucco, siding, or panels that you see from outside. Must be rated for 175 mph. Fiber cement outperforms vinyl in the Keys because it resists salt degradation.
Windows, doors, and garage doors are the weak points. Monroe County requires impact-rated glazing or approved shutters on all openings.
Your roof is under the most stress. It needs proper decking attachment, secondary water barrier, and rated covering - plus sealed edges and proper flashing.
A window breaks. Wind rushes in and pressurizes the interior, pushing up on the roof from inside.
An entry door or garage door fails. Larger opening means faster pressurization and higher internal forces.
Multiple openings fail. The building becomes a balloon with holes. Roof uplift forces can double.
Check these before hurricane season
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