Optional Wind Rating Upgrade

Do you want your home to withstand the more intense storms which are predicted with global warming? Of course you do!

All SALA Homes are designed to comply with, or exceed, site specific wind rating requirements. However, with the recent trend to improve the strength of homes we have recently introduced, as a standard upgrade, an increase in wind category design. The cost to increase the wind category of your house design ranges from $2000 to $4000, depending on the category and size of the home. It should be noted that the labour component of your home will also increase as a result of extra work required to strengthen your home.

Every new home in Australia is designed to a specific wind loading. The wind loading category is calculated using Australian Standard AS4055, which takes into account:

• the geographic region of the site
• the terrain, which measures the ‘roughness’ of the ground within 500m of the site
• the localised shield which may be offered by surrounding buildings and trees, and
• the topography which determines the effect of wind on the site due to its location and the slope of the upper section of a hill.

An increasing number of customers have expressed doubt about the level of protection provided to their home by AS4055. They believe the standard may not take into account the predicted increase in storm severity in their area. Increasing the structural integrity of their home is seen as a way to reduce the risk of major damage as a result of major storm events..

We are yet to find an insurance company that will offer a discount for wind strengthen homes. If you know of one, we would love to hear about them.