From steel framing and roofing to steel doors and shutters, steel is the building material of choice for areas prone to hurricane activity. Because steel is both strong and lightweight, it is easy for builders to work with. Framing a home with steel ensures that it will have the highest strength to weight ratio of any residential building material. Additionally, steel framed homes are constructed using screws instead of nails, which helps the steel beams stand up to high winds without pulling loose. Steel framing can withstand winds up to 110 mph.
Hurricanes often strip houses clean of the asphalt shingles and tile that cover their roofs.
Steel roofing performs much better in these high-wind situations. And with the versatility of the new steel, roofs can be made to look exactly like the shingles or tile they are superior to. The benefits of steel are not limited to new homes. Existing homes can be retrofitted with everything from steel doors to steel window shutters. The same clips or straps can be used to anchor exterior walls to the foundation.