GuidelineRecommended
Keep roof overhangs short in high-wind zones to limit uplift
FEMA P-2325 §Florida Building Code / Sand Palace lessonsDescription
In high-wind areas, large roof overhangs catch upward pressure and increase uplift loads on the rafters / trusses and their connections. Minimizing overhangs (or detailing them for the expected uplift) reduces the risk of roof failure.
Why this exists
MAT investigations after Hurricane Michael (2018) credited the Sand Palace's minimal-overhang design as one of the key choices that kept the roof intact while neighboring homes lost theirs.
Categories
StructureAesthetic
Source
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)no manifest entry
Building Codes Toolkit for Homeowners and Occupants (FEMA P-2325, May 2023)
Section: Florida Building Code / Sand Palace lessons
Published 2023-05-01 · last verified 2026-05-11
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Continuous load path from roof to foundation · HUD RSDG §2.4
- Residential structural reliability targets 1-in-100 to 1-in-1000 annual probability of failure · HUD RSDG §2.5
- Residential floor live load: 40 psf minimum (30 psf sleeping rooms) · HUD RSDG §3.4
- Wind load design uses ASCE 7 basic wind speed for the locality · HUD RSDG §3.6
- Ground snow load for Virginia: 25 psf eastern, up to 40 psf western mountains · HUD RSDG §3.7
Last reviewed 2026-05-11.