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Hurricane Resistant Siding: Choosing the Best Siding for High Wind Areas

Being storm-ready is important in high wind areas that are prone to nasty weather. The better equipped the building, the more likely it will protect your valuables and help you avoid expensive repairs. Hurricane-resistant siding is a practical exterior feature that strengthens the structure and makes it better prepared for tropical storms.

Hurricanes serve up unique threats, and you’ll see that not all siding materials are fit for high wind areas. Take a look at some of the things to keep in mind when building in a hurricane zone and compare materials to find the best siding for high wind areas.

What to Look for in Hurricane Resistant Siding

This two-story home has gray, beige and wood-like siding. There are two garage doors and rectangular windows.

Hurricane season extends from June through November every year, but hurricanes have been known to strike outside of this timeframe, too. While homes along the coastline are at the highest risk for damage, it’s common for hurricanes to cause considerable destruction as they move inland and become tropical storms. 

Hurricane-resistant siding is not only used for beachfront homes — it’s a practical choice for any structure built within a few hours of the coastline that can experience high wind gusts and hurricane-type weather.

The challenge with hurricanes is that these weather events attack the integrity of the building at many levels. For one, the sheer strength of wind gusts alone can rip siding right off a house or bend it in half. Secure installation and superior materials are vital to ensure the building has the best chance of standing up to high winds and intense weather events.

Hurricanes also can cause flying debris, which poses another serious threat. Loose materials like patio furniture, street signs and broken tree branches can get hurled toward buildings and strike the siding — that’s the power of hurricane-force winds. The more durable the exterior, the better chance the structure has of staying protected. Otherwise, the siding can get riddled with holes, scrapes and other damage due to flying objects.

Finally, the amount of rain involved with hurricanes can be overwhelming. Materials that are susceptible to moisture can become waterlogged and weakened quite easily. The best hurricane-resistant siding will feature some level of moisture protection to avoid water damage.

5 Siding Materials – How Would They Fare?

This white beach house with a front porch and palm trees overlooks a creek with marsh grass.

What’s the best siding for high wind areas? Let’s take a look at some common siding materials and see how well they hold up in turbulent weather.

Wood

Although it’s a traditional building material, wood is not considered a hurricane-resistant siding choice. Prone to moisture damage, wood siding tends to show deterioration easily. If it isn’t maintained properly, and often even when it is, it can weaken dramatically, making it susceptible to damage in hurricane-level winds.

Vinyl

Vinyl has an incredible amount of variation in terms of production quality, which can make choosing hurricane-resistant siding somewhat challenging. FEMA states that vinyl siding should be able to withstand 110 mph winds and heavy rains to be considered storm-ready. Be sure to check wind resistance with the contractor or manufacturer before buying vinyl siding to use in a high wind area.

Metal

Metal is considered much stronger and more wind resistant than wood and vinyl, but it may rust and dent over time, especially if exposed to harsh weather conditions. If you need siding in an area that experiences heavy rains, shopping for rust-free or corrosion-resistant metal is a good idea.

Brick

Brick is a strong exterior that offers a good level of durability. The strength of brick facades, however, can vary depending on the installation techniques and upkeep. When brick siding is badly damaged and falls down, it usually takes a good chunk of the wall with it, putting occupants at risk and leading to expensive and time-consuming repairs. 

Fiber Cement

Providing ideal durability and wind resistance, fiber cement is considered the most reliable choice for facing stormy weather. With proper installation, fiber cement can resist water penetration and provide the strength to withstand wind, water and objects striking the surface at 75 mph.

Help Is On The Way

Looking for design or pricing assistance? Nichiha representatives are on-hand to answer your questions, ensure your detailing is technically sound and that your project meets all product and design requirements.

 

Fiber Cement is the Best Siding for High Wind Areas

Modern house with a red front door. There are palm trees around the home.

With a unique composition and innovative design, fiber cement provides the durability and the water and wind resistance necessary to outperform other siding materials in hurricane-type conditions. 

With Nichiha fiber cement siding, we incorporate a built-in rainscreen, drainage channels and a secure clip system to avoid water damage at many angles.

Not only is fiber cement the best siding for high wind areas, but it also excels in design and aesthetics. Fiber cement offers the look of inferior cladding materials like wood, brick and vinyl but with the superior engineering for hurricane damage protection. With a variety of panels, lap and other attractive styles to choose from, our fiber cement is a great fit for making structures in hurricane zones look and perform their best. 

Contact our experts at Nichiha to explore some of the best siding options for all climates.
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