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Building Homes to Withstand Storms

Whether you're dealing with flooding, high winds, or both, check out this list of articles we've compiled to help homes better weather storms.

By Fine Homebuilding Editors
Photo: Paul Brennan via Public Domain Pictures

Building with significant weather impacts in mind is no longer just an option. Not doing so in an era in which all regions are experiencing climate-induced events from flooding to tornadoes is dangerous and costly in the long-run, and is a matter of social equity. Fortunately, there are building methods you can utilize to make your home or those of your clients safer and more resilient. This list focuses specifically on building for storms in which flooding and high winds are a concern. From framing methods and roofing, to codes and design ideas, check out our top articles on building homes to withstand storms. We will be updating this list as we publish more articles and explore emerging materials and techniques.

  • Design 1
    How it Works: High Winds vs. Houses

    Ongoing research has taught specialists how high winds find the weak points in houses, so you can make your house as safe as possible from windstorms.

  • How-To 2
    wind resistant framing
    Wind-Resistant Framing Techniques

    These cost-effective details help houses weather the storm.

  • Tools & Materials 3
    Faster Truss Tie-Downs

    FastenMaster’s FrameFast system features a ½-in. Milwaukee drill motor with an attached extension tube and a driver head that holds the fastener.

  • How-To 4
    Building for Floods

    A New Orleans prototype home may provide a path for builders looking to design and construct houses that can withstand rising sea levels and intense storms.

  • Design 5
    Built For Catastrophe

    Dan Nelson’s “Tsunami House” is designed to resist the ultimate force of nature.

  • Design 6
    Raised home with a porch
    Designed for the Coast

    This bold take on a traditional Southern style incorporates modern materials and storm resistance into a new neighborhood home.

  • How-To 7
    Surviving the Storm

    Know what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t—before disaster strikes

  • Design 8
    Row of small cottages behding a green lawn
    Building for a Changing Climate is a Necessity

    Architectural designer Marianne Cusato draws on her experience designing disaster-recovery homes to offer insight into climate-responsive housing development.

  • Design 9
    A partially destroyed church against a blue sky and palm trees
    Podcast Short: Hurricane-Resistant Housing

    In this excerpt, the team discusses the strategies for building homes in coastal hurricane zones to withstand high winds and storm surges.

  • How-To 10
    9 Upgrades to Windproof Your Roof

    Master these roof-installation details to keep asphalt shingles on and rain out of your house.

  • How-To 11
    Windproof roof webinar
    Project: Windproof a Roof

    Watch Mike Guertin in his second of two webinars on roofing details that can withstand extreme weather conditions.

  • 12
    poster for discussion of stormproof roofing
    IBSx Roundtable: Roofing To Withstand More Frequent, More Extreme Storms

    Fine Homebuilding talks with industry experts about techniques and technology that can help houses hold up better in extreme weather events.

  • How-To 13
    Mike Guertin working on a storm window
    Save Energy with Storm Windows

    Contractor Mike Guertin takes a look at the latest products and how to install them.

  • Design 14
    Flood-Ready Passive House
    Flood-Ready Passive House

    This deep-energy retrofit is the first certified Passive House and net-positive residence in Cold Spring, N.Y.

  • Design 15
    Build It Right: Lessons From New Orleans

    Hurricane Katrina can teach us many things. Make It Right wants safe, affordable, energy-efficient building to be one of them.

  • 16
    An aerial view of a large house with the ZIp system logo in the corner
    Roof Sheathing Code Updates and the Fortified System

    Watch Matt Millham and panelists Glenn Mathewson, Mike Guertin, Chris Clark, and Ben Murphy discuss roofing provisions of the 2021 International Residential Code and more.

  • How-To 17
    stormproof
    Webinar: Stormproof a Roof

    Mike Guertin explains the roofing details he installs to withstand extreme weather conditions.

  • 18
    Energy-Efficient Framing Practices for Hurricane and Tornado Country

    Four common strategies for building homes that are energy efficient but can also hold up well in a storm.

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