1. In the event of severe winds, porches and overhangs are a vulnerable part of your home as they are often built with lighter materials. To enhance wind resistance, homeowners can:  

a. Place heavy stones all over the porch. 

b. Ensure porch columns are firmly anchored to the ground, and use brackets to strengthen the connection between the porch roof and the main structure of the house. 

c. Hold down loose components of the porch during a storm. 

d. Ensure your BBQ and patio furniture weighs the porch down. 

Answer: B, to reinforce porches and overhangs and enhance a home’s total wind resistance, porch columns should be firmly anchored to resist uplift forces. Brackets and bracing can improve the connection points between the porch and the house or main structure. 

2. During strong winds and winter storms, the eaves of a home, the edges of the roof that overhang the exterior wall, can expose the structure to damage from precipitation and flying debris. To reinforce these areas, homeowners can: 

a) Inspect and replace damaged soffits – the exposed, finished surface underneath the overhanging section of a roof’s eaves. 

b) Reinforce attachment points between the soffits and the wall or eaves. 

c) Anchor with sealants along the seams of the soffit, where it meets the wall. 

d) All of the above.  

Answer: D, checking soffits for signs of wear and replacing damaged sections will ensure it’s ready to withstand extreme weather. Use fasteners for high winds to prevent soffits from being dislodged, and apply sealant where the soffit meets the wall and trim to reduce the risk of water intrusion and property damage. 

3. The term “uplift” refers to: 

a) A new ride service, similar to Uber. 

b) A happy, human-interest news story. 

c) An upward force created by strong winds as they flow over a structure. 

d) Lifting a barbell over your head. 

Answer: C, wind uplift is the upward pulling force exerted on a roof by strong winds. It occurs because of an aerodynamic pressure difference: fast-moving wind over a roof lowers the air pressure above it, while the higher-pressure air inside the building pushes upward. 

4. The roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of a home during a windstorm or winter storm. To reinforce their roof, a homeowner should: 

a) Securely fasten roof sheathing – the structural layer of wood panels fastened to roof rafters – and consider re-roofing with high wind-rated shingles.  

b) Apply a secondary water barrier inside the attic to bond the sheathing to the roof structure. 

c) Use appropriate bracing and anchors to reduce the likelihood of structural damage. 

d) All of the above. 

Answer: D, using strong fastenings, like ring-shank nails or screws instead of traditional smooth nails, increases the sheathing’s resilience to uplift forces. Shingles are rated from Class A through H, with H being the most wind-resistant. Using closed-cell, urethane-based adhesive spray foam inside the attic bonds the sheathing to the roof structure. Adding braces and anchors to roof trusses and gable ends provides extra support from strong winds.  

5. If you’re going away during the wintertime and want to ensure your pipes don’t freeze during a winter storm, it’s best to: 

a) Turn on the air conditioning before your trip. 

b) Keep the thermostat set at 27 C or higher before leaving the house.  

c) Think about shutting off and draining your water system to prevent freezing. Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate under the sink, and ensure the thermostat is set to 15 C or higher. 

d) None of the above. 

Answer: C, to prevent frozen pipes in winter, set your thermostat to at least 15 C and consider shutting off and draining your water system while you’re away. Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate under the sink. 

6. Proactive steps to protect your home from winter storms include: 

a) Upgrading or adding insulation in your attic. 

b) Ensuring windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent heat loss and improve energy efficiency. 

c) Have your heating system serviced before the cold weather sets in. 

d) All of the above. 

Answer: D, upgrading or adding insulation in your attic, along with sealing windows and doors, lowers energy bills by improving heat retention. To ensure your heating system runs efficiently and reliably during a winter storm, have it serviced before the extreme weather sets in. 

7. If a winter storm leaves an excessive amount of snow and ice on your roof, you should: 

a) Take pictures of the cozy winter scene. 

b) Use a roof rake or hire a professional to remove snow, since it increases the risk of structural damage. 

c) Climb up and build a snowman on the rooftop, to surprise your friends and neighbours. 

d) None of the above. 

Answer: B, excessive snow and ice can add significant weight to your roof, increasing the risk of structural strain and collapse. Use a roof rake or hire a professional, and avoid standing directly below.  

8. When ice accumulates along the edges of your roof, it can form ice dams that block melting snow from draining properly – causing leaks and even structural damage. To prevent ice dams, a homeowner should: 

a) Ensure the home’s gutters and downspouts are free of debris so that water can flow freely. 

b) Ensure the attic is insulated and ventilated, to maintain a consistent roof temperature and reduce snow melt. 

c) Seal attic air leaks to reduce heat loss and avoid the costly impact of ice dams. 

d) All of the above. 

Answer: D, clean gutters and downspouts ensure water can flow freely. Proper attic insulation and ventilation are critical to maintaining a consistent roof temperature, and sealing attic air leaks can further reduce heat loss.  These preventative measures can help reduce the risk of ice dams.