Roof protection systems for high wind zones

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved cover for securing the roof a residential home or other building structure from the weather conditions that are associated with severe storms such as hurricanes. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises at least one protective membrane disposed adjacent the roof's upper surface. In a particular embodiment, the membrane is configured to cover substantially the entire roof surface. The membrane, which may comprise stretch wrap or shrink wrap, may be adhered in place, for example, using water resistant tape, an adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or a girdle sheet that is wrapped around the vertical walls of the building structure so as to capture the protective membrane between the girdle sheet and the vertical walls. Alternatively, the roof cover may be maintained adjacent the roof substantially entirely through its own physical properties, especially if the roof cover is comprised of stretch or shrink wrap.

1 . A protective cover for a roof, said protective cover comprising: 
 a membrane that is adapted to cover at least a portion of said roof, said membrane being adapted to extend from a first edge of said roof to a second edge of said roof.    
   
   
       2 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said second edge is substantially parallel to, and offset from, said first edge.  
   
   
       3 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is substantially impermeable to water.  
   
   
       4 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane comprises a length of shrink wrap material.  
   
   
       5 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane comprises a length of stretch wrap material.  
   
   
       6 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over said first edge of said roof.  
   
   
       7 . The protective roof cover of  claim 6 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over said second edge of said roof.  
   
   
       8 . The protective roof cover of  claim 7 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over a third edge of said roof, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge of said roof.  
   
   
       9 . The protective roof cover of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second edges are side edges of said roof and said third edge of said roof is a front edge of said roof.  
   
   
       10 . The protective roof cover of  claim 8 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       11 . The protective roof cover of  claim 6 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       12 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       13 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is adapted to extend from a front edge of said roof, over a ridge of said roof, and to a rear edge of said roof.  
   
   
       14 . The protective roof cover of  claim 13 , wherein said membrane comprises at least one elongate strip of material that is adapted to extend substantially perpendicular to said ridge.  
   
   
       15 . The protective roof cover of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said ridge is substantially perpendicular to said first and second edges; and    said ridge extends from said first edge to said second edge.    
   
   
       16 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said roof comprises a first substantially planar roof portion and a second substantially planar roof portion, both said first and said second roof portions having an upper roof surface;    said first and second roof portions are connected by a ridge portion disposed between said first and second roof portions; and    said first and second roof portions form an angle less than 170 degrees.    
   
   
       17 . The protective roof cover of  claim 16 , wherein said membrane is adapted for covering substantially the entire upper roof surface of said first roof portion.  
   
   
       18 . The protective roof cover of  claim 17 , wherein said membrane is adapted for covering substantially the entire upper roof surface of said second roof portion.  
   
   
       19 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is adapted for substantially covering a gable portion of said roof.  
   
   
       20 . The protective roof cover of  claim 19 , wherein said membrane comprises two or more substantially parallel lengths of material that are adapted to be positioned adjacent said gable portion to at least partially shield said gable portion from wind.  
   
   
       21 . The protective roof cover of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said roof is adjacent at least one substantially vertical wall that is adjacent said first edge;    said membrane is adapted to extend over said first edge of said roof adjacent said wall; and    said protective roof cover comprises a girdle portion that is adapted to extend adjacent said wall and to hold a portion of said membrane in place relative to said wall.    
   
   
       22 . The protective roof cover of  claim 21 , wherein said girdle portion is adapted to hold said portion of said membrane in place relative to said wall at least in part by urging said portion of said membrane into frictional contact with said wall.  
   
   
       23 . The protective roof cover of  claim 22 , wherein said girdle portion is adapted to extend from a first substantially vertical side edge of said wall to a second substantially vertical side edge of said wall.  
   
   
       24 . The protective roof cover of  claim 22 , wherein said girdle portion comprises an elongate strip of material.  
   
   
       25 . A method of protecting a roof from high winds, said roof comprising one or more shingles, and said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a roof cover that is adapted to prevent said one or more shingles from being detached from said roof during high winds; and    covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover is adapted to urge said one or more shingles toward an understructure of said roof and thereby prevent said shingles from being blown from said roof during high wind conditions.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover is adapted to form a barrier that substantially separates said one or more shingles from wind passing adjacent said roof.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said roof cover is substantially impermeable to air.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover is substantially impermeable to water.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover is stretch wrap.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said roof cover comprises a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second ends of said roof cover; and    said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises: 
 (A) positioning said first end of said roof cover so that said first end of said roof cover extends over a first edge of said roof and so that said first end of said roof cover is held in place adjacent said first edge;  
 (B) pulling said roof cover so that said intermediate portion of said roof cover is placed into tension; and  
 (C) positioning said second end of said roof cover so that said second end of said roof cover extends over a second edge of said roof and so that said second end of said roof cover is held in place adjacent said second edge.  
   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said step of positioning said second end is executed while said intermediate portion of said roof cover is in tension.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover comprises shrink wrap.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises: (A) positioning said roof cover so that it extends between a first edge of said roof and a second edge of said roof; and (B) applying heat to said roof cover until said roof cover shrinks and thereby attaches adjacent said roof.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises wrapping said roof cover, in a substantially spiral pattern, around said roof.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover comprises tarpaulin material.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises: 
 covering at least a portion of said roof with a first membrane; and    covering at least a portion of said roof with a second membrane that at least partially overlaps said first membrane.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises: 
 covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with a first membrane; and    covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with at least a portion with a second membrane that at least partially overlaps said first membrane.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said first membrane comprises a first plurality of substantially parallel strips of material.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein at least two of said substantially parallel strips of material at least partially overlap.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein: 
 said second membrane comprises a second plurality of substantially parallel strips of material; and    said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises the step of positioning said first and second membranes so that said first plurality of strips of material are substantially perpendicular to said second plurality of strips of material.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said step of covering substantially the entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises: 
 covering at least a portion of said roof with a third membrane that at least partially overlaps said first and second membranes.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein both said second and said third membranes cover substantially the entire upper surface of said roof.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein: 
 said first membrane comprises a first plurality of substantially parallel strips of material;    said second membrane comprises a second plurality of substantially parallel strips of material;    said third membrane comprises a third plurality of substantially parallel strips of material;    said first plurality of strips is substantially parallel to said third plurality of strips; and    said first plurality of strips is substantially perpendicular to said second plurality of strips.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said roof cover is adapted to seal said roof from rain.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of covering substantially said entire upper surface of said roof with said roof cover comprises a step of unrolling said roof cover onto said roof from a roll.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising the step of using a roller to support said roll as said roof cover is unrolled onto said roof from said roll.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said roof is adjacent a substantially vertical wall, and further comprising the step of positioning said roof cover so that at least a portion of said roof cover extends over an edge of said roof adjacent said substantially vertical wall, and    said method further comprises the step of securing said roof cover into place adjacent said roof by attaching a girdle member adjacent said wall to hold a portion of said roof cover in place relative to said wall.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said girdle member extends between a first substantially vertical edge of said wall and a second substantially vertical edge of said wall.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said step of securing said roof cover into place adjacent said roof comprises trapping said portion of said roof cover between said girdle member and said wall.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said step of securing said roof cover into place adjacent said roof comprises wrapping said girdle portion around an exterior portion of a building structure supporting said roof so that said girdle portion urges said portion of said membrane into frictional contact with said wall.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said girdle portion comprises an elongate strip of material.  
   
   
       53 . A covered roof structure comprising: 
 a roof having an upper surface, a first edge, and a second edge that is substantially parallel to, and offset from, said first edge; and    a membrane that covers at least a portion of said upper surface, said membrane extending from said first edge to said second edge.    
   
   
       54 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane is substantially impermeable to water.  
   
   
       55 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane comprises a length of shrink wrap material.  
   
   
       56 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane comprises a length of stretch wrap material.  
   
   
       57 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane extends over said first edge of said roof.  
   
   
       58 . The covered roof structure of  claim 57 , wherein said membrane extends over said second edge of said roof.  
   
   
       59 . The covered roof structure of  claim 58 , wherein said membrane extends over a third edge of said roof, said third edge being substantially perpendicular to said first edge of said roof.  
   
   
       60 . The covered roof structure of  claim 59 , wherein said first and second edges are side edges of said roof and said third edge of said roof is a front edge of said roof.  
   
   
       61 . The covered roof structure of  claim 59 , wherein said membrane extends over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       62 . The covered roof structure of  claim 57 , wherein said membrane extends over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       63 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane extends over a ridge of said roof.  
   
   
       64 . The covered roof structure of  claim 63 , wherein: 
 said ridge is substantially perpendicular to said first and second edges; and    said ridge extends from said first edge to said second edge.    
   
   
       65 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane extends from a front edge of said roof, over a ridge of said roof, and to a rear edge of said roof.  
   
   
       66 . The covered roof structure of  claim 65 , wherein said membrane comprises at least one elongate strip of material that extends substantially perpendicular to said ridge.  
   
   
       67 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein: 
 said roof comprises a first substantially planar roof portion and a second substantially planar roof portion, both said first and said second roof portions having an upper roof surface;    said first and second roof portions are connected by a ridge portion disposed between said first and second roof portions; and    said first and second roof portions form an angle of less than 170 degrees.    
   
   
       68 . The covered roof structure of  claim 67 , wherein said membrane substantially covers the entire upper roof surface of said first roof portion.  
   
   
       69 . The covered roof structure of  claim 68 , wherein said membrane covers substantially the entire upper roof surface of said second roof portion.  
   
   
       70 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein said membrane substantially covers a gable portion of said roof.  
   
   
       71 . The covered roof structure of  claim 70 , wherein said membrane comprises two or more substantially parallel lengths of material that are positioned adjacent said gable portion to at least partially shield said gable portion from wind.  
   
   
       72 . The covered roof structure of  claim 53 , wherein: 
 said roof is adjacent at least one substantially vertical wall that is adjacent said first edge;    said membrane extends over said first edge of said roof adjacent said wall; and    said protective roof cover comprises a girdle portion that extends adjacent said wall to hold a portion of said membrane in place relative to said wall.    
   
   
       73 . The covered roof structure of  claim 72 , wherein said girdle portion holds said portion of said membrane in place relative to said wall at least in part by urging said portion of said membrane into frictional contact with said wall.  
   
   
       74 . The covered roof structure of  claim 73 , wherein said girdle portion extends from a first substantially vertical side edge of said wall to a second substantially vertical side edge of said wall.  
   
   
       75 . The covered roof structure of  claim 73 , wherein said girdle portion comprises an elongate strip of material.